New-York tribune., 1919-09-25
Former Treasury Secretary
Sees Danger in With
dfawal Provision; Fears
Monroe Doctrine Is Men
aced
Editor Points Benefits
Says No Provision Calls for
the Surrender of ANY
Rights Vital to Freedom

6'i6 tHdC tHe covenant OF the
league of nations as embodied in the
peace treaty was filled with ambicuities
threatening the independence and SOW
ereignty of the United States. Leslie
NJ. Shaw, former Secretary of the
Treasury, in a debate with Hamilton
Holt, editor Of The lnde pendent" at
the Hotel Plaza last night demanded
the adoption by the Senate of reserva-
,lons to the treaty. The debate was
held under the auspices of the Mar
quette Club, with about 800 present
Mr.. Holt argued that the covenant
contains no provisions encroaching
upon the freedom of action Of the
United States in domestic matters. nor
does it call upon the United States to
surrender any prerogatives essential to
It's independence and sovereignty. Ho
urged ratification of the treaty without
reservations.
One Of the most dangerous ambigui-
ties IN the covenant, Mr.. Shaw said
was that providing for the Withdrawal
of members from the league. On this
point Mr.. Shaw said:
The pending instrument provides
that two years notice must be given
and, in addition. the member seeking
to withdraw must have performed both
its international obligations and all its
treaty agreements.
Disagrees With President
interpreting these withdrawal con
dltions, the President iustifes his
| statement, My experience as a lawyer
was quite limited by insisting that
the member seeking to withdraw will
determine for itself whether it has
performed the prerequisite conditions
venture the opinion that 40 expert
enced lawyer will agree with him. ane
his most ardent political followers il
the Senate admit that the league ant
not the applicant will have % pass
upon that question:"
Mr.. Shaw said that he saw nothing
IN the covenant which would preven
the other members Of the league O.
nations from interfering in Mexicar
affairs, thus challenging the Monro,
Doctrine, in view Of the tremendous
economic possibilities of Mexico ant
the great interests certa in European
nations have 10 protect in that coun
try. Such interference in Mexican
affairs, Mr.. Shaw said. would be made
possible when Mexico becomes a men,
ber of the league.
Mn Shaw called President Wilson "s
an "altrust Of the most pronounced
type" who. by his own altrnistic poll
cics as expressed in his fourteen points
has given other nations an excuse ia,
seeking 20 put obstacles in the way OF
the economic growth OF the United
States.
Would Offer China Support
On the question Of Shantung. Mr.
Shaw said that "thc least THAT shoulc
be done with reference TO the Shantung
i outrage is to embody in the ratiiica
! tion resolution a most vigorous protes,
coupled with promise of sympathy
and moral support for China
Mr.. Holt read the covenant point by
/ point, and in interpreting the obliga-
tions assumed by the members of the
league he said that not single one
of these in any way calls upon the
members 70 surrender rights vital to
their indenc0 0dcnce. or obliging them to
60 to war lie said that the provision
for ccon03l.. 1rcssure against offcnder
nations was ia itself sufficient to stop
, war among smaller nations and prob
ably among most Of the big nations
He called the opponents Of the cove
nant "old men" He said Senator Lodge
was playing politics in opposing the
treaty and denied the Senator's cha i,e
| lHdL Lue Covenant was DrlClSn 0OCu-
ment. He said that the British draf,
CT the covenant was quite different anC
distinct from the covenant itself anc
that most of the covenant embodies tn.
ideas of the original American draft
Assails Senator Knox
Assailing Senator Knox for suggest
ing the separation of the covenant
from the treaty. ne said that to do SC
would be nullifying the treaty itself
as there We're seventy-one instance:
in the treaty intimately connected witt
the league Of nations and providing
for the execution of the treaty's pro
visions.
Speaking on the question of Ireland
Mr. Holt said:
Any nation has the right under th1
covenant to call the attention of the
league to anything that threatens IN,
peace Of the world. If Ireland want,
to be free and China wants to get bacl
Shantung they better stick TO thi.
covenant"