The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-03-31

discuss the question at this time, in
dictates his purpose to vote for the
constitution of the league If amend
ed along the lines suggested
L have read Senator Frances let
ter with great interest, and although
appreciate its courteous form, l
feel that it is as indefinite as it is
courteous.
The Senator states he believes in
International cooperation tWhatever
that may be- and refers to a resolu-
ton introduced by him il The Senate
on January IA last. l disagree with
the Senator as to the merits of such
resolution. He advocates first the
immediate establishment OF what he
calls a Just peace (mean.ag there
by. l fear, a peace which would ig-
more the fact that the war was wan
tonly provoked and inhumanly prose
cuted by Germany indefinitely post
poning the establishment OF a lea
que Of nations to maintain peace.
Senator France states his main
objection to the proposed constitu-
ton for league of nations as fol-
lows:
President Wilson is reported to
have said in England on one occa-
sion that any league OF nations which
did not include all of the nations
would be futile, whereas the propos-
ed plan would place but few ma
lions in control in new comblna-
lion OF power, ind there is no provi-
sion which makes compulsory COM
plete national disarmament
This is a most amazing statement
on the part of a Republican Senator,
as one of the main objections made
py the Republicans to the proposed
constitution was that the executive
council of the league was authorized
to recommend limitation on ma
| tional ornaments. The Senator then
proceeds:
:" In short, the proposed constitu-
ton would form not a true league of
nations, but a new armed coalition
of powers, with great armies and ma
vies controlled by an executive coun-
Gil, dominated oy European and Ash
attic interests, which would have the
power to bring on war, even possibly
against the wishes of the people OF
tn emember nations The re-
suit of the formation of such an arm
ed coalition of some of the powers
opposition, of the excluded nations
into another armed coalition, the
members of which would probably
be Germany, Russia, possibly China,
and even some other of the oriental
nations, whose interests are antago-
nistic to those of Western Europe.
This language of the Senator
would seem to suggest that he had
not read the proposed covenant of
the league very carefully, as the lea
que Of nations as proposed is to
have neither an army nor a navy,
much less great armies and navies,
controlled by an executive council,
council any power to bring on or
make war, but only the right to rec
ommend what action should be taken
by the member nations TO prevent
war in the caseof aggression by one
of it's members. But passing on
from this, this statement OF the Sen
ator, together with his former refer
ence to the statement of TIE Presi-
dent that league Of nations which
did not include all Of the nations
would be futile, shows clearly that
the Senator advocates a league to
which the Central Powers, Germany,
Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey, should
be Immediately admitted as mem
bers. L think the Senator stands
alone in the public expression of this
view. The proposed covenant of the
league holds open the door to the
Central Powers vixen they shall have
shown such a rtpentan tspirit, and
shall have organized such free gov
ernments as would justify their adj
mission. Germany cannot as yet be
accepted as an equal in the family
of nations.
Senator France further suggests
that the proposed constitution was
not the plan which President Wilson
had in mind when he went to Eu-
rope, the American plan which was
abandoned, and it would be entirely |
proftless for US to publicly discuss
the advisability of the adoption of |
this British plan for a league of ma
tons in the form presented to us, be-
cause the Senate would not consent |
to it's adoption in that form, and be- |
cause the President now is reported |
to see the necessity for most impor