The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-03-18
SENATOR REED
ATTACKSLEACUE|
Missouri Legislature Hears
Elaborate Criticism of Pro-
posed Constitution,
MANY FAULTS DEPICTED
Possible Future Dangers
Dwelt on-Would Involve
Command of World"

Jefferson City, Mo. March 10.-The
Missouri legislature in Joint session
today heard an address by United
States Senator Reed in criticism Of
the league of nations constitution.
Reiterating contentious that the
league would impair American SOW
ercignty, abrogate the Monroe doc
trine, violate the American constitu-
ton, create super government of
the world" and force the United
States into worldwide difficulties and
policing obligations, Senator Reed
challenged assertions of it's advocates
that the leagues DEGREES and powers
would be merely advisory. He in
sisted its action would be mandatory
and involve command of the world"
There are a number of advocates
of the league" said Senator Reed,
who seek to protect it against the
mitigation of the American people by
arguing that the council has only the
power to recommend and that it is
then optional with the several ma
tions to comply or to refuse to CON-
ply with the recommendation.
Let us examine that miserable
ulll6lll. IL IL Dt d u uC
then the league is backed by no force
whatsoever and the league
is an innocuous thing. Why multiply
SO many words about armies and
navies and force if there is to be no
force?
IF, however, it is contended that
the obligation is morally binding, then
indeed we are worse off be
H. -
moral obligations. whereas some
other nations might not.
"All these contentious were utterly
destroyed by the president when he
presented the league constitution
to the peace council, expressly
stated: Armed force is In the back
ground of this program. but It is in
the( background, and if the moral
force of the world will not suffice the
physical force of the world SHALL
In detail, Senator ReeG anaiyzed
the league charter, copies of which
he had distributed to all members of
the joint legislative session. Declar-
ing the tentative constitution was OF
British origin, he asserted that
America would directly be entangled
in European alliances, and added:
european ulplOllldlS navy SAil-
fully woven their spiders wen so 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 ultimately 70 assist some
of them in the ambitions for power,
or quarrels over territory"
Asserting that the league charter
!, n, vol
of nations from the league. Senator
Reed continued:
Those who conceived It's structure
did not intend to allow the United
States escape once i! should ratefully
step within the entangling weD.
THE American people were told
that the constitution of the league
had been conceived by American rep
resentatives and was being forced on
reluctant Europe. 1t now transpires
that the entire scheme. from first to
last, with some slight notifications,
is the product of British statesman
ship"
This might indicate, ne said, why
England would outVote the United
States to l and be allowed to retain
her fleet.
1Ht tNbCullNt COulltli lcdiult VI
the plan was attacked especially by
the senator
I'VE thus create an olgarchy
clothed with more arbitrary powers
than were ever welded by any despot
on earth" he said. Here is a tri-
bunal of five men, without any linn
itatiOns whatsoever upon their au-
thority, against whose decision once
rendered, there is no appeal save to
armed forces. Against the abuse Of
their power there are neither checks
nor safeguards. If this is not to be
creation of the very command of
the world, then the language Of
agreements cannot create powers"
Citing questions which, he said,
would be brought before the league,
Senator Reed said among them might
be a grant by Mexico of land to a.
pan. or sale by Colombia OF land 20
some foreign power which could erect
2 fortress 10 command the Panama
canal
The disarmament provisions of the
league charter, the Missouri senator
asserted. would give the executive
council absolute power to limit Amer
lean armament. He added:
we may be helea guered by en-
erhies. All the enemies OF dcstruc-
tion may be gathering about us. Yet,
unless we can gain the consent of the
five masters of the world (the ex-
eCutivc CounCiD, We must remain un-
prepared and meet our fate with
naked hanus."