The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-14
Nation Must Concur in Every
Decision of Council.
Senator SwansOnVOices Keynote
of Administrators Defense.
DISHONORABLE TO REJECT IT
League Not Superstate, but
Gives Life to Nationality.
In Case of Conflict, Monroe
Doctrine VIII Be Followed.

Washington. July 14-The keynote
OF the administrations defense Of the
league of nations. sounded today in
the senate in a speech by Senator
Swanson, Virginia. n Democratic mem
aer of the foreign relations committee,
Is:
Tho requirements for concurrence
by tho United States IN every dcci-
sion of the league council absolutely
guarantees this nation against sur
rendering its sovereignty"
Swanson answered in detail every OBJ
lection 20 the league covenant In
each case he pointed to the provision
that each decision Of the countil must
be by unanimous vote. including that
OF the United States. After the coun-
ell has acted congress still has power
to refuse American acceptance of the
councils advice, Swanson declared.
Says L. s. Faces Test.
Praising the league of nations cove
nant as "One of the worlds greatest
documents" Senator Swanson told the
senate today that If the United States
rejected the league it would mean
that she would skulk in the greatest
world crisis that ever occurred"
The speaker defended the league
against the objection that 1t would
sacrifice sovereignty and American ira
ditions and asserted that on the con-
t-arv II would result in immense ma
teriaI gain in protecting American IN
tegrity and preventing war. He de-
clared it would not create super
government. involve oDJectionaole
OBLIGATIONS nor invalidate the Monroe
doctrine.
DON'T Let Shadow Frighten Us.
"'The pathway of our duty is plain"
said Senator Swanson. Let us not De
frightened by our own prodigious
shadow al 1t projects itself into Worlo
affairs. Let US not be deferred from
our manifest duty and destiny by
craven fear of becoming great in CIV
ing service and direction to a world
in a direct hour of its need and dis
tress."
Pointing out that the war had
shaken the social order to its founda-
tIon. the Virginia senator said it was
the paramount obligation of responsi-
hIe statesmen to prevent another such
conflaCration which would return the
world "to the rule of brute force
and barbarism of the dark ages"
Not Super-State.
The covenant of the league has
been assailed from two opposite
sources" he continued. The league
will neither be a super-state nor SOW
ereign. nor a helpless, powerless asso-
ciatlcn of nations. The instrument
creating the league is a covenant en-
tered into by sovereign states. one
of the attributes of sovereignty is the
ability to make covenants or agree
ments That a state reserves its full
sovereignty Is conclusively settled by
the provision allowing any member to
withdraw. No nation, superior or
otherwise. ever thus expressly pro-
vidcd means for its dissolution.
rat
senate. would he no more nor less
than n treaty legalized under our con-
stltution. The plan for the forma-
tiOn Of the league is skilfully con-
ceived. and the only one possible un-
der existing political conditions.
Number of Votes Doesn't Count.
The assembly of the league will
be composed of representatives OF the
mem bers. who will be selected in ac-
cordance with the laws of the respec-
tive states. In the case of the United
States. the representatives. being Of
ficers created by the treaty. would be
appointed as provided by an act Of
congress.
Much opposition has been urged
because great nation like the
United States has only one vote in
the assem- bly,. But what difference
does the number Of votes make, when
upon all important matters the action
Of the assembly must be unanimous
or have the unanimous concurrence
of the council, upon which the United
States is permanently represented?
THE league could never be organ
lied on any basis other than that of
equal representation. If members
were accorded difference in repr-
sentation, upon what basis should the
apportonment be made? If upon
population, China and India would
dominate the league and the United
states would have only one-ffteenth
OF the number. If based upon wealth
and military power. the situation
would be equally as uncertain ard
unsatisfa ctory.
Disarmament Plan.
What better plan for disarma-
ment could be devised? The council
is directed to prepare a general plan
of disarmament for the consideration
of the governments, which plan is not
binding upon any of the states until
approved by that state Under our
government. the proposed plan. to he
effective in binding u.s. must have the
sanction of congress, which is en-
trusted under the constitution with
the power of raising armies and
equippinB the navy.
Under article ten each member of
the league undertakes first to respect
the territorial integrity and political
independence of all other members of
the league. When the nations of the
world sobered by sorrow and suffering
are willing to raise their hands and
take this solemn pledge, are we sui
lenly and stubbornly to stand aside
and become a stumbling block in the
way of this noble achievement? Dc
any of them have possessions that we