Evening star., 1919-03-18
AGAIN CR|T|C|SES
LEAGUE COVENANT
Senator Reed Discusses Ar
guments of Advocates of
Proposed Constitution.
ADDRESS IN HOME STATE
By the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, March 49,
The Missouri legislature, in Joint ses-
sion, today heard an address by United
States Senator Reed of Missouri in
criticism of the league of nations con-
stitution.
Reiterating contentious that the
league would impair American. sover-
eighty. abrogate th. Monroe doctrine,
violate the American Constitution,
create a ''super-government of the
world" and force the United States
into worldwide difficulties and po-
Icing obligations, Senator Reed cfial-
lenges assertions Of its advocates that
the league DEGREES and bowers would
be merely advisory. He insisted that
its action would be mandatory and in
volve command of the world"
Limited Power Phase Discussed.
There are a number of advocates of
the league" said Senator Reed, who
seek to protect it against the indig-
nation Of the American people by ar
guing that the council has only the
power to recommend and that it is
then optional with the several nations
to compel or to refuse to comply with
the recommendations.
Let US examine that miserable ar
gument. If it be true statement,
then the league is backed by no force
whatsoever and the league is
an innocuous thing. Why multiply SO
many words about armies and navies
and force if there is to be no force?
IF, however, it is contended that
the obligation is morally binding,
then indeed we are worse off
because the United States will keep
its moral obligations whereas some
other nations might not.
says President Upset Contention.
"All these contentious were utterly
destroyed by the President, who.
when he presented the league con-
stitution I" to the peace council,
expressly stated: Armed force is in
the background of this progam, but it
is in the background and If the moral
force of the world will not suffice, the
physical force of the world SHALL"
In detail Senator Reed analyzed the
league charter, copies of which he
had distributed to all members of the
joint legislative session. Declaring
that the tentative constitution was
of British origin, he asserted that
America would be directly entangled
in European alliances. and added:
European diplomats have skillfully
woven their spiders web so that we
may be caught in it's meshes and may
be bound for all time to send our
gallant sons to assist the dominant
nations of the earth in policing the
world. and ultimately to assist some
of them in the ambitions for power or
uuarrelS over territory.
No Provision for Withdrawal.
Asserting that the league charter
contains no provision for withdrawal
of nations from the league, Senator
Reed continued:
"Those who conceived its structure
did not intend to allow the United
states to escape, once it should fate
fully step within the entangling web.
The American people were told
that the constitution of the league
had been conceived by American rep
reseutativeS and was being forced on
reluctant Europe. 1t now transpires
that the entire scheme. from first to
last. with some slight modification, is
the product of British statesmanship"
This might indicate. he said. why
England would outvote the United
States five to one and be allowed to
retain her fleet.
Attacks Council Feature.
The executive council feature of the
plan was attacked especially by the
senator.
I'VE thus create an oligarchy cloth
ed with more arbitrary powers than
were ever welded by any despot of |
earth" he said. Here is tribunal
of five men, without any Limitation |
whatever upon their authority. against |
whose decision once rendered there |
is no appeal save to armed forces |
he a nf
there are neither checks nor safe- |
If this be not a creation Of |
the very command of the world. then |
the language of agreements cannot |
create powers.
senator Reed said there was wide |
public misconception of the league
and that a majority of the American
people had not read the proposed con-
stitution.
1.-THE misapprehension thus threat
Continued on Second Page.) /