New-York tribune., 1919-03-31

instead of preventing war, legalizes it
IN seven instances, and makes it COM
pulsory in three" Demand is made
that the peace conference complete its
first business, that of concluding peace
and getting American troops started
back home, and the American people
sre urged to give real thought to thu
grave issues involved in the proposed
covenant.
ZOnal Crusade Planned
Eight regional wee presidents will
have charge of the mobilization of
American thought in their eight Sec
tlons, and the organization will reach
on down until every voter in the land
Will have thrust upon him the neces-
slty Tor thinking over the issues in
volved and giving consideration to the
American rights which the declaration
of principles insists are at stake, and
Tor which the country has fought more
than once.
"If we succeed in getting the Amer
lean people to think this matter over,
and find out for themselves what it
means, we will have accomplished our
purpose" declared Mr.. Pepper. Gust
as soon as the people realize what it is,
the league of nations as now pro-
posed is doomed, so far as this country
is concerned'
the new organization starts with the
demand for immediate peace, and
makes the flat assertion that the exist
ing covenant, instead of preventing
war, not only will not prevent it but
legalizes war, and in at least three
instances makes war compulsory.
Leagues Views Summarized
The declaration is as follows:
ss7 We insist that the treaty OF
peace should at once be con.
cluded; that our boys should promptly
be returned to their homes, and that
OF nations should then be considered
by the Senate of the United States
with due care and with reasonable op
portunity for needed amendment
esC No matter how wise and dis
interested the diplomat.
may be who have framed the proposed
constitution, the people Of the United
States must do some Independent
thinking on this subject or forfeit theil
right to call this government a de-
mocracy.
ssQ In the interest Of world peace
and of any international ar
rangement that would tend to promote
it, we are opposed to the constitution
Of the league in it's present form, be-
cause,
"First-It 1egalizes war in sever
cases and makes it compulsory ir
three.
Secondly binding us to protect
distant nations from aggression it viii
force us, in the event Of trouble be-
tween any two league members, either
to default on our promise as the price
Of peace, or again to send our boys tc
fight overseas, no matter what we may
think of the merits Of the quarrel.
"Thrd-By forcing US to abandon
the Monroe Doctrine it binds us to
submit ourselves to the decision Of an
| international council in case foreign
nation we're to gain foothold on this
continent by acquiring Cuba, or Mex.
leo, or were to menace our Pacific
Coast by securing naval base at
Magdalena Bay.
"Fourth-~It contenplates such 81
delegation Of power to an interna-
tional council as is inconsistent with
the United States. The grant Of pow
ers to the council is worded with such
subtlety as to threaten US with the
future claim that we have yielded our
sovereignty and independence in ways
additional to those in which we are
now plainly required to surrender
them.
"Fifth-The delegation of powers to
the international council is such as
may at any time force us into a war
between other nations without even
the right on our part to determine on
which side we shall fight.
"Sixth-It gives to the league the
power to determine questions of inter
and to force upon The American work
ingman the conclusions of an inter
national labor bureau as to the condi-
tions under which he should do his
daily work.
Labor Left Unprotected
"Seventh-It gives to the league such
underlined power over commercial inter
course between nations as may pre-
vent us from protecting ourselves
against undesirable immigration and
against the importation Of foreign
labor.
"Eighth-It makes no definite or ef-
fective provision for such publicity in
international communications as will
destroy secret diplomacy and disclose
international differences before they
have reached the acute stage.
"Ninth-Thc constitution not only
contains no provision specifically
recognizing the right of league mem
Der to withdraw at pleasure, but
creates reciprocal obligations such that
provision for withdrawal would be
repugnant to the whole theory of the
organization.
"TenthA league based upon con-
stitution open to the foregoing objec
tions is typical of the permanent and en-
tangling foreign alliances against
which Washington and Jefferson pro-
nounced their solemn warning.
"EleyenthIf the constitution is not
intended by its trainers to mean what
fair Interpretation finds in it then it's
ambiguity, vagueness and uncertainty
are such as to require it's thorough re-
construction or prompt rejection"