Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-01
s"LOOSE" CONSTRUCTION, SAYS
KNOX, VITZATES WORLD LEAGUE
Doubts Sacrifice of U. S.
Traditions and Policies
Worth While
URGES A REFERENDUM
Emphasizes Danger in OmiS-
sion to Provide for Peace
full Withdrawal

league, which guarantee not only their
own territorial integrity and independ-
ence, but the territorial integrity and
political independence of every other
member of the league.
"By Article 12 the parties agree not
to resort TO war against any high con-
tracing party over any dispute what
soever, until the matter has been sub
mitted to arbitration or subjected to in
quiry before the executive council. It
may be remarked in passing two things
are obvious: First, that this does not
prevent but merely delays war by the
high contracting parties except that
| second, IL a member of the league, OBJ
Gaining the judgment before the arbitra-
| tion tribunal or the council accepts the
benefit of the judgment Gas. of course.
the winning party would all but uni
versally do), then the losing party shall
not under such circumstances. go Vto
war against the winning party.
by Article is. the high contracting
parties agree to refer to the executive
council any dispute not submitted to ar
bitration and likely to lead to rupture,
and further that they will not go to war
with any party which complies with
any recommendation of the executive
council which is unanimously concurred
in by all members of the council, except
the parties to the dispute.
May War Over Decision
Seemingly they may go to war over
a recommendation of the council which
is not unanimously concurred in by all
members of the council, except the par
ties in dispute.
by article 20 the high contracting
parties undertake to endeavor to secure
and maintain fair and humane condi-
tions of labor In member states and
among non-member states and agree to
establish as part of the organization
of the league a permanent bureau of
labor-a somewhat drastic potential in
reference not merely with out Federal
but with our state powers as we'll
"And by Article 25. probably the third
most important in the entire document,
the high contracting parties agree that
this covenant shall abrogate all obliga-
tions inter SO which are inconsistent
with the terms thereof and that they
will not enter into any other engage
ments which are thus inconsistent.
II raise this as a question of no little
, Importance: Since the covenants of the
league guarantee territorial integrity
and political independence of league
members, then a similar covenant be-
tween any two members of the league
would probably be considered an incon-
sistent obligation; and II this be true
. I invite the attention of the Senate to
tho possible abrosation OF the PIatt
amendment treaty between ourselves
and Cuba-a treaty heretofore regarded
J as indispensable to our national welfare
and safety-in case both Cuba and the
United States become members of the
} league.
q hn N a
covenants which run in the name of the
high contracting parties.
, ~ wish now to direct your attention
: to the powers which run in the name Of
the league as such. and to renew my in
. vitation that you consider well the diff
ferences between the two sets OF
! covenants and powers, and to my ques
! tion as to whether the plan contemplates
! two international entities, namely. the
, high contracting parties and the league
3 by Article the league is to pre-
\ scribe conditions of entry into it of the
outcast states: by Article II the league
Is to be entrusted with the genera
supervision Of trade in arms and am
Z munition in countries where contro
/. of the traffic of such is necessary to the
y common interest; by Article 10 thu
= league assisted by the mandatory com
E mandates. and by Article 81 the league
3 is to be the instrument through which
! the high contracting parties shall secure
r and maintain freedom of transit anc
equitable treatment Of commerce of al
members together with special arrange
ments with regard to the necessities o.
. regions devastated in the present war
These are the sum total Of the powers
and obligations which in this covenant
:, run to the league as such. How grea
J the undertakings of the high contracting
y parties. how meager the obligations Of
the league itself is evident from thi'
enumeration.
!, And in considering all this it must bt
remembered that once We enter thi!
y league and assume these obligations W.
cannot secure any modification thereof
except with the consent of all the states
whose representatives compose the Exec
utive Council. and of three-fourths o.
the states whose representatives com
= pose the body of delegates. What &
. magnificent field we would thus create
: for grandiose international political ma
!, nipulation by ambitious men and groups
t, Denies 1t VIII Maintain Peace
with this analysis before as. we ar
!, now in a position to consider the appli
cation of the rules by which On m!
First. Do Its provisions abolish wa
y and make Il hereafter impossible? Their
!. Is not an important article in the docu
ment which does not specifically answe
a that question NO.
"And further, the scheme provide'
). therein holds out higher promise. na!
assurance, of . future worldwide wal
!, greater than any which has gone be
= fore. than any other document in tn
- - history of recorded time.
70 "I have already pointed out that tn
l. covenant provides for three sorts o
states: first, 'signatories' of the cove
: nant; second, protocol states and thirc
ls outcast states, which take 1t are tn
II Central Powers and their allies.
q Now It is unnecessary to labor a
ie argument to show that the inevitabl
r result of outlawing the Central State
n will be to drive them more closely To
e. gether for mutual self-protection.
70 I'VE would thus have In no distan
q future two great leagues of nation:
ID which will become two great camps, eac
'e preparing for a new and greater III
q and death struggle
,r "Our only escape from this resul
re under this plan, would be through tn
a exercise of such tyrranical despotisI
I'd over the peoples OF the Central Power
n as we, with all our traditions and ideal
to must not become a party to, for
TO would be violative of all Of those huma
TO rights for which our fathers fought an
e. which our own constitution guarantee
"In other words. this plan. as the pr.
b. .criptions Of the document demonstrate
r. IA In effect merely an onsensive and d,
- .....-. .ulan.a between eertaiu nick q