New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-01
Continued from page I

quent were the outbursts of applause
that only the appeals of several Sen
ators, including Mr.. Lodge himself and
Mr.. Reed, of Missouri, dissuaded the
Vice President from enforcing an order
which he had given to the sergeant
at arms to clear the galleries.
Making it plain that he would not
oppose a league Of nations properly
constituted, Senator Lodge referred to
a statement by Senator Hitchcock, OF
Nebraska, yesterday in defence of the
league constitution, in which Mr. Hitch
cock declared it represents the work
of the foremost men of the world.
II do not regard them, perhaps
said Senator Lodge, with the same
vencraton as the enator from Ne
braska. | know some of them. Their
intellect is not so overpowering tina.
we cannot suggest amendment of this
draft. ! doubt if anyone can tame the
fourteen men of the conference.
Declaring that America could never
AFFORD to brea solemn treaty obli-
CATION, Senate ,odge urged that the
American pcople "consider we'll the
terms of the covenant" before it is
signed
He urged strongly that peace first
be made with Germany, that she be
bound and shackled" before she can
arise strong enough to defy her enc
mics, and to that end he asserted that
consideration of league of nations
be postponed until after that peace is
made.
Transcends Party Lines
Senator Lodge said, in part:
ut is almost needless to say that
| the question now before US s so mo-
mentous that 1t transcends all party
lines. Party considerations and party
interests disappear in dealing with
such question as this. | viii follow
any man and vote for any measure
which in my honest opinion viii make
Tor the maintenance of the worlds
| peace. vii follow no man and vote
tor no measures which. however we'll
/ intended. seem in my best Judgment to
lead to disscnsons rather than to
harmony among the nations or to in
jury. peril, or injustice to my country.
NO question has over confronted the
United States Senate which equals In
Importance that which il involved in
the league of nations intended to secure
tho future peace Of the world. There
| should be no undue haste in consider
ing it.
"My one desire is that not only in
the Senate, which is charged with re-
sponsibilty, but that the press and
the people of the country should in
vcstigate every proposal with the ut
most thoroughness and weigh them all
carefully before they make up their
minds. If there is any proposition or
any plan which will not bear, which
most public discussion, that makes
1t an object of suspicion at the
very outset. Glitterng and en-
ticing generalities will not serve. We
must have facts, details, and sharp,
clcar-cut definitions.
''ln the first place. the terms of the
league-tho agreements which we make
must be so plain and so explicit that
no man can misunderstand them Mis-
understandings as to terms are not a
good foundation for treaty to pro-
mote peace. We now have before as
the draft of q constitution for league
of nations, prepared by commission
or committee, which is to be sub
mitted to the representatives Of the
| nations. The nations, through their
delegates, have not agreed tc it, 1t
has not passed beyond the stage Of a
committee report. 1t is open to amend
ment and change in the peace con-
ference The Senate can takc no action
upon it. but it lies open before us for
criticism and discussion.
"1u this drift DrpnnrcN for "A CON
stitution of a league of nations, there
is hardly Il clause about the inter
probation of which men do not already
differ As it stands there is serious
danger that the very nations which
sign the constitution of the league
will quarrel about the meaning of the
various articles before twelvcmonth
has passed 1t seems to have been
very hastily drafted, and the result
la crudoncss and looseness of express
sion, unintentional, hope.
Language Must Be Exact
"1he suggestion that we can safely
align because wa can N|Wnya violate
or ahropAte IA fatal not only TO amy
league but to peace itaelf. To what
ever inatrumcnt tho tNitcd Stntos ecta
! ,ta hand 1t mNat carry out the pro-
visiona of that instrument to- tho lnat
| iot and 'ittlc, fulill 1T absolutely both
| IN lettrr hNd IN spirit. TINA ia All
the moro essential because 1t Ia cvi-
dent, although not expressly stated,
that this league Ia intended TO be
indissolublc, for there Ia no provision
for it's termination or for the with
drawa Of any signatory. We are left
to infer that any nation withdraw
ing from the league cXpoacs itself
to penalties and probably to war
"Therefore, before we fatify. the
terma and tho language in which the
terma are stated must be Ia exact
and az rreoae, as free from any rosHi=
hility of conflicting interpretations na
IT ia noHaihle TO make them, The en-
PLANTATION or Interpretation Of any Of
these doubtful passagea Ia not euiii-
eient IT made by one man. whether
that man be tho President Of the
United States, or q Senator, or any
one else, These questions and douhts
must he answered and removed by the
| instrument itself.
II now come to questions of sub
stance.
owe abandon entirely by the pro-
posed constitution the policy laid