Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-28

people Pause and consider vel!
before you take this fateful step.
We must build no bridges
across the chasm which now sep
arates American freedom from
Russian anarchism and destTuc-
ton. We must see to it that the
democracy of the United States.
which has prospered So nightly
in the past, is not drawn by any
hasty error or by any glittering
delusions, through special devices
of supernatural government
within the tolls of International
Socialism and anarchy"
Amendments proposed by Sen
ator Lodge included a specific
provision excluding the Monroe
doctrine from the leagues pur-
view. This. he said. could be done
in three lines Immigration and
other international anu domestic
questions and those vital to ma
tional existence also should be ex-
cluded from the leagues jurisdic-
ton, he said. adding:
Should Provide Withdrawal.
There should be some definite
provision for peac ceful withdrawal
from the league of any nation that
desires to withdraw.
Let US have a definite statement
as to whether the league is to have
an international force of It's own OF
is to have the power to summon
the armed forces of the different
members.
Let it be stated in plain Ian
guage whether the measures or
the recommendations or sugges- /
tions OF the executive council ara
to be binding on members to com !
pei them to DO what the league +
determines.
Unless some better constitution
for a league than this can be |
drawn it seems to HE that the /
worlds peace will be much better. |
much more surely prom ned, by al |
lowing the United States to go on f!
under the Monroe doctrine. respon- !
sible for the peace of this hemis- T,
phere without any danger of col /
lisiOn with Europe since the var /
fOus American states. ana n league |
is desired. it might be made UD by |
the European nations whose inter !
ests are chiefly concerned. and /
with which the United States could !
cooperate fully and at any time, /
whenever cooperation is needed |
Benefits for others Only.
1T must be remembered that if /
the United States enters any |
league Of nations. it does so for !
the benefit OF the world at large /
and not for its own benefit If we
join a league it must be with the
view of maintaining peace in Eu-
rope where all the greatest wars
have originated Our share in any
league must be wholly for the
benefits of others"
Declaring that the tentative COZ
SfttutiOn is open to amendment and
change being merely a committee
report, Senator Lodge said it
should be widely considered and
discussed to give the peace con
ferees complete opinions
Fears Wrong Interpretations.
"As it stands" he said. there is /
serious danger that the very ma
ions which sign the constitution
will quarrel about the meaning OF
he various articles before & ~
months has passed It seems to
nave been very hastily drafted and
he result is crudeness and loose
ness of expression.
Before we Tatify, the terms and
he language must be exact and
precise, as free from any possibil-
" Of conflicting interpretations as
t is possible to make them. The
explanation or Interpretation o.
my of these doubtful terms and
phrases is not sufficient il made by
me man. even though that man be
he president of the United States. |