The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-22
EXPLAINS REASON FOR
 NONCOMMITTAL ATTITUDE

league of nations" Senator Underwood said in beginning. The invitation from, President Shropshire stated that I would
 talk about the league of nations or some other subject. l came here pre- pared to talk about transportation, a subject you are vitally interested in at present.
 T cannot discuss the league of nations at this time, and I'll tell you why. First,
 it means making treaty with the world, not with Germany. All we've got to do to make treaty with Germany is to draw up the terms and tell the Huns where to sign.
 Second, 97 persons take part in making treaties. The President is one-haf or that power and the 96 senators are the other half. Treaties are made through
 the co-ordinated action of the Presi- dent and the senate. Treaties are made
 by the President with the advice ana
 consent of the Senate. The President does not necessarily initiate the treaty.
 In the past there have been treaties sus.
 gested by the Senate and the President
 put them into effect.
 "Alabama's 2,5oO,00o people have two
 men who will vote for them on the treaty. and you don't expect yelsS sena- tors to determine prematus4.y their ac- tion on a matter which affects you so vitally.
 My relations with the President have always been cordial. With the exception of two or three times when we differeo' I have supported his measures pe lieye in the last analysis I will suppor. the league of nations, but don't want to commit myself to any action until fts constitution is in writing and before me- and until I get your views on It. ENGLAND AND FRANCE
 OPPOSE DISARMAMENT
 "The original proposal of President Wilson for league of nations made ois- armament and freedom of the seas essen tials, and with that proposal l was Tn hearty accord. I want protection against future wars and there is no better way to keep the peace than to disarm tne nations. We want to transact business all over the world without let or hind rance in time of peace and neutrais should be given the freedom Of the seas I in time of war. "The British objected to scrapping their navy. Her territory is scattered over the seven seas and 1t is necessary 10, her to keep her fleet. France oDJecteo to disarming through fear or oermans, i whose eagle had hovereo over for half a century - NMv opinion is that Germany will DC powerless to start war again In tnis generation and perhaps for a century So there are two sides at Paris WILT America for disarmament and Englano and France against it. America misn' disarm without fear of attack TOT <. years after the Civil war the unieeo States had no navy and untl .ne op" .r ish war she had only about zo'oo "e" u her army. But not so in Europe'
 ..rhe nroblem presented at the peace table is not a problem of disarmament
 hut of armament. The British must malh. 1 tain a large navy. She has the sreates navy in the world, and has adopted con. l scription as means of maintaihins l an army of 100000 men. Before tn' war she had 175,000.
 STEEL-MAKING NATIONS
 MIST KEEP THE PEACE
 | ..The proposal of the league Of nations | ;s that five nations, with propapiy iou' | others joining, keep the peace or .n'
 world and they will do it. because tnes have the power to do it. Y ;
 "That is the proposal today. Amerlca England and France could have the pow CT to keep the peace. not merely oecau1' a of their armies and their havios .t.,
 na+ question of how many mon tne' c.n keen in the field. In the last neN l on.,v.,s industries are the great lactor Tt is question of which country car make the most steel. No power can so \
 .rar rnlass 1t has this productive power what nations have it? Germany had U but it was taken away from her. nuss,s has the iron but it has never been oeve. z. oped. Italy hasn't 1t. Japan hasnt ;. If permitted to exploit Cnina' '@pat ! ,,,gbt get it, but in this war she nat
 .a h,,v steel from other countries no on,,, to make her guns but to keep ne' r;a going.
 "vNe come to the countries that arr ,ran.red for war, that have the proouc'
 t;,,s canacity. England, America ane
 rrorca They are the only countries IT
 the world capable of organizing pi' l army and supplying it with all the m. nlements of war. So I say when we V. ! "a n;ze the league of nations we can Keel saS e.ce of the world through this gen 1 srst t;on and perhaps for a century.
 COMMITS THE DEMOCRATS; FEARS THE REPUBLICANS 1 ..Uhen the treaty comes back say al al | of my side, I speak poH.cas, A.;. now stands I think the other side ! wir vote not to sustain it. l think II is nm nfortunate. The world wants peace | it needs peace. .rontroi of business is right and proper l.. t;nne of war, but it is drag now There is a strong sentiment against con. tact with Germany. Nobody feels . stronger than l. but when peace as clared and Germany has paid the piiSS' lyou can't crush her people.
 lHASTY PEACE TREATY
 TO BRING BOYS BACK
 1T have seen it stated that the cen tral powers are in need of 4,00,0O bale of cotton: that may be hish' put the can absorb 3.OO0.000 bales, and 1T the could get it, cotton here Tn -Aiaosm' probabiy would be up or cents high CT than it is. So l say the thing VI
 want is the signing of this peace treat at the earliest possible moment. That not all Some of your boys are SUI