Evening star., 1919-07-14

| aggression the council shall
| advise upon the means by which
| this obligation shall be full
1 | filled"
Praising the league of nations
! covenant as "one of the world s
greatest documents" Senator Swan
son of Virginia. a democratic member
of the foreign relations committee.
| told the Senate today that if the
| United States rejected the league it
| would mean that she would skulk in
the greatest world crisis that ever
occurred
The speaker defended the league
against the objection that il would
sacrifice sovereignty and American n
traditions and asserted that on the
| contrary, it would result in immense
material gain in protecting American
integrity and preventing war He de-
clared it would not create super
government. involve objectiona b =
obliga ton nor invalidate the Monroe
doctrine.
Pathway Is Plain
The pathway of our duty is plain
said Senator Swanson. Let US not be
frightened by our own prodigious
shadow as it projects itself into
world anairs. Let us not be deferred
from our manifest duty and destiny
by a craven fear of becoming great
in giving service and direction to a
world in direct hour of its needs
and distress"
Pointing out that the war had
shaken the social order to it's foun-
| datlon. the Virginia senator said it
| was the paramount obligation of re-
sponslble statesmen to prevent an
other such confiagration. which would
| return the world Ito the rule of brute
force and barabarism of the dark
ages"
The covenant of the league has
! been assailed from two opposite
! sources, he continued. The league
viii neither be a super-state nor SOW
ereign. nor a helpless powerless as
sociation of nations. The instrument
creating the league is a Covenant
entered into by sovereign states. One
| OF the attributes of sovereignty is the
ability to make covenants or agree
ments. That state reserves its full
sovereignty is concluSively settled by
the provision allowing any member To
Withdraw. No nation. super or other
wise. ever thus expressly provided
means for its dissolution.
No More Than Treaty.
This covenant. if ratified by the
senate, would be no more nor less
, Ihan treaty legalized under our
constitution. The plan for the forma-
ton of the league is skillfully cor
ceiVeo. and the only one possible un-
DER existing political conditions
The assembly of the league will be
composed of representatives of the
members, who will be selected in ac-
cordance with the laws of the re-
spective states. In the case of the
united States. the representatives.
oelng officers created by treaty. would
oe appointed as provided by an act of
congress. Much opposition has been,
urged because a great nation like n
united States has only one vote in the
assembly. But what difference does
the number of votes make, when. upon
all important matters, the action of
haa hne assshoiy sen must be unanimous. or
nave the unanimous concurrence of
Ine council. upon which the United
states is permanently represented"
ihe league could never be organ
lzeo on any basis other than of equal
representation. If members were .c
corded difference in representation
upon what basis should the apportionN
ment be made. If upon population
China and India would dominate the
league and the United States would
nave only one-hfteenth of the number
II based upon wealth and military
power. the situation would be equally
as uncertain and unsatisfactory.
Lauds Disarmament Plan.
What better plan for disarmament
could be DEVISED The council is di-
rected to prepare a general plan of
disarmament for the consideration of
the governments. which plan is not
binding upon any of the states until
approved by that state. Under our
10 n,
effective in binding us must have the
sanction of Congress, which is in
trusted under the Constitution with
the power of raising armies and equip
ping the Navy.
Under article 10 each member of
the league undertakes. first TO re-
spect the territorial integrity and po-
litical independence of all other mem
bers of the league. When the nations
of the world. sobered by sorrow and
suffering. are willing to raise their
hands and take this solemn pledge
are we sullenly and stubbornly TO
stand aside and become d stumbling
block in the way of this noble
achievement? Do any of them have
possessions that we view with COW
etous, eyes and propose TO seize and
annex?
tine second obligation assumed bv
each member is to preserve. as
against external aggression. the ter
ritorial integrity and existing po-
litical independence of all members
of the league This is natural
corollary from the first. In the for
mer we undertake not to rob our as
sociates ourselves. and in this we
agree not to permit others tos do so.
This guarantee of territorial integ-
rity and political independence is
limited to those cases where they are
threatened or attacked by external
aggression and does not apply to
revolution within a nation. A ma
tions internal affairs are left un-
disturbed. Nationality. with its vital
stimulating patriotism, would be pre-
served, given new life and opportu-
nifty.
Thoughtful persons recognize the
importance of giving such a guaran
tee now. al least for a limited period.
if the peace of the world is to be I
maintained. The autocratic govern
ments that controlled Russia. Ger
many, Austria and Turkey have been
overthrown. but as yet no real. stable
governments established. Some OF
the new states created out of this
immense territory without the guar
,anty of the league, would be over
thrown and would return to the DOM
ination of their former oppressors.
Hon Elihu Root. former Secretary
of State recognized the great imme-
I, sn1a