Evening star., 1919-04-14
SENATORS DIFFER
| IN OPINIONS ON
LEAGUE CHANGES
Many Believe Objections Re-
moved and Expect Rati-
fication by Senate.
OTHERS SAY "TEETH" OF
COVENANT ARE TAKEN OUT
Senator Poindexter Declares
League Is Still Objectionable
and Urges U. S. to Join En-
tente and Enforce Peace.

tente and Enforce Peace.
The amendments to the league of
nations constitution. as indicated in
the dispatches received from Paris,
are expected to remove the objections
of many of the senators who were op-
posed to the original draft-not all
and make it possible to bring about
ratification by the Senate.
On the other hand, in the opinion of
some of the legislators and observers
of public questions in Washington,
the belief is growing that the amend
ments to the league constitution take
the teeth" out of it and make it little
better than an agreement which may
be broken at will. after due notice,
by member nations.
The outspoken opposition to the
league of nations as originally pro-
posed has been found among republi-
can senators for the most part, though
some of the democrats were equally
insistent that the league constitution
must be amended. 1t was freely said
that II it was brought to the Senate
in its first form the league could never
be ratified. Few senators are in the
city today. Senator Lodge of Massa-
chusetts, the prospective chairman of
the foreign relations committee under
May Disappoint Its Own Friends.
Senator Harding of Ohio, republic
can, said:
Il am wondering whether this re-
Hrafted constitution will be more of
disappointment to the opponents of
the league or to its friends"
He pointed out that the plenary
council has not finally adopted the
league constitution, and that the Off
cial text has not yet been received
here He intimated, however that he
had doubts that the amended consti-
tuition would meet the objections of
the leagues opponents, and said that
If the statements explaining the
amendments so far published are cor
rect he believed it would be dis
appointment to the friends of the
league. since it would make it a use
less document. under which a nation
may retire from membership at will.
and nearly everything must be done
by unanimous consent.
Senator johnson of California, re-
publican, said:
The statements about the amended
draft of the league of nations con-
stitution are so involved that 1 do not
L i
be glad to do so, however, when the
official text has been received"
Believes Objections Are Met.
Senator Hitchcock, democrat. chair
man of the foreign relations commit
tee. said:
81 believe that the amended consti-
tuition of the league will meet the OBJ
jections of most of the senators who
have opposed the original draft. A
good many of them were not extreme
in their opposition, and they will be
satisfied. feel sure, with the amend
ments which do much to clarity its
meaning. ] am certain that it will be
ratified by the Senate. In my opinion
most of the objections raised to the
original draft of the constitution were
not justified.
II know that when the President
left here to return to Paris, it was
his intention to obtain amendments to
the league constitution which would
meet the objectior6S raised in this
country and clarity the meaning to
the covenant.
so far as the amendment permitting
p nation to withdraw from the league
after two years, / believe that the
right to withdraw was contained in
the original draft after reasonable
notice. though no specifAperiod was
mentioned"
Expects Senate to Ratify.
Senator Walsh of Montana, democrat:
'I do not think that the amendments
will satisfy Senators Borah, Reed and
Poindexter. 1 could not say whether
they will meet the objections of Sen
ators Knox and Lodge. Certainly they
have said things in the Senate which
would indicate that the amendment
will not meet their desires. I recall
also that in his debate with President
Lowell in Boston, Senator Lodge said
he hoped steps would be taken to
form a league of nations to preserve
peace. but that it would not be made
in Paris j don't know what that
means 1 take it that 1T might be ex-
pected that he would oppose anything
done at the peace conference in Paris
On the other hand. from converse
fions which 1 have had with other
senators who desired amendments to
Elents will satisfy them. proba bly
Senator Lenroot. for instance. I think
81 will be found that the features in
the constitution still open to objection
are not very important. 1 look to Gee
it ratified.
Personally. 7 do not believe there
Is any vital difference between the
, original draft and the amended form
J never was alarmed about the Monroe
doctrine or the immigration uues-
ton OF course, the amendments
adopted clarity the meaning of the
Document and will satisfy some peo-
PIE who objected to it. The measure
if il is to be a success, must have
the confidence of the peoples of the
Ssorld.''
Sees Improvement in Draft.
Senator Pomerene of Ohio. democrat
while We have received only q
Summary of what the league con-
etitution contains, I believe it shows
that the league constitution as
amended is very much of an improve
tnent over the original draft 1,
clears up many things that were OBJ
scure before. 1t certainly protects
fhe Monroe doctrine. The clause Civ.
ing opportunity TO a member of +be