Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-01

Senator Knox, who attended the
White House dinner conference last
"Wednesday with other members of
he Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee. said the constitution of the
league as presented to the Peace
Conference Sanctions. breeds and
commands war" and after criticising
Various clauses Of the document,
=tsked:
Questions Fcverish Anxiety
"Why this feverish anxiety for the
adoption of this plan? Why this rae
E ng up and down the land by prop
igandists urging it's adoption? What
benefit is to come from such a sale
s IF the country as is urged upon us?
zWho are the benehciaries of this be-
rayal of our people,
The Pennsylvania Senator said that
T the people of the United States de-
ired what he termed a real League
If Nations to prevent war and mot
merely to build a coalition to further
rade or preserve and expand terri
orial possessions, it might be Sc
=ured through the formation of an
International organization compris-
Ing the nations of the world.
senator Knox said the constitution
IF such an international coalition
hould primarily declare war an In
IernatiOnRl crime and stipulnte that
! ny nation engaging in IL except i'm
Ielf-defcnse he punished by the world
$ an internn tiOnaI criminal. He also |
Iuggested that the constitution pro-
Tide that International disputes be /
ecided by am international court, ac- |
ct
lining war: that no nation could sum /
bon another before trx court unless
he subject under discussion was of |
Common concern to the contending
ations and that jurisdiction of the
Iourt not to extend to matters of
governmental policy.
Under such code, the senator de-
Jared, America would not, as in
vent the present plan for a League
If Nations were realized, be called
pom to arbitrate "the policy involv-
III in the Monroe Doctrine, our con-
|ervation policy; our immigration
|'olicy; our right to eXpel aliens, our
light to repell invasion and the
light to maintain military and naval
Establishments; our right to make
ecessary Notifications of the Pdna-
Ha Canal or on our frontiers, and
ur right to discriminate between ma ,
|ives and foreigners in respect TO
lights of property and citizenship"
Suggests Limited Jurisdiction
Among other suggestions for the
constitution, he said it should pro-
ide that the countries of the two
|emspheres be called upon to en-
|orce DEGREES of the international !
|ourt only in their respective hemis- |
Eheres.
"a league framed on these broad |
nes," he continued. would carry !
kith it a minimum loss of our SOW
|reignity, would relieve us from par /
icipation in the broils of Europe: |
you'd preserve the Monroe Doctrine !
nd would save America from the !
|esults of European intrigue and s.
PRESTON"
In opening his address, Senator f,
Knox, said he wished it understood /
BE- had not secured negative conclu |
ions in regard to the constitution of |
he proposed league through un- |
|riendliness or bias. He said he was |
|gainst war even to the extent of |
|eeing the United States make the ut
|nost sacrifices possible, but that he |
Eanted to feel sure that when the |
|mering of the United States had been /
|laced upon the altar and burned, |
|his country should have measure
bly, and proportionately advanced |
|he cause of human liberty and hap |
|iness.
Points to Covenant Flaws
Referring to the proposed consti-
|ution of the League of Nations, he |
|rst criticised it for "looseness of |
|xpression," which he said character
Eed it throughout and then because !
/ appeared to set up to operating |
|ntities for it's enforcement, the high |
|ontracting parties" and the league |
self. In this connection he said |
|he Importance of this became appar- !
int when it was observed that "the |
igh contracting parties" did not COM |
rise every member state in the !
eague, and that, therefore, the "bur- |
en- assumed by the high contracting |
|arties, whoever they may be, possi- |
ly the big fve.' is crushing in its |
Weight"
fcnrs Second League
The Senator warned especially |
|gainst leaving the central powers |
|ut of the league. saying the inevi- |