The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-03
KNOX SPEECH TO BE-
KEYNOTE IN FIGHT


Congress alongside their Republican COL
leagues in determined opposition to tho
Srnuts-wilson plan.
Investigation to-day OF the positive
| statement made by Senator New Ind.
that the Smuts-Wilson plan could not
get even majority support in the
Senate II the vote were to be taken to-
morrow received ample confirmation
This fact may be Of even more interest
States.
Senators generally hope that the Eng
lish, French and italian people will not
gain a false impression Of what Is going
on in America or of how American
opinion is forming. After adjournment
OF Congress the Senators who will take
the lead in campaign Of education will
keep in mind the necessity OF letting
Europe know that public opinion In this
country is not yet in favor of the league
as proposed and Is not likely to be.
Campaign Material Seen.
Appreciation of the value OF the Knox
speech as campaign material was lost
on none OF the Republican party war
horses Senator New, hero OF hundred
political fights and victor in most Of
them. sensed II instantly. He told Sen
etor Knox so and then he stepped into
the marble room and repeated these
views to the reporters
1T Is three speeches in one" an
nounced Senator New gleefNly. ut has
every element needed. for 1t js construc-
tive. Some of us have been 80 busy
over the weaknesses OF the Paris docu-
ment that we have lost sight Of the con-
structive side OF the problem, but not so
Mr. Knox He dissected the Wilson In
afr n he xxyhn 80 10
deficiencies were laid bare to the most
casual observer. but he did not leave It
there. He suggested means for the crea-
ton OF an association OF nations which
would be an actual safeguard against
war and not an excuse for II. His
speech has furnished the fundamentals
for an entire campaign and along lines
which can be subscribed TO by every
American patriot, whether he be DEM
ocrat. a Republican or Socialist"
A Coalition of Powers.
One OF the chief elements of strength
In the Knox speech was Its denunciation
OF the distorted form OF the SHUTS
Wilson instrument His charge that It
rs in effect merely an offensive and de-
fensive alliance between certain picked
Powers as between themselves and this
coalition Is formed with an avowed and
published purpose to impose upon the
stranger Powers the will of the coalition.
rot merely in matters relating to the
prevention OF war but In all other mat
ters in which the conduct of the stranger
Powers affects the members of the coali
ton" struck an instant appeal in the
minds OF Senators who have been seek
ing a definition Of the real weakness of
the proposed league.
Ia h.
ing less" Senator Knox had said.
With the certainty that tho forum OF
the Senate. which has been a wide open
theatre of expression ever since the de-
parture of Mr.. Wilson for Europe last
December. will now be closed for the
ensuing ten or perhaps twenty weeks
the value OF the Knox speech assumes
even larger proportions, in the opinion
Of the leagues opponents.
There was good deal OF amusement
here to-day when II was learned that
the President has consented TO receive a
delegation OF Irish Americans after ne
finishes his address In the Metropolitan
Opera House in New York next Tuesday
night. His consent was obtained only
because of the sensation exploded by
THE SUN in revealing that the President.
replying to Representative Ragsdale at
the famous FOREIGN Affairs Committee
dinner. said that since Ireland was a
part of the kingdom of England the
question of Irish independence was a
delicate one and as such could not be
taken up by the League Of Nations.
Where Hitchcock Fell Down.
Immediately following that unexpected
admission by the President Senator
Hitchcock (Neb.) In attempting disas-
oaf.- els ASN Oh 10
SUMS statement said that "a question
was asked which caused a great deal OF
laughter" that it (the Irish question:
was mot seriously considered" that 1T
was not -~ph ter .0r serious conSidera-
ton"
Whoever may have laughed It is GER
tain that the Irish in this country man.
eyed to contain their mirth. So many
redhot questions and comments poured
into the White House that hurried ef-
fort was made to save the situation.
Irish delegates came to Washington from
their Philadelphia convention and ragged
all over the city. They even wrote a
letter signed BY Justice John w. Con OF
New York as chairman, by ex-Gov.
Dunno of Illinois, Justice Daniel +. Co.
halan of New York. John P. Grace OF
South Carolina, Eugene Kinkead OF New
Jersey and James ]. Splain of Connecti-
cut. among many others, informing the
President of their regret that he could
not ind time to see them and reminding
HIM that Ireland has as much right as
CZecho-Slovakia, Jugo-Slavia, Armenia
or Poland to self-determination and de-
manding that he obtain recognition by
the Peace Conference OF Ireland.
II was learned at the White House
that this letter WAS about to be sent. so
Secretary Tumulty FASTENED to inform
the delegates that the President could
find a little time for them In New York
after the Metropolitan Opera House
meeting. He may have a job on his
hands convincing the delegation that he
Is In sympathy with their aspirations.
since they took pains In Washington to
satisfy themselves that he had told his
guests of last Wednesday night that
Iseland was to be left to England.
J. r. Grace Explains.
Just how the Irish feel Is expressed by
John p. Grace. former Mayor of Charles
q ~ kA