Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-17
SENATE TOLD
us. MUST Be
WITH LEAGUE
Colt, Repub., Backs Plan
Copy of Shantung
Protest Asked for.

Washington, July 17.-Shantung
and the League of Nations were
debated in the senate again today
while President Wilson was be-
ginning his conferences with Re-
publican senators.
Senator Colt, Republican of
Rhode Island, one of those who
were to see the president during
the afternoon, announced o the
senate his conviction that the
United States must enter the
league to fulfill it's present obIi-
cations to the world and Senator
Sherman, Republican, Illinois,
made an attack on the league and
the Shantung provision.
In making his announcement,
Senator Colt said he withheld
Judgment on certain reservations.
Senator Sherman characterized
the league as "the COLOSSUS conf
dence game of the ages" and SAID
the president and his followers
were living in a psychological
millennium"
Ask for Shantung Protest.
Without a record vote, the SEN
ate adopted a resolution by Sen
ator BOTah, Republican, Idaho,
asking the president for a copy of
a letter said to have been written
by General Tasker H. Bliss on be-
half of himself and other American
delegates at Paris protesting
against the Shantung settlement
By a resolution introduced by
Senator Spencer, Republican of
Missouri, and referred to commit
tee, the senate would declare its
deep regret" at the disposition of
Shantung.
Colt Backs League.
Before the senate met, the for
eign relations committee held an
other session to consider the
treaty, but devoted its time to read
ing the text.
Announcing support of principles
embodied in the League of Nations
covenant, but Withholding judg-
ment regarding certain reserva-
tions, Senator Colt, Republican,
Rhode Island, told the senate to-
day that the nation must at least
see the great undertaking upon
which we have embarked in enter
ing the war, through to the end,
can only be done by becoming a
member of the league"
The Rhode Island senator de-
cIared himself unable to agree
with the objections that the league
would create super-state or sub
vert the American constitution.
He said, however, that the Monroe
dictrine must be clearly safe
guarded and domestic questions
left for national action.
Association of Free Nations.
THE League of Nations in its es-
sence is simply an association of
free nations" he said. 'The prin-
ciple of international cooperation
as the means by which interna-
tional peace can be made secure
has never been tried before. All
other means of preventing war
have failed. Not to try this expert
ment would leave the world in the
same condition of international an
archy as it was before the war.
There is no antagonism between
true nationalism and an interna-
tionalism which would subject the
reign of law for the reign of force
People Want War Cure.
Il believe the great mass Of the
people are convinced
that something must be done to
prevent future wars. They want
done. They do not want
to leave the world in its old con-
dition, and they favor the League
of Nations. based on international
cooperation as the best solution of
the problem. ] am in favor of the |
embodied in the League
Of Nations. This does not mean |
that 1 have reached a decision that !
the league should be ratified in the !
precise form in which it is now |
presented.
WOuId Preserve Doctrine.
Il believe the popular sentiment |
is universal. and 1 certainly share |
It, that the Monroe doctrine should |
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