The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-05-28
IT IS OUR AGENT,
NOT OUR MASTER
League of Nations Supported
as Logical and Practical Or
ganism by Arkansan.
PUTS FORCE BEHIND PEACE
Washington Would Have APP
proved Joining With Other
Nations to Diminish War.

| pIONOu 0OAAAAS "Aoh O'S1
Nations to Diminish War.
Washington, May 2S.--The league
| of nations was supported as logical
and practical organism, entirely con-
sistent with the American constitu-
/ ton, said Senator Robinson, demo-
crat, of Arkansas, in a speech today
in the senate. Opponents of the
league the senator charged, are
| making a campaign of misrepresen-
tation, setting up fiimsy objections
| that the proposal violates American
! traditions. The covenant he as
serted 'in no way impairs national
sovereignty or subverts American
constitutional principles.
1.-THE objection that the league of
nations treaty creates a super-gov-
ernment is without foundation said
Mr.. Robinson. 1T can take no ac-
ton in any important controversy
I without the consent of the United
States. Its powers are advisory. BY
the treaty it becomes the common
agent of the signatory powers to pro-
mote international cooperation and
! peace. 1t is our agent, not our mas
ter"
Replying directly to the constitu
tional objections raised by Senator
Sherman, republican, of Illinois, and
other league opponents, the Arkansas
senator said the same objections ap-
piled with equal force to many
treaties entered into by the, nation in
the past, and which had been found
practical and beneficial.
"Not UNCONSTITUTIONAL
"A treaty is not unconstitutional, '
he asserted, merely because it con-
tains agreements the execution of
which requires the exercise of powers
vested by the constitution exclusively
in the executive and legislative
branches of the government, To de-
clare that no treaty can be made
which requires legislative action to
execute it or which pledges the gov
ernment to do something exclusively
within the power of the executive
would nullify a large majority of the
treaties heretofore entered into by the
United States and render the govern
ment powerless to maintain foreign
relations.
THE limit of voluntary arbitration
has, l think, been reached-I think
the neXo step in that which the.league
proposes, and that Is to put force be-
hind international peace. We may
not solve it in that way, but if we
cannot solve it in that way it can be
solved in no other. | do not believe
that when Washington warned us
against entangling alliances he meant
for one moment that we should not
join with other civilized nations of
the world if a method could be found
TO diminish war and encourage
peace"
Moral Aspects Of Agreement.
Turning to the moral aspects of the
league agreement, the Arkansas sena-
tor continued:
Our obligation to cooperate in
the discharge of the sponsibilities
resulting from victory are as unde-
niable as our privilege to enjoy the
fruits of triumph. 1t would be cow
ardly, unthinkable, for example, to
leave Poland, Serbia, Ukraine and
Jugo- -SlaVia to the mercy of the CEN
tral empires, should they be rehabi-
lated or to abandon to anarchy the
colonies and territories separated by
the war from the central empires.
1T is senseless TO imagine that We
have reached the end of international
uAopuNNS NN|li uIIOlAS NllOoC NllO llO"
comprise the allies. 1t is equally
senseless to rely upon the old hap
hazard pre-war method of settling
these disputes. That the proposed
league of nations would make wars
improbable, seems to me conclusive.
By the elimination of secrecy in
treaties and the extension of popular
control to International diplomacy,
comfy and good will supercede SUI
spicion and intrigue.
THE United States has already
entered into many treaties, pledging
itself not to engage in war against
certain foreign nations until the eX-
piration of a definite period and it
has also agreed by treaty to settle
many disputes by arbitration. Not
withstanding such agreements! con-
gress still has the power to declare
war.
With respect to the allegation that
the mandatory provision is in con-
tlict with the constitution, the only
question of q constitutional nature
arising is whether the United States
is forbidden to govern or assist in the
government Of other countries. There
is no question under the revised draft
of compelling the United States to
act as a mandate. The language
clearly and expressly makes it oo-
tional
"As early as 1S46 the United States
guaranteed the sovereign of New
Granada over the Isthmus of Panama. |
By the treaty of 1908 we agreed to !
maintain the Independence OF the re- |
public of Panama. In 1915 the United |
States, by treaty, guaranteed the in |
dependence of Santo Domingo and |
agreed to assist in the administration |
of its affairs. The declaration often |
made that article 10 authorizes the |
executive council to involve the world !
in war in its execution, is absurd. The |
language of the article is in case Of |
any aggression, or in case of any |
threat, or danger Of such aggression,
the executive council shall advise |
upon the means by which the obli-
cation shall be fulfilled. 1t is per-
fectly clear that the executive council |
can compel no action under this ar
ticle. The use of the word advise
defeats such a construction"