The Penn's Grove record., 1919-05-30
POLITICAL PLAY ON TREATY
Lodge Favored Peace League In 1916

SlSLent with the American cOISIltu-
ton, by Senator Robinson, Democrat,
Of Arkansas, in a speech today in the
Senate.
Opponents of the League, the Sena-
tor charged, are making a campaign
OF Misrepresentation, setting up
flmsy objections that the proposed
League violates American traditions.
The covenant, he assered, in no way I'M
pairs national sovereignty or subverts
American constitutional principles.
sfhe objection that the League OF
Nations treaty creates a s~uper-goY-
ef1ment is without foundation said
Mr.. Robinson. 1T can take no &C
ton in any important controversy
without the consent of the United
States. Its powers are advisory. by
the treaty it becomes the common
agent Of the signato1y 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 APP
piled with equal force to many treaties
entered into by the nation in the past,
and which had been found practical
and beneficial.
"A treaty is not unconstitutional, >
he asserted, merely because it con-
tanned 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 eX-
ecute it, or which pledges the govern
ment 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 poweriess to maintain foreign
relations.
"Under the constitution of the sole
power to approximate moneys is vest
ed in Congress. Nevertheless we have
made many treaties obligating the
government to the payment OF sums
agreed in the treaties to be due for
eign nations OF their citizens.
"The sole power to levy taxes is
vested in Congress. Many treaties
have been made obligating the gov
eminent to impose certain rates on
exports and to collect specified rates
on imports. Treaties of reciprocity
have been negotiated with foreign ma
tons involving mutual rates to be
levied on commerce.. Such treaties
require legislation by Congress to put
them into operation, but they are not
unconstitutional for that reason.
'"The United States has already en-
tered into many treaties pledglng 1t
self not to engage in war against GER
tain foreign nations until the eXpira-
ton of a definite period, and it has
also agreed by treaty to settle many
disputes by arbitration. Notwith
standing such agreements, Congress
still has the power to declare wal.
"With respect to the allegation that
mandatory provision is in conflict with
the Constitution, the only question of
a constitutional nature arising IS
whether the United States is forbid
den to govern or assist in the govern
ment 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 optional.
Gas early as 1916 the United States
guaranteed the sovereignty of New
Granada over the Isthmus of Panama.
By the treaty of 1903 we agreed to
maintain the independence of the res
public of Panama. In 1916 the United
States by treaty guaranteed the indie
pendence of Santo Domingo and
agreed to assist in the administration
of it's affairs. The declaration often
made that article ten authorizes the
executive council to involve the world
in war in it's execution is obsured.
The language of the article is in case
of any such aggression, or in the case
of any threat, or danger of such ag-
erosion, the executive council shall
advise upon the means by which the
obligation 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"
Declaring Republican opponents of
the League were attempting to make
the treaty a partisan issue, MI. Rob-
inson charged Republican Senate
Leader Lodge with ridiculous incon-
sistency," and read the following por-
ton of a speech purported to have
been made by Mr.. Lodge in an address
to a peace society meeting here in
May, 1916:
"The limit of voluntary arbitration
has, | think, been reached, = : = x.
| think the next step is which this
League proposes, and that is to put
force behind international peace. We
may not solve it in that way, but if
we cannot solve it in that way it can
be solved in another. | 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"
Turning to the moral aspects of the
League agreement, the Arkansas Sen
ator said:
"Our obligation to cooperate in the
discharge of the responsibilities re-
sulting from victory are as undeniable
as our privilege to enjoy the fruits of
triumph. 1t would be cowardly, I'M
thinkable, for example, to leave Po-
/ III CzsL.- ITJx,0 1-I To- Gil.