The daily banner., 1919-06-18
Defiant KNOX
LASHES LEAGUE
Senator Declares 1t is Peril
to America.
BITTER DEBATE IS BEGUN
Foresees Change of Monroe Doctrine
Into measure Of Spineiess Paci-
fsm"-chaItenges For Test Vote.

hsm"-Chalienges For Test Vote.
Washington, June 1S.-Attacking the
league of nations covenant as a NEIL
ace to the Monroe Doctrine and
threat to the security of the western
hemisphere, Senator Knox opened de-
bate in the senate on his resolution
to separate the covenant from the
treaty Of peace.
He maintained that the cooperation
Of the senate was essential in peace
deliberations, criticized his opponents
for following the president and ex-
pressed his willingness for test vote
if the Democrats insisted on making
the league party matter.
In asking that the people have time
in which to study the league plan,
Senator Knox said the United States
saved the liberties of Europe and In
order to insure them for the future
we have acquiesced in our associates
absorbing the gigantic spoils of the
common victory"
perhaps we may be willing to guar
antee their perpetual possession OF
those spoils as is proposed in article
ten of the covenant" he continued.
, perhaps we may be willing to sur
render our liberties to foreign doml-
nation. But let US think it over and
know the full import of our act He
added:
IF senators on the other side con-
tinue as a party to oppose all efforts
to secure full consideration Of this
great matter; If they do not cease to
, listen to and obey the mere fat of a
partisan executive; If they remain
! firm in their stand against the consti-
; tutional right Of the senate fully and
fairly to consider this question upon
its merits, and if they persist in their
! denial of the sovereign right OF the
people to deliberate upon and reach
; a decision concerning it, if this is TO
be the party attitude Of senators who
oppose them, then I say here and now,
in all soberness, l shall be the last
to shrink from the issue which they
so force.
Senators Of the opposition, you may
make this a partisan issue ii you
choose, but If you do you must pay to
the American people and to their pos
terity throughout all time the penalty
which they will exact"
Declaring his object is to obtain
immediate peace for the United States
and the world, Senator Knox said:
"What want now to secure is what
the whole people Of the United States
ardently wish-peace, immediate per-
manent peace. Six long weary months
have been consumed by the peace con-
ference in Paris by merely drawing
the peace terms that are to be forced
upon our enemies, six long weary
months Of secret quibbling, bartering
and quarreling. And still we wait.
Meantime Europe is in turmoil, to
the point Of anarchy and chaos. Our
own country remains in status Of
war, under irksone laws inimical to
our freedom. Influences hostile to our
government and its institutions thrive
and propagate. Thieves and Bolshe-
visits and anarchists feed, fatten and
.
the fears Of the people. The people
themselves are torn by uncertainties
and dread, and industry and commerce
lag and wait. We must, sir, have
! peace-a wise and permanent peace,
and to get this we must have the wis
dom Of the senate as well as the wis
dom of the executive"
He admitted his resolution would
in effect sever the treaty and the
covenant, but said that an unnamed
member Of the American peace dele
CATION had been quoted in press des-
patches from Paris as saying that
''while the covenant is part of the
treaty it does not actually deal with
the terms of peace and therefore is
essentially of a different character"
He then discussed at length provi-
sions of the covenant to which he is
opposed. He declared the Monroe doc
trine provision inserted in the revised
covenant Of the league would wipe out
that doctrine.
"It is hard to speak calmly Of such
a perversion as this" he said, ''ft is
hard to conceive of any man tradi-
toned In Americanism lending his
sanction to such a monstrosity.
Never before has the Monroe Doc
trine been a mere measure of spine
less pacifism. 1t has until now been a
strong means Of self-protection and
elf-preservation."