Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-22
ACCEPT LEAGUE
End Amend AS Exper-
fence Requires

Urged by Pomsrsns in Senate Ad.
dress Monday-Paet Not a Sure
Preventative Of Wars, but Would
Tend to Prevent Them-Mueh Of
Opposition 10 Partisanship
Washington. July 21-Prompt and
unreserved ratification Of the peace
treaty with the league Of nations
covenant was urged upon the Sen
ate today by Senator Pomerene, of
Ohio, Democratic member Of the for
eign relations committee. He said
the league was not a sure represent
alive Of wars, but would tend to pre-
vent war. and could be amended as
experience required. Much of the
opposition he asserted. sprang from
partisanship.
Surely" he said. IF the treaty is
ratified after the experience through
which we have just passed, 1t will
help~to keep our former enemies in
the straight and narrow path until
the present plan can be modified or
improved SO as to meet the require
ment of our future experiences and
our mature thoughts.
Il would not find serious fault with
some Of the proposed amendments or
reservations if they did not mean de-
lay and a consequent encouragement
to revolutionary elements. Is it not
going to be better, therefore. that we
surrender some of our own convic-
tons in the interest Of immediate
peace, rather than to insist upon
changes which will require the pend
ing treaty to be sent back to the as
ISOLATED powers. During the war
many of us voted for measures. not
because we would have approved
them in time Of peace but because
we knew the exigencies Of the situ-
alton required them. May We not
pursue a similar course when it
comes to the ratification of the
peace treaty? Ought not our aim
to be the restoration Of peace and
the adoption Of such measures for
it's preservation and the protection
VI lhS AlC" WI AAhtiOhS oS oAoAA
seem to be sufficient in the present
state Of the public mind.
who does not know that Ger
many is not looking forward sto the
moment when she may resume her
aggression against her neighbors?
Who does not know that the new
government of Poland. Czecho-S lo-
vakia, Jugo- Slovakia and other small
independent nations have not been
able to organize perfect and stabil-
lied government? 80 Why, then.
the intensity Of the opposition
against section Y? Under the pro-
visions of the treaty the United
States has the power to withdraw
from the league after two years no.
tice. Are not the political and mill
itary conditions in Europe such as
to convince any fair minded man
that our obligations as one of the
belligerents will require us to be on
guard for two years and more?"
Replying to Senator Knox's pro-
posal for a separation Of the league
from the treaty. Senator Pomerene
said the league constituted machin-
cry by which the terms of peace
would be carried out. He said he
did not understand that Senator
Root had even to this day changed
his view as to the necessity for the
formation of the league Of nations.
The Monroe Doctrine in the final
covenant. Mr.. Pomerene said. was
amply safeguarded to meet Mr..
Roots objection. He asked why Mr..
Root favored article Ten in March
and raised objections to it in June.
Mr.. Pomerene also cited state
ments in recent years by Senator
Lodge in favor of concerted world
action to maintain peace and con-
tinued:
The treaty before the senator
does not go as far as the disting-
uished senator from Massachusetts,
was willing to go in 1916"