The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-06-22
Tho Knox Resolution.

Buffalo Commercial. ..,
The resolution introduced by SEN
atOr Knox this week serves notice
| upon the peace conference that n
viii not ratify the peace treaty pro-
vidod II Ia at the same time forced
10 approve the covenant OF the league
| OF nations II II is adopted in the
senate timely warning win be given
| the commissioners at Paris what 10
expect unless the treaty ard tho
covenant are divorced from each
other.
when President Wilson wen I
abroad Ne represented the trnaty-
making power OF tho United States
lRut there h "A co-equai power that
no ignored, That Is the senate. Had
he shown some disposition 10 con-
suit lts wishes he would have avoid
ed much trouble that has ruhHrquUnt-
/ ~ arisen and which may yet arise
| lIa assumed to speak for the people
of this country. but Mr.. Wilson had
no mandate from them TO force upon
| the conference tho document that
| maEqucrades as a covenant OF peace
IIe had no warrant so 90 interweAvs
tho threads Of tho leagues constitu-
ton into the fabric of tho peace
! treaty HE 20 make Il IN his Judgment
| Impossible 60 separate them. He
was not empowered to hand over tho
authority vested In congress and the
executive to any super sovereign
body lie was hot authorized to
ahrognte the Monroe doctrine.
These things he has done upon hts
own responsibility, having no doubt
| privately assured the premiers Of
Great Britain. France and Italy that
he was supported by the great body
OF public sentiment
The Knox resolution Is intended to
open the eyea of tho foreign repre-
scntatives at Paris, TO dislllusion
| them ns 20 the real feelings OF tho
! American people regarding the Cow
enant II " f. adopted by the senate
the peace conference will have 90 cut
the Gordian knot that binds treaty
and covenant And that, says Senh-
, tor Knox, can he done In three lines.
His amendment would preserve TO
each nation the right TO pass upon
| the question ot It's membership In the
league at some future date. and
would provide that all the duties and
functions imposed IN the treaty on
the league should be performed by
some diplomatic mission.
II Is intended In this resolution
further TO put tho senate on record
| In favor o; an immediate peace with
| Germany aE considering that the war
aims OF the United States as ex-
pressed in the declaration OF war
had been accomplished. and as de-
ferring consideration ~ tho league
until later when the American people
shall have had time 20 pass upon IL.
| Finally II pledges the United States
| TO regard with grave concern any fu-
ture threat against the peace OF Eu-
rope.
Can such a resolution pass the SEN
ate7 II Is possible. nay probable.
Tho republican party is lining up
almost "a man for H. To date Nc
Cumber n the only republican sen
ator who has expressed opposition TO
the measure on the other hand.
Reed Ia certain TO vote with the re-
publican majority and there are sew
eral other wobbly democrats
The effect OF It's passage will be
tremendous II will open the eyes
Of tho delegates at Versailles TO the
fact that President Wilson has not
been voicinE such an overw hclmlng
sentiment Of the people as the pre-
miers we're given 10 understand he
did. So far as they are concerned
the league was never matter OF
much concern 20 them Clemenceau
has openly expressed lack Of conf
donce In H. Lloyd George calls It an
experiment" Nobody Of responsi-
hility In Europe seems 10 take II So
riously II was only agreed TO as a
sop 70 Wilson, and will be thrown
overheard N Il In understood that II
Is not In high favor In America. Tho
far-reaching consequences of the
passage ot this resolution both here
and I'm Europe are beyond calcula-
tion.