Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-20
Of
LEAGUE DECLARED
VICIOUS; TESS OF
OHIO HITS HARD
Republican Congressman De-
CIareS If Proposed Treaty Is
Ratified Sovereignty of Ma
ton viii Pass to Europeans
MONROE DOCTRINE IS
MOST GRAVELY MENACED
Democrats Would Preach Free
Trade as Necessity Under
Agreement Should Plan Be
Approved,
10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WIRE


10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WIRE
Washington, Feb. 19.-Criticsm of
the constitution of the league of ma
tons was opened in the house late
today with an address by Representa-
tive Fess of Ohio, republican, who
declared the league plan was mon
strous," and filled with vicious pos
sibilities."
Just as soon as the American
people shall grasp the vicious pos
sibilities herein included" he said,
there will be such revolution of
sentiment aroused that any man who
will subscribe to this perpetual sur
render of this republics future to a
vote of foreign nations will be, as
he should be. repudiated as an enc
my to the spirit and genius of Amer
lean institutions"
Representative Tess said one of the
principal objections to the league
plan was that it made possible five
votes for the United Kingdom against
one for the United States by per-
hitting self-governing dominions or
colonies to become Independent mem
bers.
Transfers Sovereignty of L. S.
1.-THE sovereignty of the United
States" continued the Ohio member,
will be transferred completely to q
group of European powers by a
mere vote of the league that matters
under consideration by it might lead
to war.
1.-THE executive council, which is
to be the real agency of the league
to enforce its findings, is to be linn
tied to nine members, one each from
the United States, France, Great
Britain, Italy and Japan and one
each from four other states to be
selected by the body of delegates
The decisions Of each body, delegates
or executive council are by a ma
jority vote, so that in all cases the
findings of the council will be deter
mined by five members. In other
words, any five of the nine voting
league can bind the United States
without its consent to any matter
falling within the province of the
league.
mo matter how much the people
of the United States may wish to
avoid mixing in European or Asiatic
politics any five of the nine mem
bers can fix the responsibility on this
country.
Mandatory Powers.
ITO be specific article 8 author
ICES the league to vest mandatory
authority and select the nation to
Gently under other sovereignty and
which are not yet regarded suffi-
GENTLY stable to maintain stable self
government
This article means that by a vote
of the league the United States would
have to undertake the maintenance
of law and order in Armenia, for
example, or a country in Africa.
Moreover, any group of five of
the nine can fix the character of our
defensive program"
Mr.. Fess said the most dangerous
feature of the proposed constitution
to his mind was the provision which
would make the United States con-
stituent of a league which would eX-
ercise supreme authority through
body of delegates, without name or
number, each of whom would have
equal authority in all matters which
would come before it affecting this
country.
Monroe Doctrine in Peril.
"The matters of consideration are
not defined and therefore not linn
tied" he said. IF the Monroe doc
trine is included in the judgment OF
a majority of the members, what re-
course have we after we have en-
tered the league, which speaks by a
majority vote? If immigration is in
cluded according to a majority of
the league, what is our defense? IL
a tariff is included according to the
judgment of the majority, what have
we left but to surrender or commit
a breach of covenant?
This nation should never under
any circumstances surrender its SOW
ereignty on any questions which per-
tain to its future welfare, to a vote
of a league made up of an indeter-
inmate number of countries whose
major interests cannot be expected to
be Identical with our own"
Mr. Tess declared that once the
United States had agreed to the pro-
posed league it would not have the
power to compel changes in the con-
stitution for its benefit.
article 26 purports to provide for
amendment of the league" he said,
"but, of course, no amendments in
the interests of the United States Will
likely ever be made as it requires the
votes of all the nine states which are
represented in the council, and then
the ratification of three-fourths of the
states represented in the body of del
egates.
Proposition Prcpostcrous.
"If it should be claimed by propon
ents of this preposterous proposition
what questions | have named are not
included in the league no man of
sense will deny that under article 26
amendments can be made by inter
ested nations to include these ques
tons"
Mr.. Fess criticised articles of the
league constitution which, he said, re-
quired abrogation of existing treaties
inconsistent with the league charter.
This means if treaty now exists
between us and Japan. inconsistent
with the judgment of the league, as
expressed by any five of the nine, it
must be abrogated," said Mr., Fess.
1.-THE question of European immgra-
ton also will fall under this authority