The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-11
PEACE WANTED NOW,'
LEAGUE DEFERRED



save civilization. league or no
league"
Mr.. Knox's resolution was sur
prise to almost everybody in the Sen
ate. He has been working on 1t for
a long time, however Last Decem-
Der In Senate speech he outlined a
powerful argument for the plan which
is erystallized into the formal dec
larations of the resolution. Coming
from former Secretary of State who
is also lawyer it commanded In
slant attention as likely to become.
the next step in the programme Of
opposition to the League Of Nations.
Bright and early this morning Mr..
Knox called on Senator Lodge
| (Mass.) }. Republican leader, and they
were in conference until few min
utes before the opening of the Sen
ate session. Neither Of them gave
an intimation that the Pennsylvania
had anything up his sleeve. Mr..
lodge was particularly cheerful fol-
lowing the conference. but confined
his converse ton to the events Of the
previous day and the victory which
he considered the Republicans had
won in forcing the treaty text into
the Congressional Record. He ex-
pressed the confident opinion that
there is now q majority in the SEN
ate for at least three amendments
to the league pact: one to cover Amer
lean control of immigration, one to
except the Monroe Doctrine and one
to strike out Article 10. which binds
member Powers to protect the In
tegrity Of each others territories.
More than that he was also conf
dent that there were more than the
necessary votes to reject the treaty
entirely II 1t is not amended in vital
particulars.
Senator Knoz's Resolution.
II When the session Of the Senate was
ldroning through the morning business
mr.. Knox got the floor, introduced his
resolution and asked that II be read.
, 1t was followed with unwonted inter
est, for from the first sentence 1t was
ecognized as a finished. carefully
bought out. technically correct State
document. 1t read;
Whereas the Congress of the
United States in declaring, pursuant
to its exclusive authority under the
Constitution. the existence OF a
state of war between the United
. States and the Imperial German
: Government solemnly affirmed that
the imperial Government has so
committed repeated acts Of war
against the Government and the
: people OF the United States" that
l q state of war had been thrust upon
: them by that Government, and
: thereupon formally pledged the
whole military and naval resources
OF the country ito bring the conflict
to a successful termination: and
q Whereas the Senate OF the United
States, being a coequal part OF the
1 treaty making power of this Gov
eminent and therefore coeQually re-
n sponsible for any treaty which Is
concluded and ratified. is deeply
concerned over the draft treaty OF
peace negotiated at Versailles, by
a which it Is proposed 10 end our
/ victorious war, and is gravely i'm
e pressed by the fact that its provi-
sions appear calculated TO force
It upon us unde sirable and far reach
ing covenants inimical to our free
;, institutions under the penalty that
!. failing to accept these we shall
e continue in a state Of war while our
: l. cobeiiigerents shall be at peace and
. enjoying its blessings; that it is
n proposed to make us parties TO a
League of Nations under a plan as
10 which the people OF the United
States have had neither time to ex-
j. anime and consider nor opportunity
to express regarding it a matured
and deliberate judgment, whereas
!. the treaty may be easily so drawn
:. as TO permit the making of imme
is mediate peace. leaving the question
to OF the establishment of a League of
i, Nations for later determination: and
lie that the treaty as drawn contains
r. principles, guarantees and under
taking obliterative of legitimate
70 race and national aspirations. OPP
pressive Of weak nations and peo-
IN pies and destructive of human prog
a. ress. and liberty; therefore be 1t
st Resolved BY the Senate Of the
r United States, That 1t will regard
y as fully adequate for our national
!" needs and as completely responsive
MT to the duties and obligations we
rs owe TO our cobelligerents and 10
NJ humanity n peace treaty which
ng shall assure to the United States
be and its people the attainment OF
those ends for which We entered the
war, and that it will look with dis
favor upon all treaty provisions go
ne ing beyond these ends.
- 2. That since the people of the
On United States have themselves de-
,st termiped and provided in their Con-
stitution the only ways in which the
lie, Constitution may be amended, and
or since amendment by treaty stipula-
Ve ton is not one of the methods by
~ which the people have so prescribed
nm the treaty making power OF the
"a United States has no authority to
TO make a treaty which in effect
Do arnapds ha Constitution NJ fha