The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-02
PARTISAN SHOT
 FIRED AT LEAGUE ! CONSTITUTION IN
 SENATE YESTERDAY
Knox and Hardwick Sharply Criticize Constitution as Presented, Declaring
 It Will Only Pro-
 mote War
By Associated Press

l W bOilt ~hIeNl Cll Al VI
 partisan assault on the pro- posed constitution of the league
 of nations was made today i'll
 the Senate, the speakers being
 Senator Knox of Pennsylvania,
 a republican member of the foreign relations committee, and former Secretary of State, and Senator Hardwick of Geor- gia, democrat, who retires March 4.
 The constitution of the league as pre- sented to the peace conference was sharply criticised by both Senators. They declared that 1t would promote war and that it contravened the Monroe doctrine. reduced American sovereignty, conflict ed with the constitution and would force submission of fundamental American domestic and national questions to a world tribunal
 After attacking the proposed constitu- ton. article by article. Senator Knox suggested as a constructive measure, substitute world organization--an inter- national court of justice administering an international code of laws, supple mented by treaties between the separate 1 nations for arbitration and other agree
 ments for the maintenance of world peace
 Both floor and galleries were crowded when the senators spoke, but as a re- suit of warnings from Vice President Marshall there were no demonstrations by the spectators. Senator Knox, how ever, was congratulated by senators who grouped about him when he had con- cluded his address of little more than an hour.
 NO REPLY MADE No reply was made from the demo- cratic side and the only other prepared address on the league of nations before adjournment Tuesday probably will be that of Senator sherman of Illinois. re- publican, who expects to speak Monday. Senator Knox, who attended the white House dinner conference last Wednesday with other members of the Senate for eign relations committee said the con- stitution of the league sanctions, breeds and commands war"
 The Pennsylvanian said if the people of the United States desired what Inc termed real league of natipns as to pre- vent war, and not merely build q CO., alition to further trade or preserve and expand territorial possession" as a sen- ator he thought It might be secured through the formation of an internation- al organization, comprising all the na- tions of the world
 Senator Knox said the constitution of such an International coalition should primarily declare war an international crime and stipulate that any nation en- gazing In it, except in self defense, be punished by the world as an interna- tional criminal. He also suggested the constitution provide that international disputes be decided by an international court that no nation could summon an- other before the court unless the subject under discussion was of common concern to the contending nations, and that juris- diction of the court not extend to mat ters of governmental policy. Under such a code, Senator Knox de- clared America would not be called upon to arbitrate the policy involved In the Monroe doctrine, our conservation policy: our immigration policy, our right to ex- pei aliens, our right to repel invasion and to maintain militia and naval es- l tablishments; our right to make neces- sary Qualifications of the Panama canal or on our frontiers, and our right to discriminate between natives and foreign CTS in respect to rights of property and citizenship.
 WOULD SAVE AMERICA Among other suggestions for the con- | stitution, Senator Knox said it should provide that the countries of the two ! hemispheres be called upon to enforce decrees of the international court only In their respective hemispheres "A league framed on these broad lines.'' he continued, would carry with 1t minimum loss of our sovereignty; would | relieve us from participation in the brawls of Europe, would preserve the Monroe doctrine, and would save Amer ica from the results of European intri- que and aggressions.
 In opening his address Senator Knox
 said he wished it understood he had not obtained negative conclusions in regard to the constitution of the proposed
 league through unfriendliness, or bias bias.
 Referring to the proposed constitution Senator Knox first criticized it flor , looseness of expression.' which he said, characterized it throughout and then be- cause it appeared to set up two operat- ing entities for it's enforcement, "The high contracting parties." and the league itself.
 The senator warned especially against leaving. the central powers out of the league. saying the inevitable result would
 be ito drive them more closely together for mutual self-protection, thus making the formation of second league of na- tions bidding for adherence from neutral states almost certainty"
 Thus, at no distant date" he con tinued. i've should have two great leagues of nations and two great camps, each preparing for new and greater life and death struggle"
 EVEN NAME DECEPTIVE "Even the term League of Nations is a deceptive misnomer," Senator Knox de- clared "For under this proposed plan the nations of the world are divided into tLree classes:
 ''l Signatories of the covenant. These are not named. but 1t is assumed they will include and possibly be confined to the five great entente powers that is to say, the British empire, France, Italy. Japan and the United States. "2. States not signatory but named in the protocol. No information is given as | to who these states are, though surely they will include entente nations. if any. as are not slgnatories. as well as such other certain nations neutral in the con- flict now closing, and t "3 Those states which are neither sig natories nor protocol states. and which must to be admitted to the league. be