The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-15

Der 70 escape Its accrued IN ternatiOnal
and covenant obligations by withdraw
ing. Members that receive the bene-
fits Of the league should~Aaso bear it's
burdens Especially would the United
States scorn to avail herself of the
privilege of retiring from the league
without fully and honorably discharg-
ing every obligation. The contention
that the United States could not with
draw without the unanimous consent
Of the council or assembly, the only
bodies that can act for the league. il
wholly untenable. No power what
over Is conferred upon either OF these
bodies tx act upon this auestion' no
authority is given anywhere 10 co.n-
pei the retention of memoeI ai.s'
giving the required notice OK Will
drawal .u
Guarantee from All to All.
n should be noted that wneh al
this article we guarantee the terrl,o-
rial integrity of all members OF the
league we receive at the same ui's
from all of them a like guara nice ~
o,,r territorial possessions. Inc opli
cation Is mutual While 1t is true
our continental possessions are sa'e
with any reasonable preparations ZOE
defense. yet we occupy exposed Po9,
tions, which require an immense ia
and a large standing army 10 Inahe
US absolutely safe. the rhltippi.e
Islands are easily open to attack iio..,
eithar European or an Asiafic power
nosessea of a strong navy, supple
noented by a large and efficient army
Thasa islands have occasloned US III
tho mast A great apprehension. IHese
islands are so scattered and difncui.
az defense so far from our nase %
surnlies. that their protection IN wa,
is danendent upon our uncha llehseo
contro, Of the seas. In case or threat
opad danger we would be competed
tn mass there large armies to pre-
,ent surprise and any iodgmen1 ~
the enemy These farming i slai.u
are 10 us a. constant source OF PEI -
vet we will never be base enough 90
solutely to desert them, LOSS thtiii ~,
nro,ected In the whirlpool of worlo
n,outics IN become the prey of preda-
torv nations Plans for their mae
nenhence have been accompanied oS
~ suggestion that their lntesfils
should be guaranteed by several Oh
the strong powers, II we accord them
freedom. we can never OBTAIN Aol
them. through this league, cofnIlete
GUARANTEES. and thus honorably reHeNe
ourselves Of bearing alone TINS heaNs
burden Whether retained by US or
given their independence, thfouE
this league they will be preSefs ,
from all external aggression. In ota,l
to safeguard these ISLANDS, 20 VIII.
policy we are committed by 49,
consideration of honor and interest
10 mis- league is rejected, it Will De
necessary for us in the present us
f,,rhoa condition Of the world, 10 con
struct the largest navy af,pat, anu
baya an army equal to that OK any
nation Shall we embark on tliS
great military expense and expansion
ar accent the league and with IL ths
honorable pledge Of Great Britain anu
Janan the only two nations from
which the islands could ever De
threatened. together with that OF
other members, to aid in preserving
them from all external aggression
Our Outlying Possessions.
We should also reflect ina, W
Panama Canal, its defenses. ana me
islnras owned by us in the Caribbean
Sea are outlying territories, requiring
for their defense immense naval ana
Military ornaments. Under eSlsuhs
conditions we have always asserted
that our hold upon this canal was
no stronger than the American na'f.
This canal with the exception OF ouI
bopoe territory, Is the most vaiuabie
possession we have, The develop
rnent OF our varied industries, our Ha
tional prestige, and safety ueihahu
that the canal should be uhuer oui
control and ownership Ihis ~ ~"
tional pollok as fixed as the eteFhai
stars For rs maintenance there is
no sacrifice we would refuse. IL our
hold upon this canal lessenea OF
strengthened by this article? TINS IS
a vital question. Great Britain is the
only nation sufficiently strong upon
the sea to challenge our ownership
with a navy far exceeding ours, she
constitutes the only menace In TINS
article she pledges not only to respec,
herself our ownership OF the cana,
and zone but to preserve IL iom al
external aggression. Thus our own
ership under the league woota ue
made as secure "a it could be mace
hv nat,ona, promise and power. But
This pledge OF members of the league
is made doubly secure by the plan OF
disarmament which. when prepared
and presented, must have the ap-
proval OF our representative upon the
council and then be sanctioned py
congress. Thus under the league we
obtain not only this important guar
anty, but in addition naval and NM
tary force which in comparison WIN
that possessed by other members WILL
in our Judgment, afford us ample Sc
curitv. II the defense OF the canal
ia made dependent upon force, II is
safer under tire plan OF the league
than in a fierce race TO outstrip All
possible competitors in naval ana
military ornaments. The one re-
poses it's safety upon what our CAIN
Judgment dictates; the other hazards
it's safety upon our chances OF sue
cess in this wild competition.
The Monroe Doctrine.
The opponents Of the league con-
tend that IL the United States should
enter the league as proposed in the
frst draft she would by.s doing aban-
don the Monroe doctrine, which has
ever been her traditional foreign
policy. They have insisted that this
doctrine was so important that
should be reserved by explicit decia-
ration. The new draft does this Ar
ticle 81 provides. -,
Nothing in this covenant shaii
be deemedtto affect the validity
of international engagements
such az treaties Of arbitration or
regional understandings ike the
Monroe doctrine for securing the
maintenance OF peace.
Yet. Mr. President, with the clear
explicit reservation some OF the op-
ponents Of the league are not satisf1ed
They do not like 1t being termed "a
~