The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-20

by the league Senator Poindexter
pointed out that the President had re-
ferred to force in the background"
should Congress refuse to obey the man.
dates OF the league the United States
would be subject, therefore, TO coercion
furthermore, he said, the United States
would be subject to the dlscredit and
shame OF violation OF a compact
solemnly entered into with other nations
This" he said. will inevitably be the
result In the face of any vital emergency
anecting me independence or safety Of
high spirited people such as ours
, lhere should be common sense plan
among all the great military Powers for
reduction and limitation OF armament,
Dut this plan should be specifically
worked out In advance OF its accept
ance and should be submitted to the
government and people OF the United
states for their approval or rejection,
and when approved there should be an
express reservation Of the right OF the
people of the United States to abrogate
the agreement upon due notice and
proper procedure. This blind commit
, ment OF the people to submit their
future to the decision of tribunal in
which the United States is only one voice
In multitude would be betrayal Of
the trust and heritage OF the nation
Senator Poindexter unfavorably criti-
cised the article requiring arbitration
OF any form OF dispute. noting that there
was uncertainty and conflict in the pro-
visions upon this matter. He asked
| IL the American people in q great and
| vital emergency were ready to surrender
their power OF ultimate decision and
give over in advance their freedom OF
action In the defence OF the nation.
The people would be false to Cleveland
and Roosevelt and Washington and Mon
roe, Senator Poindexter said, were they
blindly to subscribe to any such con-
tract. He asked IL the League Of Ma
tons could bring peace TO Russia. and
! said that even now, while talking of
perpetual peace our voice IL drowned
in the clamor OF war.
Attacks Article x.
lie strongly attacked Article ". which
binds the United States 70 undertake
| to preserve as against external ag-
sressions the territorial integrity and
existing political independence in all
states, members of the league" saying
that under this obligation the United
states assumes the protection OF every
nation which shall become a member
OF the league. mo such colossal burden
| or entangling alliance was ever before
conceived In the world the Senator
said. Instead OF being an instrument OF
peace II Is the fertile seed or war. the
dragons teeth from which. when sown.
armed soldiers will srfing"
/ He objected TO Article XII. which
places upon the United States the guar
uiahship, WIN the otner neroers or the
'easue. OF certain coionies ana territories
Nu ne saiu Una. 'ne expense aooi
s s sacnTe Oh me NhIcn WIN De the
! u.lee' I.su,' vi sucn an opiisatioii oi'
~ pait "a .o O"''eu Sea'es aie De
IN M ua'ioi'
r mas an n,unec, e.h Mn,cn ns
S,a,as % aasro,i.,,s ,'hisA N'p ,,.n.'a.
oeneNolent- was nevertneless despot,
government and nationality and substi.
tuting for these the principle of despotic
internationalism.
What the outcome would be no man
could tell. but II would mean. he said
the end and obseouies of American de.
| termination and control of this hemi.
sphere-in other words the death OF the
Monroe Doctrine.
Its application. construction and eS.
istence," he said, would then be de.
pendent upon the mercy Of the very
nations AGAINST whose interests IL was
promulgated. Its fate can easily b.
foreseen' He said TIE United States
would be compelled to surrender It.
power TO protect its citizens In Mexico
for example. and he asked:
"If we desire perpetual peace ir
America do we need a League OF Ma
tons. to enforce II: Have we not al
ready in the Union of States league
of nations amply able to guarantee sucf
peace IN the western world as our people
may deem wise ana just?
There are some prices that are toe
high to be paid even for peace. The
national liberty of action Is the mos
essential attribute of national sover
eighty"
, feopic MUST he warned
All this would be surrendered by Til,
constitution of the League OF Nations
and the destinies of the America,
, people would be taken from their ow,
control and placed in the league. I
cannot be done. at least In silence. I
must be known. ana the American