The sun., 1919-06-25

Ineht any dispute with another nation
likely 70 lead to a rupture; yet our Con-
s:uution lodges exclusively in Congress
the power to make immigration, tariff
and other laws over which controversies
with other nations most often arise, and
ny our Constitution the Interpretation OF
those laws IL given to our national Gov
eminent Section 16. which must be read
with the preceding section, Is full Of con-
Trajectory statements; but one sentence
In the mass of confused verbiage pro-
vides that any dispute shall be referred
to the assembly Of the league at the
request OF either party
These are some examples-not all,
but some--of the mangiing Of our Con-
stitution by the proposed covenant OF
the League OF Nations. Many basic ma
tionai powers given Congress by our
Constitution are. in practical and fnal
effect, transferred from the American
Government at Washington to the
leagues government ut Geneva. For us
Americans the issue Is nation or league
1t connot be both.
Surrender. Monroe Doctrine.
amendment (section 81 OF the cove
nant) specifically and in terms sur
renders the Monroe Doctrine. This ira
ditional and exclusively American policy
Is defined to be nothing moro than an
international engagement or a regional
understanding like any of those recent
and vague claims which various nations
are now making. The right to say what
this fundamental American policy means
or how It shall be applied Is taken away
from the American Government and
lodged IN the government Of the super
state.
THAT this is true is proved by the In
depreciation of the Monroe Doctrine
amendment which the British Govern
ment announced the moment that addl-
ton was made 10 the league covenant
The British delegation Immediately Is
sued formal and official statement that
this amendment means that the Monroe
Doctrine has ceased to be an American
policy and that should any dispute over
the meaning OF It ever arise the league
II there to settle It.
"In the face Of this assertion. male at
the time this so-called amendment was
inserted In the. covenant made by the
most influential Power consenting to this
amendment made by the Power. indeed,
that wrote the covenant, can any man
doubt that IL we enter the league the
Monroe Doctrine Is destroyed7 II the
American delegation did not agree to the
British Interpretation Of this amend
ment' why did not the American delega-
ton Immediately deny that interpreta-
tion?
"Another amendment to the covenant
was made to meet the objection that IL
we went into the league and did not like
It we could not get out of Il except by
war. This objection was 50 plainly true
that even the secret conclave in Paris
realized that something must be done to
evade II. So an amendment was
adopted by which we are seemingly
permitted to withdraw upon two years
notice-and yet We are prevented from
Withdrawing until We discharge every
obligation which any nation on earth
may claim to be due it from US. and also
not until we discharge every obligation
owing to the league itself. Whether we
have thus fulfilled every claim made
! upon us Is to be determined. not by our
Government at Washington. but by the
leagues government at Geneva
The Grip Of the League.
IF we wish to withdraw and assert
that we have discharged all our obliga-
tions to every nation on earth and to the
league itself. and II any nation. or IL the
league itself says we have not dis
charged any one Of our obligations. we
must stay In the league against our Will
or else cut our way out with the sword.
Nor is this the worst. II. at any time
during the two years. after We have
given notice that we wish to withdraw.
any member of the superstate claims
that It's territories are threatened or in
danger, the United States must be ready
to defend those territories by arms: and
II those territories should be attacked.
America must actually defend them by
arms should the superstate order u.s. to
| do so.
zone would think that even those who
formerly were for some kind OF league
would be so anfronted by the insult to
our intelligence contained in these
amendments that they would turn In
| the only certain thing about which is
| that. If we join this superstate the Amer
lean Republic will be subordinated to
foreign Powers and made a party to all
their quarrels and all their wars.
TN the end every question coming
before the league and vitality affecting
America Is to be decided by a majority
of the members of the league II the
United States joins It. Who will con-
troll that majority? Certainly not
America with her solitary vote: GER
tainly not America. the most envied II
not the best hated of any country on
earth: certainly not America. unless
| history bears false witness and human
nature Is repealed. No. America. richer
and moro prosperous than any other
country. would. as a member Of this
superstate, be absolutely at the mercy
of the majority OF the other members.
II we enter the league can we escape
from this desperate situation unless we
go to war to resist the decision Of that
majority?
IF 1t be said that this is not the true
construction OF the league covenant let
any man declare what is the correct in
depreciation OF It. Contrasted with our
Constitution the league covenant Is as
foggy midnight to cloudless noon
day. Yet It has taken century of
debates in Congress, decisions by courts
and an awful war to determine the full
meaning OF the Constitution. How many
centuries and how many wars then. will
be required to settle the meaning Of this
league covenant?
An Incubator of Wars.
'"rhe bald statement that the League
of Nations will prevent war, which has
seduced most of those who stu support
this International scheme for super
state, has beep Overwhelmingly refuted by
your own eminent statesman Philander
Chase Knox. one OF the ablest men who
ever sat in the Senate of the United
States Senator Knox has shown con-