The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-23
REED ANALYZES
GRIPO BRITAIN
ON THE LEAGUE
Missouri Senator Shows
Power of Domination
Through the Assembly.
"sKILFULLY CONCEALED"
)Cheered for Three Minutes on
COnclusion-Ashurst Kissed
for Protest.
spscia, Despatch to The sUs.

Special Despdtch 10 THb Dun
WASHINGTON, Sept 22. - For three
hours and more this afternoon Senator
Reed (Mo.) held the almost fascinated
attention of a full Senate and packed
gallery while he delivered an analysis
Of the. League of Nations that stands
entirely in a class by itself among the
great speeches that have marked this
long debate.
1t. had been characterized in ad-
vance by it's author as "a lawyers
brief" yet despite that 1t was in the
main a close analytical study of the
league covenant. aimed to expose the
true character Of that instrument in a
manner not heretofore attempted. it
was thrilllngly interesting to its audi
tors. The Senator had performed the
herculean labor of first analyzing the
precise significance of the involved
covenants and then presenting a pic
ture of the league at work in such
simple, understandable terms that
there could be no mistaking their
meaning.
or all this close exposition the pur-
pose was to demonstrate how com
pletely the workings of the covenant
have been misrepresented in the argu-
ments of the President and his agents.
who have insisted that the assembly
of the league is little more than a de-
batting society" and therefore that the
possession of six votes by the British
Empire against one by the United
States is entirely immaterial.
Real Power Is Concealed.
Senator Reed showed that in fact the
ultimate power of the league resides in
the assembly; that 1t is concealed there
so skilfully as to make ulterior object
at least presumptive that the control OF
twelve votes in the assembly is suffi-
cient to dominate, negative all the pro-
ceedings of the council and the league
and that the British Empire. controlling
in behalf of its own domlnions six votes
and through alliances with other coun-
tries enough more to insure its domi-
nation in this body, is in fact able to
control the whole proceedings of the
world federation.
To build up the remorseless argument
and exposition which completed this
demonstration Senator Reed unravelled
thread by thread the intricactes OF the
covenant and made them plain
simple, obvious to his hearers. He
showed how certain Britain would be to
win, how inevitably America must lose
! in any controversy between the two
which should be carried to this forum
and how certain 1t was too that such
controversy would go directly there
Mr.. Reed did not omit to pay his re-
spects to President Wilson and to de-
nounce what he charged were the mis-
representations Of the true character OF
! the covenant Among the tributes OF
I this kind was the observation that the
President is wont ito talk. and. hearing
the echo of his words, imagine it is the
voice of God"
Mr.. Reed read his speech, though fire.
quently he departed from his manuscript
He was interrupted only few times to-
ward his close by Senator Jones On. M
whose interpretations invariably brought
forth bursts of repartee and smotherinG
and applause.
Three Minute DemOnstrR tiOn.
/ There was a demonstration far sur
passing any that has marked the de
| bate. Handclapping, cheers and shouts
surged like tidal waves of sound anC
enthusiasm back and forth through th'
chamber, whose dignity was utterly for
gotten for the moment. After three
minutes of this demonstration, which th'
presiding officer made no effort t
check, Senator Ashurst arose to pro
test. He said It was peculiarly un
seemly that the Senate, sitting after th
manner OF a supreme court "on create
case than ever commanded the decision
of that body" should be subjected Il
the influence of the gallery. This re
buke did not please the gallery. so /
hissed Mr.. Ashurst with an enthusiasm
hardly less than that which had market
the ovation for Mr.. Reed
In the midst of the tumult and dis
order Senators crowded around Mr
Reed to congratulate him. the gallery
was OF its feet; some were cheering thu
speech. others were kissing and groaninl
their disapproval of the remarks by Mr.
Ashurst. At this point Senator Lodg'
(Mass.) arose and "in order to pave thu
way to a return TO the amenities or nor
NAL procedure" moved to adjourn.
Mr.. Reed opened by quoting from
President Wilson that the league assem-
bly, is largely a debating society" ant
that I'VE can always Offset with on
vote the British six votes, l must sa!
that look with perfect philosophy upol
the difference In number"
Against this he placed other utter
ances in which It has been proclalmo'
that the league possesses sufticien
power to control the passions and ambi
tions of the world and hold in leash tn
armed forces of mankind"
THE people had the right TO expect.
said Mr.. Reed. that In his tour acros
Comt1nGed on Si9th Pogo