The sun., 1919-03-19
Warns Of European Entangle-
ments in Speech to Mis-
souri, Legislature.
HE POINTS OUT DECEIT
Pact May Force U. 8. to Be-
como World Policeman
Against Inclination.

Characterixtng the League OF Nations ~
n spiders web slsilfully woven by Euro
pean diplomats to catch America In
meshes OF international ENHANCEMENT
United States Senator Reed to-day de-
nounced the scheme before q Joint ses-
sion Of tho Missouri Legislature.
He pointed out that although the
American people were FIRST given TO un-
derstand that the league constitution
was conceived by American statesmen
who were compelling It's adoption by the
reluctant nations OF Europe It is now
revealed that 'the entire scheme. from
first to last. with some slight modiflca-
tons. Is the product Of British states
manship"
This fact, the Senator declared, might
indicate why England. still retaining her
neet. would outvote the United States
five to one. He told the attentive ieris.
iators who heard him how. in his opinion.
the league would impair American
sovereignty. violate the provisions of the
Constitution and set aside the Monroe
> Doctrine.
Ss@so~ = vECCu EohCe1nous
= In addition there would be created a
super-government OF the world which
would force the United States into inter-
national questions and into the duty of
policing lands in which we had no inter-
est or to which we owed no obligations.
MT Reed analysed the constitu-
tion OF the League. the legislators
following his points by means Of copies
+, of the charter. which had been distrib-
uted among them. Speaking OF the Brit
ish origin of the proposed constitution
he continued:
European diplomats have skilfuliy
woven their spiders web so that we may
be caught In its meshes and may be
bound for all time to send our gallant
sons to assist the dominant nations of
the earth in policing the world and ulti-
mately TO assist some OF them in ambi-
tions for power or quarrels over territory.
Those who conceived the structure
did not intend to allow the United States
to escape once 1t should fatefully step
within the entagling web"
By quoting the words OF President
Wilson Senator Reed refuted the arg,I-
ment Of certain advocates OF tho league
who state its powers would be merely
advisory. In this connection he said
There are number OF advocates OF
the league who seek to protect It
against the indignation of the Ameri-
can people by arguing that the council
has only the power to recommend and
that It Is then optional with the several
nations to comply or to refuse to COM
ply with the recommendation.
Let US examine that miserable argu-
ment. II 1t be true statement then
!, the league is backed by no force what
\ soever and the league Is an innocuous
Z thing. Why multiply 10 many words
4 about armies and navies and forco II
there is TO be no force?
'If. however. 1t is contended that the
obligation is morally binding. then, in
deed, we are worse off-because the
United States will keep its moral obliga-
lions, whereas some other nations might
not
Record Power for Council.
"All these contentious were utterly
destroyed by the President. who when
he presented the league constitution to
tho Peace Council expressly stated:
ARMED force Is in the background
o: this programme. but II Is In the back
ground. and II the moral force of the
world will not suffice tho physical force
Of the world SHALL"
Tho vesting CT tremendous power
power such rs never was given before in
history 10 Ave men. in the members of
ture OF the constitution on which SEN
ator Reei laid especial emphasis. He
characterized the council as IAN dig
aichy clothed with more arbitrary pow
crs than were ever welded by any despot
on earth"
Here Is tribunal Of FIVE men," he
snid. without any limitations whatso-
ever upon their authority, against whose
decision. once rendered. there Is no APP
peal save to armed force. Against the
abuse OF their power there are neither
checks nor safeguards. II this be not a
creation OF the very command of the
world then the language OF agreements
cannot create powers"
The Executive Council. fortified by the
disarmament provisions OF the constitu-
ton. would have absolute power to limit
American armament. he pointed out. He
showed the danger OF this In these
words:
I'VE may be belea suered by enemies.
All the enemies OF destruction may be
gathering about us, Yet unless we can
gain the consent OF the five masters OF
the world we must remain unprepared
As an example OF questions which
would be brought before the league In
stead OF handled by the United States
herself Senator Reed pointed to grant
OF land by Mexfr0I Japan-~A. gram
by Colombia to a foreign Power which
Intended building a fortress command.
ing the Panama Canal.