Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-28
Better No Society of Nations at All, Asserts
Massachusetts, Leader, Than the One
Provided by the Present Draft

iifh W. bN WY VI compensation lllc IlRnL
TO police the Balkans and Asia Minor
when we are asked to do so.
America Must Be sure Of step
Perhaps the time has come when it
Is necessary TO do this. but il Is a very
grave step, and I wish now merely TO
point out that the American people ought
never To abandon the Washington policy
and the Monroe Doctrine without being
perfectly certain that they earnestly
wish to do so.
standing always firmly by these
great policies, we have thriven and pros
pcred and have done more to preserve
the worlds peace than any nation.
league. or alliance that ever existed For
this reason ! ask the press and the pub
lie and. of course. the Senate to consider
we'll the gravity of this proposition be-
fore it takes the heavy responsibility of
finally casting aside these policies which
we have adhered to for a century and
more and under which we have greatly
served the cause of peace both at home
and abroad
within the memory of those TO whom
/ now speak the Monroe Doctrine stop
ped the incursions of England upon the
territory Of Venezuela and settled the
boundary question finally by arbitra-
ton
Under the Monroe Doctrine we ar
rested the attempt of Germany 10 take
Venezuelan territory on another occa-
sion
In these two instances the doctrine
was enforced by Democratic Presi-
dent and by Republican President,
and they were supported in so doing by
all the people Of the United states with
out regard to party
Il mention these cases merely TO show
that we are not cutting away from the
body polite dead limbs, but that We are
abandoning two cardinal principles OF
American Government, which. until the
presentation of this draft for the con-
stitution Of the league of nations. were
as vital as on the day when Washing
ton addressed the people of the United
states for the last time or when Prcsi-
dent Monroe announced his policy to the
world.
what has happened since November
IL, 1918. to make them so suddenly
Nalueless, to cause them to be regarded
ns Injurious obstacles to he cast out upon
the dust heaps Of history?
There are two other general propo-
sitiOns. and ! shall proceed TO examine
these league articles in detail. In Article
10 we. in common, 70 course. with the
other signatories and members of the
projected league. guarantee the terri
torial integrity and the political inde-
pendence of every member of the league.
That means that We ultimately guar
antee the independence and the boun-
daries. as now settled or as they may
be settled by the treaty with Germany,
Of every nation on earth.
IF the United States agrees TO guar
antics of that sort we must maintain
them Tho NEnrn nf the United States.
her promise to guarantee the indepen-
dence and the boundaries of any coun-
try. Is just as sacred as ner honor-far
more important than the maintenance of
every financial pledge. which the people
of this country would never consent 10
break.
League Draft Means More Wars
II do not now say the time has not
come when. In the interest of future
peace. the American people may not de-
eide that we ought to guarantee the ter
ri rial integrity Of the fsr-hung British
empire, including her seif-goyerning do
minions and colonies, of the Balkan
states, of China, or japan, or Of tn
French. Italian and Portuguese colonie
in Africa; but 7 do suggest that II IL
very grave, very perilous promise 4
make, because there IL but one way b.
which such guarantees, II ever invoked
can be maintained. and that way IN tn
way Of fOrce--whether military or eco
nomic force, IL matters not.
/ IF we guarantee any country on tn
earth, no matter how small or how larg
in its independence or its boundaries
. that guarantee We must maintain at an
cost when our word is once given, an
we must be in constant possession O
fleets and armies capable of enforcn
these guarantees at moments notice.
There is no need Of arguing whethe
there Is to be compulsiye force benin
this league. II IL there In Article 10 ali
soluteiy and entirely by the mere fact q
these guarantees.
The ranks Of the armies and I'll
fleets of the navy made necessary b
such pledges are to be filed and manne
> by the sons, husbands and brothers
the people of America. | wish thel
carefully to consider, therefore, wheth,
/ they are willing TO have the youth
= America ordered to war b. other nj
! tions without regard to what they
}. their representatives desire.
= II would have them determine aft,
I much reflection whether they are wlllir
to have the United States forced int
, war by other nations against her ow
|. will l hope they will take time to col
4 slider this promise before they make IL
: because when ii is once made ii cann
: be brolIen-and ask themselves wheth,
that is the best way of assuring perfe
peace throughout the future years.
"A worlds peace which requires at Il
outset preparations for WARRIOR wa
: either economic or military-in order
: maintain that peace. presents question
e and awakens thoughts which certain
q ought TO be soberly and discreetly co
e sidered.
l. The second general proposition
e which | would call attention is thi
II We now in this draft bind oursely
d to submit every possible information
II dispute or difference either to the leagt
court or to the control of the executi
Il council of the league.
That includes immi grafton, a v.
e live question. Are we ready to give
other nations the power to say w
shall come into the United States al
become citizens of the republic?
- IF we are ready to do this, we a
" prepared to part with the most pi
! cious of sovereign rights, that viii
:, guards our existence and our charact
W as a nation.
IN Warns OF Flood OF Aliens
A. Are we ready to leave it TO 9th
- nations to determine whether we sh
ID admit 10 the United States a food
al Japanese, Chinese and Hindu labor
is IF we accept this plan for a leag,
r this is precisely what we promise
do.
,e Are we prepared TO have a league
nations. in which the United States b
=. only one vote, open our doors II they
ne fit 10 any and all immigration fr,
all parts Of the world?
Mr.. Taft has announced that
~ question of immigration will 20 bef,