The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-03-20
Local Data

covenant and concluded that the obliga-
ticns assumed by the members of the
league were ito do, or abstain from.
definite acts either continuously, or OF.
the happening of events described never
Under the orders, or by direction, of any
organ of the league. The members agree
to preserev one anotheTs integity and in =.
dependence absolutely, not because dt-
rected to do so by the league.
ION the other hand" he continued, the
executive council is limited to consulta-
ton, and recommendation which the
members of the league are under no op-
hgation to accept.
1.-THE fear of a super-sovereign body,
to which we are asked to sacriflce our
independence, is the creation of an over
heated imagination. No organ of the
league has any authority to give COM
mar DIS to this country that need give us
a moments anxiety. The only substan-
tia powers that any such body is to pos
sess, beyond making recommendations,
are derived from an unanimous decision
i'll an international dispute, contrary to
which a nation may not go to war; ana
fl ON the right to forbid an increase III
ornaments or to direct the duties OF IL
mandate in case we first agree to the
reduction of armanients, or to the as
sumption of the mandate
SUMS UP REVIEW
Mr.. Lowell summed up his review Of
the league in these words;
"The strength of such league lies
in the obligations assumed directly BY
the several members of the league
and this is both the most effective and
least adventurous method of prevent
ing war.
rThe opponents of the league" he
continued. "set up an imaginary
scarecrow of their own creation and
then fire at it with great satisfaction
to themselves. If the United States is
not subject to the orders of the exec
cutive council, it is senseless to talk
of our being ruled by body in which
we have only one vote out of nine"
He discussed the various objections
that had been raised, saying in part:
IAN objection brought forward by
the opponents of the league Is that
Asiatic immigration, the policy of n
protective tariff or some other matter
of vital domestic interest may be
brought before the executive council
for inquiry and decided against us.
1t would seem to be clear that the
trainers of the covenant did not in
tend to submit to the council the inter
nal affairs of the members of the
league and if there is.anyi serious
doubt on the question. there will doubt
less be no objection to making it per-
fectly clear"
VA Coming to the Monroe doctrine, which,
he said was 1.-The greatest bugbear of
ALL Mr.. Lowell expressed the opinion
that the United States would be justified
in asking for a clause in the covenant
that no foreign power should acquire any
possession on the American continents or
the adjacent islands. However, he i'd,
the covenant extended the doctrine over
the world and it's adoption would relieve
the United States itself of any suspicion
of mperialistic designs on it's American
neighbors "'e
FINALLY said the speaker. can objecr
ton is made to the covenant on the
ground that it's provisions are contrars
to- the constitution of the United States,
on the ground that a treaty to limit ar
maments or to require a commercial boy
colt, or to guarantee the territory of an
other country. or to limit the right to
declare war are contrary to the power
vested in Congess Now it so happens
that all these things have been regulated
by treaties already made, still in exist
ence and duly ratified by the Senate.
Treaties regulating commerce in various
ways have been common, and are too
numerous to require citation.
CITES TREATIES
1917, an agreement was made with Eng
land to limit the naval forces of the two
countries Upon the great lakes.
by the treaty of 1916 the United States
guaranteed the sovereignty and property
of New Granada over the Isthmus of Pan
anna.
BY the treaty of 1908 we guaranteed
and agreed to maintain the independence
of the republic of Panama, and by the
treaty of 1916 guaranteed the independ-
ence of Haiti and agreed to lend efficient
aid for it's preservation.
FINALLY, between 1914 and 1916 the
United States made treaties with 20 ma
lions to refer to arbitration disputes of
every nature whatsoever and not to go
to war until after the award.
1T is a little late in the day for oppo-
nents of the covenant of Paris to discover
that it's treaty obligations are unconsti-
tutional, and hence that all the foregoing
are null and void. This is particularly
true of those senators who voted for
many of these treaties"
DR.. Lowell called upon his opponents
to declare first whether he would or
would not vote for the covenant provided
it was amended as the senator wished;
and, second, what amendments he de-
sired.
Departing from his set address to reply