Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-14
Senator Swanson Declares
Rejection of League of
Nations Fatal.
ONLY GUARANTEE TO
SECURITY OF NATIONS
Virginia Senator Praises Covenant az
!, s0ne Of Worlds Greatest Doeu-
msnts"-Urses Senators Not to Be
Deferred From Duty Cor Fear Of
America Becoming Great-RepIies to
Criticism Of Language Of Agreement.

Washington. July 14.-Praising the
league of nations covenant as zone OF
the worlds greatest documents" SEN
ator Swanson, Of Virginia, demo-
cratic member Of the foreign relations
committee. told the senate today that
IL the United States rejected the
league It would mean "that she would
skulk in the greatest world crisis that
ever occurred"
The speaker defended the league
against the objections that it would
sacrifice Sovereignty and American
traditions and asserted that on the
contrary 1t would result IN immense
material gain in protecting American
integrity and preventing war. He de-
clared It would not create a super
government involve opjectionai obi
cations nor invalidate the Monroe doc
trine.
"The pathway Of our duty is plain.''
said Senator Swanson. Let us not e
frightened by our own prodigious
affairs. Let us not be deferred from
our manifest duty and destiny by a
craven fear of becoming great in Civ
ing service and direction to world in
direst hour OF its need ard dis
trees."
Must Prevent Future Wars.
Pointing out that the war had
shaken the social order to its founda-
tion. the Virginia senator said it was
the paramount obligation Of respon-
sible statesmen to prevent another
Auch conflagration which Z would re-
turn the world ito the rule Of brute
force and barbarism Of the dark ages
THE covenant OF the league has
been assailed from two opposite
sources" he continued. "The league
will neither be a super state nor SOW
ereign. nor helpless, powerless asso-
citation Of nations. The instrument
creating the league is covenant
entered into by sovereign states. One
OF the attributes Of sovereignty is the
ability to make covenants or agree
ments. That a state reserves its full
sovereignty is conclusively settled by
the provision allowing any member to
withdraw. No nation, superior or
otherwise, ever thus expressly pros
vided means for its dissolution.
Has Effect Of Treaty.
This covenant If ratified by the
senate. would be no more nor less
than treaty legalized under our CON-
stitution. The plan for toe formation
a 1aoo &C. clxt11f,,yl,r
and the only one possible under exist
ing political conditions.
4aThe assembly Of the league will be
composed OF representative members,
who will be selectd in accordance with
the respective staffs. In the case Of
the United States, the representatives
being officers created by treaty, would
be appointees as provided by an act Of
congress. Much opposition has been
urged because a great nation like the
United States has only one vote in the
t,ssembly. But what difference does
the number Of votes make. when upon
all important matters the action Of
the assembly must be unanimous or
have the unanimous concurrence of the
council, upon which the United States
10 permanently represented?
Only Basis For Representation. :
"The league could never be organ
ized on any basis other than that Of
equal representation. II members were
accorded difference in representation
upon what basis should the apportion-
ment be made? II upon population
China and India would dominate the
league and the United States would
have only one e-fifteenth Of the
number. II based upon wealth and
military power the situation would be
equally - uncertain and unsatisfac-
tory.
what better plan for disarmament
could be devised? The council is d.
rected to prepare . general plan for
disarmament for the consideration Of
the governments, which plan is not
binding upon any OF the states until
approved by that state. Under our
government, the proposed plan to be
effective In binding us must have the
sanction Of congress which is entrusted
under the constitution with the power
OF raising armies and eQuipping the
nevy.
GUARANTEES Of Territorial integrity.
Under article 10 each member Of
the league undertakes, hrst, to respect
8 the territorial integrity and political
independence Of all other members Of
the league. When the nations Of the
world, sobered by sorrow and suffer-
Ing. are willing TO raise their hands
and take this solemn pledge, are we
sullenly and stubbornly to stand aside
and become stumbling block In the,
way OF this noble achievement? Do
any Of them have possessions that we
view with covetous eyes and propose
to seize and annex?
= 'srhe second obligation assumed by
each member is to preserve as against
external aggression the territorial In
tegrity and existing political independ-
oncs-oG Imsmbers OF the league. - =;