The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-04-09

WILL RATIFY COVENANT.

WILL RATIFY COVENANT.
Opposition to the League of Nations has pass
ed its peak, in the opinion Of Senator Gilbert NJ.
Hitchcock, chairman of the Senate Foreign At
fairs Committee in the last congress. The only
two prime questions left in doubt. he believes,
are the exact phraseology of the league constitu-
ton with respect to two or three disputed sit
uations and the nearness by which the final vote
in the senate viii approach the unanimous.
On the main question-whether or not the
senate win ratify league Of nations covenant
q it win be returned from the Paris peace con-
ference-H Hitchcock insists there IL not the
slightest doubt.
There has been an unmistakable shift In the
attitude Of many senator's who Joined in the ORR
ginal protest against the league" he said today.
IT believe the number who win vote against the
league = finally presented win be very small.
'sThe Root amendments are quite an accession
to the merits Of the league and undoubtedly the
altitude Of Mr.. Root toward the league viii soft
en- the opposition Of more than one republican.
"As to why the question Of the league Il prop
erly considered at the same time as the issue of
peace, there are two answers.
First, there would undoubtedly be much diff
ficulty and delay in getting the nations Of the
world together in conference and It would be
b secured with respect to league.
Second, and more important, League Of
Nations il needed in the present disorsanised
state Of affairs in Europe Immediately 70 carry
The peace conditions into effect
president Wilson told mo when he Wa here
th9t when the peace commissioners were draw
tng up safeguards for the affairs Of the new
etatos growing out Of the collapse Of Germany
on6 Austxia-H Hungary. that It was found abso-
lute1v necessary to have league, or some stable
eG1asation Of established governments % tie
~ affairs Of these new states into and to assist
1hm during the early stages Of their national
odjustment IN the wreck and ruin Of war-torn
Europe It Is not only desirable but It - almost
imperative that there be . union Of Al coun-
txiss in bringing order out Of chaos.
Then there y always the danger the hkeli-
bod. even-that one war win crow out Of an
ether. This war. IN fact, WAS fostsred BY and Il
u outsrowth Of the Balkan wars Immediately
peeceding. It has produced on vaster scale
than ever before hatreds and antipathies, suffer
now provided the machinery for smoothing out
and adjusting international disputes. aIlayine
distrust and suspicion. even the immediate peace
= far from secure and we face the danger Of
renewed strife. That Is Why League Of Ma
hons is needed and il needed ct once.
Opponents to this League Of Nations have
tried to brighten the American people by pictur-
ing great Frankenstein monster. . supernation
dominating the whole world. But no such sup
ernation Is proposed The League Of Nations, -
proposed, affects the sovereignty Of no nation
joining it. It il itself without sovereign power.
Il = merely . union Of nations, cooperating in
en- effort to adjust international differences
without war and bloodshed and On : basis Of
right and justice"
Tor unless there IL formed League Of Ma
lions to safeguard peace. the signing Of the
peace treaty viii only mark the beginning o. the
warming Of nations on . more stupendous scale
than ever before, with re-alignments Of nations
= leagues for war instead Of peace"
In Budapest reactionary Is ANYBODY who can