The sun., 1919-03-24
WILSON TO TOUR.UB.,
is BELIEF OF HOLT.
Editor Says Trip TO- Boom
League Is Possible Before
Senate Gets Draft.
FEARS REVOLT IN EUROPE
People on Continent Look on
Plan as Only Way to Pre-
vent War, It IL Said.

Hamilton Holt. editor OF the Indepen-
dent. who went abroad in December as a
representative at Versailles OF the
League to Enforce Peace, suggested
yesterday in his first interview since
his return the possibility of the Presi-
dent touring the country in order to
speak in favor Of the League OF Ma
tions before presenting the plan TO the
Senate.
Mr. Holt. who favors the league. made
II plain that he had no news OF the
Presidents Intentions, but merely mem
toned the trip as within the power OF
tho President. He pointed out that Mr..
Wilson could travel from New York to
California urging the people directly to
support the covenant The Senate would
be powerless to act on the league until
Mr.. Wilson formally placed before
its members.
Asked If he advocated any amendments
to tho present covenant Mr.. Holt re-
piled that he personally would make u
stronger. rather than weaker. despite
the attitude of the Senate. lie asserted
that the same Senators would oppose the
league II Il were made 10 per cent.
weaker and therefore It might just as
we'll be strengthened desplte their oppo-
s!tlon. The more time that IL taken in
taking over the League OF Nations, the
more the approval OF 1t will grow In this
country, he asserted
Monroe Doctrine Then Useless.
Mr.. Holt expressed the opinion that
the constitution OF the league itself did
away in great part with the need for the
Monroe Doctrine. because II pledged the
! associated nations to prevent the plans of
any Individual nation which attempted
by force to occupy part OF Central or
South America. The United States. he
the fighting In such q case, since 1t was
on the ground.
In the hypothetical case OF Dominica.
for example. where French IL the pre-
vailing language. desiring to become a
part Of the French Republic, Mr.. Holt
admitted that II. after the protest oI the
United States the six representatives OF
the other nations in the league voted TO
permit the annexation. the United States
would have TO submit. thus giving up Its
sovereignty to the extent of permitting
violation Of the Monroe Doctrine.
Mr.. Holt declared there is danger OF
a revolution in Europe II the League OF
Nations is not formed. The people OF
the various States are counting on II to
prevent war. he asserted. and their lead
ers fear violence II the plan falls through.
Mr.. Holt denied that Great Britain is
endeavoring to impose her views and
wishes upon the other people of the
world In the formation of the league.
| Great Britain. according to the editor,
has been the closest friend OF this coun-
| try since the armistice, her delegates
and those Of the United States standing
together The idea OF the league to pre-
vent war was originally that of the
United States. but when 1t reached isu-
rope the people seized upon It as soiu-
| ton Of the menace of militarism and
built it up, going further than the United
States had originally intended to go. he
added.
Not Plan of Any one state.
The league is not the plan OF any one
state. but the result of n series OF COM
promises which were made by the dele
gates OF various countries, who relin-
qu!shed various claims and attitudes TO
make a general agreement possible. ac-
| cording TO Mr.. Holt.
AS n representative Of the League to
Enforce Peace. with O1car s. Straus.
also representative. he had many OPP
portunities to confer with the leaders o.
the various countries, Lloyd George,
Clemenceau. Nenizelos, President Wilson
and the American delegates. lie ex-
pressed the opinion. derived from infor-
nation from a high source. that rresi-
dent Wilson will not offer to the Senate
for ratification any plan that the Senate
cannot reasonably accept
In the matter OF disarmament the peo-
pie OF the European nations are FAR
ahead OF Americans. he stated. There Is
widespread sentiment in favor OF re-
duc!ng to the lowest possible figure the
fghtinR strength OF the nations Re-
verting to the subject OF revolt, Mr.. Holt
declared that the leaders OF European
nations were more alarmed than was
generally known over the Bolshevist
situation in Russia, and feared that fall
ure to form league would mean revolu-
tionary movement by radical elements.
The editor admitted, however. that
fear Of the Bolsheviki and the spread Of
their doctrines is by no means unani-
nous In Europe. Diplomats differ on
this subject some asserting that a return
10 the system OF what Mr.. Holt called
entangling alliances could be made. The
general apprehension is. however that
the internal peace of the European ma
tons would be endangered by failure Of
| tho league.
The matter OF the attitude of British
| soldiers on their return to civilian life
| ls also u matter OF much discussion and
| wide variance OF opinion, according 10
Mr.. Holt. 1t is the opinion of some Of
the political leaders that the soldiers
will return full of resentment toward
the laborites because OF their strikes
during the war. which hindered the
army and prolonged the war, Others
assert that the soldiers themselves have
''Nronc extremists ~ radicais and ~"
make trouble for TIE existing G6rtrn-
! ment.