The sun., 1919-04-08
LENROOT SHOWS
NEW DANGERSIN
LEAGUE'SDRAFT
Tells Economic Club of the
Changes Necessary to
Safeguard America.
REPLIES TO HITCHCOCK
Explains Further How Control
Of Proposed Body Will Rest
With Europe.
REPLIES TO HITCHCOCK

Before a company Of 1000 members
OF the Economic Club of New York at
the Hotel Astor last night two United
states Senators discussed the proposed
League OF Nations, as the programme
announced, from different points of
view"
Tho nrst, Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock OF
Nebraska, who was chairman OF the
Foreign Relations Committee of the
Senate in the last Congress, appeared in
triple role. He sponsored the prin-
c!pIes Of the constitution of the league
as the American people know It in its
original form as the prophet OF amend
inents he said would be adopted, and
hnally, as what many OF his hearers
believed, as an apolosist for the Presi-
dent In his continued absence abroad
and for his failure to invest in his coun-
trymen greater degree of confidence.
The second Senator. Irvine l.. Lenroot
OF Wisconsin. analysed the proposed
constitution in it's essential particulars,
but explained that he would not follow
the exact course OF Senator Hitchcocks
argument because no provision had been
made for the first speaker to answer
in rehuttal.
Except for this feature the clubs pro-
gramme last night might we'll have been
styled n debate. At periods it was more
than that and resolved itself into a
forum for the making OF charges and
counter charges. Senator Hitchcock
charged the Republicans with attempt
Ing to make political issue OF the pro-
posed constitution, and Senator Lenroot
replied by asserting that blind PARTISAN
ship alone prevented a majority Of the
Democratic members OF the Senate from
opposing the original draft OF the con-
stitution as 1t was cabled from abroad.
Hitchcock's Hypothesis.
Mr.. Hitchcock concluded his speech by
the presentation first of a hypothesis in
volving Great Britains possible agres-
ment to the free admission of Japanese
TO America and suspension of Ameri-
can immigration laws that would pro-
vide for the free admission OF Japanese
TO this country. He predicted that when
the amended constitution becomes pub
Tic, within a few days." that it would
be seen that immigration problems were
q domestic question and that there would
be a provision excluding domestic qnes-
lions from the consideration of the
league
He said that the appeals of the Amer
lean people In this and other matters
had been weighed carefully by President
Wilson when he first returned from
Paris; that indeed It was for that pur-
pose that the President retGSned when
he did, and that he had gone back to
the conference for the purpose of get
ting as many of these demands as pos
sible written into the final league con-
stitution. Objections to the proposed
constitution. Mr.. Hitchcock said. we're
only magnifed by reference TO them.
The American people were to brush
them aside. and in fact. in the opinion
OF the speaker. their mind was now
made up irrevocably on the question of
the ratification of the general plan.
Senator Hitchcocks implied challenge
in his statement that the mind of the
American people was made up on the
proposed question was accepted at the
outset by Senator Lenroot who ventured
the suggestion that II the President had
really gone abroad seeking necessary
amendments to the constitution, II was
curious that neutral nations had been
invited to suggest amendments. while
neither the United States Senate nor the
American people generally had been con-
suited on any of the points at issue.
Restoration of Government.
Henry A. Wise Wood. n previous
speaker and critic of the proposed league,
deplored the fact that representative
government had been abolished in the
absence of an expression by the Ameri-
can people on the proposals as they have
been made public to date.
"F'or the consolation of Mr.. Wood ]
will saw" Senator Lenroot began. that
II the President at some time in the near
future will call a special session of Con-
gress representative government will be
restored
There was sporadic applause in differ
emit corners OF the room when Mr. Hitch
cock. in dealing with the objection that
has been raised that Great Britain under
the proposed constitution will he in a
position TO outvote America in the Elk.
ecutive Council of the league by the
votes OF Canada and her other self-gov-
erning dominions, said:
I'VE have more In common with Cam
ada than Great Britain has. 1t Is only a
question of time until Canada and Eng
lands other self-eoverning colonies be-
come republics. They only came to the
relief of the mother country In this war
through sentiment So that ends the
story Of being outvoted in the body OF
delegates or in the Executive Council"
The applause was even less sponta-
neous when Senator Hitchcock, contnu-
ing. said:
1.-THE reason the constitution was
France and Great Britain. 1t is coming
out clarified, strengthened and harmo-
nized. I feel justified in saying that 1t
has stood the fire test OF criticism, not
only in the United States but in other
nations of the world. and that II will
come out OF the drafting committee not
greatly changed In its scope and pur-
pose. but very materially improved In
its form and detail.
mi
This work has now about finished
and will be concluded this week. For
more than a month therefore the con-
stitution of the League of Nations as
proposed has not only been before the
council in Paris but it has been before
all the nations OF the world. which have
examined 1t. criticised 1t and suggested
changes in It. 1t has been a great pub
lie document, subject to all possible pub
lie criticism and the whole wor1 has
had a share in clarifying and improving
IT,
This great covenant between the ma
lions Is In one respect different from
any other treaty ever negotiated. ! re.
fer to the fact that the veil Of secrecy
has been torn away. President Wilson
proposed Il in January OF last year as
one OF the fourteen points of a peace
settlement. Congress and the United
States received 1t with evident approval
and almost without criticism. Germany
and Austria accepted It in negotiations
that preceded the armistice."
Senator Hitchcock referred briefly to
the question OF the Monroe Doctrine. and