New-York tribune., 1919-10-24
League Debated
At Cambridge by
British Statesmen
Lord Robert Cecil Wins by
Large Majority Over
Duke Of Northumberland
i'll Open Forensic Contest
!NeU York Tribune
Europcoa BNrcGu

New York Tribune
Europeon HNrcGu
(Copyrls 1919. New York Tribune Inc.)
LONDON, Oct. 23.-"Republican" op
position to the league of nations ir
/ Great Britain was beaten in the first
fash of dialectic arms at Cambridge
University last night, whore the Duke
Of Northumberland met defeat in g
three hour debate at the hands OF
Lord Robert Cecil.
Although Great Britain has ratified
the treaty of peace. there remains in
this country an active minority which
is unalterably opposed to the cove
nant. and last night this little group
of conservatives flung their first chal-
lcnge to the supporters Of the league
20 prove that it was not WORTHLESS as
guarantee of international peace,
radically unsound and dangerous
project"
No man better qualified to lead the
affirmative of this could have been
found than the Duke Of Northumber-
land, the unqualified conservative and
aristocrat who has sometimes been re-
ferred to as the Senator Lodge of
Great Britain"
The debate in the crowded Univer-
sity Union will be long remembered.
The royal princes, Albert and Henry,
were among those present.
For nearly an hour the duke show
cred contempt, sarcasm and invective
upon the league project In 1t he
could sec nothing more than q politi-
cal expedient of no ethical or moral
value. 1t was created, he declared, in
an atmosphere of ,camoufiage in order
to disguise the necessity of an alli-
ance-a hypocritical excuse for the
uhirkers and uuthinking.
Democracy" the duke shouted,
means systematized chaos" and he
concluded with the assertion that the
league was the best means Of obscur-
ing the necessity of preparations for
war, adding that it allowed the maxi
mum interference in the affairs Of the
British while limiting to the minimum
Great Britain's interference with those
Of other countries.
Look through the camoufage Of the
league of nations to the real founda-
tion of peace in Europe" he cried, IAN
alliance with armies and navies ready
m the event of war"
Amid the applause which greeted the
dukes attack Lord Cecil leaped to his
feet in a passion of earnestqess. He
scored best when he examined the
dukes claim that national salvation was
to be found only in the balance Of
power. with it's implications of alliances
and increasing armaments, and de-
clared vehemently:
"That seems to me to be indistin-
guishable from the policy Of Germany
Freedom is instinct not only in the
British breast but in that of the world
and the world will never tolerate
| that"
The league, he said further, would
rest ultimately on the assumption that
men prefer good to evil, peace to war
He concluded with passionate appeal
10 the young men, saying:
"Will they follow our noble friend
who seems to have altogether mistaken
the aims and objects of the league
Will they drift back to the old reigr
of force, or try the new way which the
league suggests? I prefer spiritual tx
material things, and believe the cpir
itual will beat the material always ant
| every time"
The vote was then taken, and tn,
duke was defeated by a majority of 443