New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-01

ton. Are we prepared to have a
league of nations, in which the United
States has only one vote, open our
doors if they see fit to any and all i'm
migration from all parts of the world :?
THE first and most practical ques-
ton for US to consider and decide is
whether the terms of this committee
draft of constitution for the league
OF nations really make for harmony
among the nations or will tend to pro-
duce dissension and controversy. We
ali desire peace, but in our zeal for
peace we must be careful not to Gre
ate new obligations and new and un
tried conditions, which may lead to
fostering war rather than peace. For
this reason | am going now to ex
anime the articles in the draft of the
constitution for the league of nations
one by one.
Nothing so far as the creation of
Offices is concerned is omitted in Ar
ticle /, but nothing is said about how
the delegates shall be chosen. This is
left to each nation to determine, but I
venture with all respect to suggest the
delegates representing the United
States ought to be selected by the peo-
pie of the United States or appointed
as ambassadors and consuls are ap-
pointed. They should never be allowed
to be irresponsible personal agents.
"Article provides that each high
contracting party will have one vote.
On the we'll settled principle of inter
national law that one national sover-
eighty is equal to every other national
sovereignty, the United States will
have one vote, and so will Siam.
Under article 7 covering admission
two thirds OF the states represented
in the body of delegates is necessary,
and the membership is limited to fully
governing countries including do
minions and colonies.' The inclusion
of dominions and colonies, of course,
covers the four great self governing
dominions of Great Britain | have
no fault to find with the arrangement.
Five Votes for England
Canada, New Zealand, South Africa
and Australia are far more worthy and
more valuable members IF league Of
nations than some which | ihink will
find their way into the body But the
fact remains that in the tody OF dele
gates England has five Votes to one
vote of any other country.
"Wo now como to Article g. which
refers to disarmament. There is an alb
soIUtely binding provision IN the words
and these limits when adopted ahall
not he exceeded without the permission
oi tho executive council. Adopted by
WhomY Tho natural Inference is,
adoptcd by tho several governments, Il
you trace IT. back through tho wording
Of previous paragraphs. Ought not m
instrument Of this vital character be
drafted with the ordinary care which
n clerk gives in drafting clause for
n Senate committee ?"
After reading the clause relating to
manufacture OF war munitions by pri-
vatc interests, Senator Lodge contin-
ucd
"That is mere advice to be laid be-
fore the body of delegates. but it is
not explained how far the advice goes.
The high contracting parties, the last
paragraph says undertake in no way
to conceal from each other the CON
dition Of such of their industries as
are capable Of being adapted to war
like purposes or the scale of their ar
maments.'
"An admirable proposition! There
seems to be no method expressed here
by which they can be compelled to give
that information except by saying that
if they do not do it they fail in a
moral obligation.
"When one nation guarantees tho
political independence and the terri
toriul integrity of another you must
maintain that guarantee, in the last
resort, by the exercise of the force of
the nation. If we were TO guarantee
the political independence and terri
torial integrity of Mexico, or Guate
mala, or any of those states, we should
have to stand behind them with our
armies and our fleets when the guaran-
tee was invoked, and there is no cs-
cape from that obligation.
Suppose we had Mexican raid
across our border" he asked, land Mex
leo did not happen to be member of
the league. That, think, would be q
little hard ON the people who live on
the border. | do not think even being
member of the league is going to
alter the Mexican character materially,
although 1t may.
"Finally the Senate will observe that
there is no provision for withdrawal.
II you leave a country am not speak
ing merely of the United States-tod
hard and fast 30 Tint 1t canont get
out of this league without tearing
everything to pieces by denouncing it
or by nhrogating it, you create stu-
alton which in my mind does not pro-
mote the peace OF nations, hut the very
revcrae,'
Demands Pence with Germany
"Vhnt which deairo above every
sh,hg elac, that which ia ncnrcst 80 my
heart, Ia to bring our aoldicra homo.
The making of n league OF nations win
not do That. We can only bring our
soldiers home, entirely and completely,
when the peace with Germany s made
and rrocl aimed. Let that peace be
made, and can assure the world that
when the treaty Of peace with Ger
many comes to this chamber there will
be no delay in the Senate of the
United States W. must bring our
man back from France. Let VA get
them back at once. and to that end
let VA have the peace made with Ger
many made now. and not delay 1t until
the complicated quoetona of the league
of nhtiohn can he aettled with the care
and consideration which they demand,
what IA II that delays the peace with
Germany Discussions over tho league
OF nationa; nothing else,
I'VE have in this country the freest
and best government in the world, and