The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-06-13
Knox Introduces Resolution to
Advise Peace Conference
Giving Notice.
MORE CRITICISM OF TEXT
Senators Declare Treaty Reveals
Close Curtailment of Right
of Self Determination in Saare
Valley.

Washington, June 12.-The senate
fight over the league Of nations was
brought to a more direct issue with
introduction Of a resolution by Sem
ator Knox, Republican, of Pennsyl-
vania, proposing that the senate
give formal notice to the peace con-
ference OF opposition to be expected
should the peace treaty be submitted
for ratification in its present form.
Senator Knox, a member OF the
foreign relations committee and a
former secretary OF state, drafted the
resolution after conference with 9TH
er league opponents and presented it
with the apparent support Of those
who have led in criticism Of the
league covenant. He expected to
crystalize opposition sentiment as
did Senator Lodge, chairman of the
foreign relations committee, with
the circulation of the round robin in
the closing hours of the last senate.
While declaring for immediate
conclusion of a treaty dealing with
direct issue of the war only, the
resolution contains far-reaching
proposal which would lay il down as
policy Of the American government
that whenever the freedom and peace
OF Europe is threatened, the United
States will consider it obligatory to
assist in the removal of that menace.
Decision as to acceptance of mem
bership in the league of nations
should be left without prejudice to
each nation, the resolution declares,
for future separate consideration. 1t
also asserts the lack OF authority by
| the treaty-making power of the gov
ernment to make a treaty which in
effect amends the American consti-
| tuition.
At Mr.. KnoXs request the resolu-
| tion was referred without debate to
the foreign relations committee He
will attempt to get the committee ac-
| tion this week and hopes to bring il
up in the senate for consideration by
| the end of the week, the resolution
is due to open a new chapter in the
| league of nations fight and to de-
! velop debate which may be even
more bitter than that over the pub
lication of the treaty text.
Except for the reading of the
Knox resolution, the treaty contro-
versy came to the surface only once
| during the day in the senate That
was when Senator Pittman, Demo
crat, OF Nevada, asked unanimous
consent to print in the record with
| out reading a speech by former
| President Taft advocating the league
| Senator Smoot, Republican, OF Utah
| interposed an objection and Senator
Pittman then put in the speech by
reading 1t.
Meantime, however, there were
many conferences among senators
over provisions OF the treaty, pub
lished in full in the congressional
record, and the foreign relations
committee made plans to resume its
investigation of how treaty copies
reached private hands in New York
or the six financiers the committee
had summoned three, ]. p. Morgan,
| Henry p. DAWSON and Frank A. Van
| derlip. sent word they would be
ready to appear.
The committee arranged for a
larger room for the hearing which Is
to be open to the public. The com
mittee is expected to agree on other
witnesses to be called later in the
week
Thomas w. Lamont one OF the
financiers summoned, is said to be
in France and 1t is considered un-
likely that the committee will make
further effort at this time to have
him come to Washington. Another,
Jacob Schiff, asked to be
excused on account OF III
health. and Paul Warburg had left
New York for Detroit when the sum-
mons. arrived and had not replied.
In comment on the treaty text. put
into the record after long fight by
Senator Borah. Republican, OF Idaho.
there were three topics about which
interest centered. They were the