The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-16

cations devolving upon Germany
And the league OF nations could bt
discussed afterward at leisure"
what would you say are the CHIEF
objections of the senate today to the
covenant of the league of nations"
First, that 1t does not sufficiently
safeguard the Monroe Doctrine. The
words regional understandings like
the Monroe Doctrine are confusing
for l know OF no other doctrine any
where like the Monroe Doctrine. 1t il
not an international understanding
but as strictly American policy, re-
clared by US, interpreted by US and
enforced by us. Statements have beer
made by officials of Great Britain tc
! the effect that In case of dispute as
to an Interpretation of the Monroe
| Doctrine, the league of nations would
f. Monroe Doctrine Our Own Policy.
1 interrupted him to. inquire
whether the provisions requiring q
unanimous vote Of the league would
not permit the United States to dis
sent from any Interpretation harmful
to her interests.
But" continued the senator, q
deny even the jurisdiction Of the
league of nations over the Monroe
Doctrine. 1t IL our war policy, never
submitted to other nations heretofore
| to decide, and subject only to our own
| Interpretation. We specifically re-
served our rights to that effect in the
Hague convention and ought to do sc
| in the future. We cannot afford to
| allow any other nation but ourselves
to say what the doctrine means.
Second, article 10 in the covenant
| is Objectionable and should be elm
mated altogether. 1t would require
us to defend all sorts. of countries In
all sorts of disputes. There would
seem to be no objection to a guaran-
tee for a fixed period, say five years
Of the particular boundaries set up as
settlement Of this war;"
Wide Sweeping Provision.
I inquired IL the Massachusetts
senator might regard the general pro-
vision Of the covenant which states
that the powers shall have the right
to consider disputes anywhere at any
time as within the jurisdiction of the
league as sufficient protection in. the
event that external aggression &C.
Cured after the five-year period were
ended and seemed to be provocative
of war.
at certainly is a wide sweeping pro-
vision" he answered. and might seem
to contemplate jurisdiction over such
contingencies"
what is your judgment as to the
senatorial sentiment on the peace treaty
itself, the terms with Germany" was
the next question.
VIII Ratlfy Treaty.
''Tf the peace treaty with Germany
were to have come to us separately
there would be no hesitation about rat
flying the treaty at once. Many Of the
the treaty. but this would not prevent
ratification. For instance. have heard
an astonishing amount of talk about
the Shantung settlement-much more
than had expected. Senators seem te
have the feeling that we have deserted
helpless, friendly ally. China, and
turned over German property to- japan
whose record we all know"
How could the peace treaty be exc
cuted without a machinery like the
league of nations?"
"Well, diplomatic commissions can be
created to do whatever 1t has been
proposed that the league shall do. Com
missions in any event would have To
be appointed under a league. They can
be selected and designated to do the
specific tasks postponed by the peace
'Do you consider that Europe must
be helped by America to get on her feet
AGAIN." A.
money and credit to do it,"
Not Indispensable to Financial Need.
Do you consider the league OF nations
Indispensable to the financing of Eu'
roper an A.. o.o.. .,
begin the process of assisting Europe
is a state of peace. l do not believe
that the government of the United
States should be obliged to keep or
loaning. money to Europe. am advised
by bankers that various proposals can
be made effective whereby credits
would be extended to European buyers
Mr.. Vanderlip has one plan and Mr.
Dawson another. They seem to think
all the monetary interests of the
United States could combine and that
the financing of Europe should not be
confined to one group of bankers, but
all groups throughout the United
States"
Would not the acceptance by 'such
huge financial obligations by American
bankers involve the investing public OF
the United States to such an extent
that 1t would be vitality interested in
whether the governments of the various
countries were stable and whether
there was peace in Europe?"
Yes. that would be an element just
like the weather or any other factor.
and we should want to see peace in
Europe anyway"
Not Mix In European Affairs.
do you not believe that we ought to
undertake to prevent outbreaks in Eu-
rope that would threaten war;"
II believe that we should not mix In
European affairs, just as Europe should
not mix in American affairs. but. as was
suggested in the last paragraph of the
Knox resolution, we could regard 1t as
q. matter of grave concern'-and that
is ali important phrase in diplomacy
if any menace to the peace of the
world crosse and we could agree to con-
suit with the other powers as to the
most effectual means of removing the
menace just as we have in the recent
war"
Would there be time to summarize
the senate objections and have then.
Incorporated at Paris in the peace
treaty?"
There would. suppose, be time.
but they were covered In the letter
from Mr.. Root published some time
ago"
tion at Paris has been or would be
able to obtain a recognition of the Mon
roe doctrine such as Mr.. Root suggested
and the acceptance OF the other pro-
posals made by him?'
II have been assured by high Euro
pean authority that there never was a
time when the other powers were not
ready TO accept any amendments Amer
fca wanted, but l have been frankly
told the European delegates could not
propose American amendments"
Two outlets for Objections.
How will the senate finally express
its objections?'
II am not sure. There are two ways,
of course-either by amendment or spe-
cific reservations. OF course, amend
ments constitute an affirmative way,
but II Is long and requires negotiation
that is, must be formally accepted by
the other parties to the treaty. The
other way Is to embody our reservations
in the ratifying resolution. Then If the
other powers did not within a certain
time express their dissent these reser-