The sun., 1919-06-06
CONVINCES HEARERS
1 OF LEAGUES PERILS|
George Wharton Pepper Wins
Y Academy Of Political
4 Science Over.
OPPONENTS TALK FIRST
Philadelphian Calls Covenant
4 International Political
4 Voting Trust.


~ A meeting that ended at frst toward
lhant was in a short time won to re-
Variable manifestation OF disapprovai
when George Wharton Pepper OF Phila-
delphia, president of the League for
Preservation Of American Independence,
addressed the Academy OF Political
Science in Horace Mann auditorium at
Columbia yesterday.
M Mr.. Pepper skilfully analysed the
league plan. pointing out its dangers and
les imperfections. which carry, he said,
" menace TO American institutions and
liberty. and was applaudad for several
minutes when he said In closing:
ANY man who attempts TO stir up
lpublic clamor or use executive pressure
lto prevent sober discussion of this cove
liiant Is more eager to obtain a constitu-
Hon for the world than to safeguard the
Unconstitutional liberties of this republic"
Pro-Leaeucrs Speak First.
The FIRST speakers, with the exception
iof President Nicholas Murray Butler of
columbia, who presided at the morning
session. were supporters OF the league.
Dwight w. Morrow. adviser to the Al
He'd Maritime Transport Conference.
i;and Senator Key Pittman OF Nevada be-
lieve that the league as It stands 10 q
tigood measure and said so in unmistak-
Hble terms. There was silence for DR..
tButler and brief applause for the Sena-
l4or and Mr.. Morrow, but Mr.. Peppers
ieriticisms apparently were driven deep
Unto the minds OF his audience and made
Asan unusual impression
~ Senator Pittman was caustic in his
Iireferences to the critics of the league,
&nd referred to them as pessimistlc
statesmen. 49, o., .--.
u TT is refreshing to see oneself as
Iseen by Others" eaid Mr. Pepper. when
she began. Il will try to run true to
form. 1 will try to speak like dys-
tpeptic pessimist whose outlook Is dreary
sand hopeless and whose attitude is
,haunting fear and suspicion.
IL 1T Is somewhat unsatisfactory and
ynndignihed to discuss the league unless
one has the text before him, and II is
necessary to study the full text before
Preaching a decision. l make no critl-
scism Of the Withholding of the covenant
maybe there have been good reasons
for doing 20. But fourteen other ma
Euons. including Germany. have the
covenant. I dontNsnean to say we are
on the same plana as Siermany. but II
fdoeH seem as ~ we might have q copy
of the covenant
rs There are two kinds OF leagues, Mr..
tPepper said, one the powers of which
ttwould be entirely advisory or recon-
Imendatory to the. member States. This
kind of league he would heartily
sindorse. The second kind OF a league
is one where sovereignty is delegated
TO central body with power tn make
binding its decision upon the signatory
nations, such decision to be irrevocable
He placed The present league in the
itsecond class.
II IT would wholeheartedly favor a
league of the first type. I had an idea
EShat the league covenant which Vas pest
10y MIR. Wilson TO the Peace Conference
and which on the second day was thrown
INTO the discard will be found, when the
ydraft is withdrawn from the reluctant
NAV of the State Department. TO con-
form with the one in which l heartily
iacquiesce."
/. He then referred to the arbitration
Particle. which provides that when a
question Is in dispute II shall be re-
tferred to the Executive Council, and said
THAT 1t Ia also provided that II the party
interested should say. the question was
mot proper one for arbitration IL could
Ibe withdrawn from the council. This
khe said, is what E,ihu Root referred to
.as the clause that turned the clock OF
ianternationarreform back 100 years"
X Sees Diplomacy Abandoned.
n, One OF the great Observation-Disclosures ir
Eregard to the league. Mr.. Pepper said, Is
thc failure to understand the great tran.
ssitlon it makes from diplomacy to legis-
ltlative or political action. in submitting
l'questions to the rule OF the majority
Diplomacy. he said. depends on unanI.
lsmity. x.-...-.
Il THE league passes from the domain
of diplomacy TO that of legislation when
tminorities are bound by the rule of q
jsnnaj ority; thus II is proposed that we
ttcross the dividing line from one grea,
ifway of settling disputes and launch
ltforth on the road Of the majority rule
t,prevailing in international affairs. The
Ndecision of the. American people on this
.tsubject will be the best IN the world
ltbut only II the American people under
itstand what they have to decide.
X Let us take a concrete example. a
isdispute between the United States an6
.tJapan on the question OF immigration
Is Each stands pat, and the United States
tsays the league has no jurisdiction, n.
1.-THE question is a'domestic one. That end,
itit,' says the Senator" and Mr.. Pepper
itturned toward Senator Pittman, "bu
kthere is an article in the treaty which
lsays that the council has the power r.
jHhecde whether such a question IL do.
smestic or international. andif It r. inter
Irrational 1t goes ahead ana decides 1T
EAnd the Executive Council might very
tsasily decide that kind Is international
tor that the Panama Canal. or our pro
tective tariff. or. coastwiso trade Is in
X ternationAl.
* Suppose the vote in the Executiv,
tCouncil Is o to 7 against US, we ar,
tbound by that decision not TO go to wal
Son the question. Tho clause IL verS
lkeleverly drafted and provides that under
iEno circumstances, even under TO
lsvote will the loser resort to force" Tn.
ltdisputants are barred from voting III
iEeNpiained later -
II The good and wise Mr.. Taft has SAID
lEthat we mustn't take the sum OF thes,
iEelauses too seriously because In the las
paralysis the decision Is up to the Con.
lsErcss of the United States. I don't be.
lEiieve in dealing with adjectives. I think
lEDcuns are more effective.
IL What might happen to q member OF
,tthe league who had been defeated in the
IhExecutive Council. 1t would mean tina,
etho majority rule would operate aRains
tthat member, and II II happened TO u,
ond we broke the covenant we would NO,
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IN r. Gill; n