Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-20

pact IS SOUND"
DIR. LOWELL SAYS
Harvard President, in De-
bate, Asserts League Draft
Needs Clarification
LODGE CALLS 1T POROUS
Senator Admits, However, He
Will Support 1t If 1t is
Amended
LODGE CALLS 1T POROUS

Boston, March 2o.-"If the league
shall be put in such shape that 1t VIII
promote peace instead of breeding dis
order and will work no injustice to
these United States I will support it,
said Senator Henry Cabot Lodge in re-
plying to a question Of President A.
Lawrence Lowell, of Harvard, during
their debate on the league.o-nations
covenant last night.
"I hope from my heart 1t will be
amended" he added. II hope that
such league will be framed some
where. In my belief it will not be
done in Paris"
A demand from Doctor Lowell that
Mr.. Lodge say whether he would vote
for the covenant If it were amended
according to his wishes led TO the
Senator's declaration.
Addressing an audience OF 5000 per-
sons in Symphony Hall. the distin-
guished speakers were applauded lib
orally, frequently and apparently i'm.
partially
Senator Lodge outlined his attitude
briefly. as in favor of a league of ma
tions but not Of the covenant as pre-
sented.
Referring to the charge that the
criticisms of the covenant were not
constructive. Senator Lodge pointed
out a number Of ways in which he
would amend the. treaty. laying espe-
cial stress on the need Of protection
of the Monroe Doctrine.
Doctor Lowell maintained the cor
rectness of the covenant in principle,
arguing that while Every defective in
Stood" it should be accepted and inf
proved"
{ He described it as an experiment in
open diplomacy.
To meet certain objections raised.
Doctor Lowell advocated the inser-
tion of clauses in the covenant permit
ting Withdrawals from the league on
reasonable notice. stipulating that no
foreign powers shall acquire any pos
sessions on the American continents
and making it perfectly clear that i'm
migration and tariff problems are to
be regarded as purely internal affairs.
Lodge Would Guard Monroe Doctrine
Senator Lodge said. after referring to
the existing draft as porous:
"In Washington. on January 6, 1916,
addressing the Pan-American congress,
President Wilson said:- -
1.-THE Monroe Doctrine was pro-
claimed by the United States on her
own authority. 1t always has been
maintained, and always will be main
, tained upon her own responsibility
IT think l am not to blame for wish
ing it to be mamtained now. Now, la
ing ii to be maintained now.
Now, either there should be clause
In there saying Where not otherwise
stated the decision Of the executive coun-
ell shall be by a majority vote or else
it ought to be expressed in every ar
ticle where they, are called upon to make
a recommendation or a proposal or a
decision of any kind,
5. There Is the question OF immigra-
ton. which this treaty reaches under
the nopjusticiable questions, I am told.
I believe I have followed it through all
the wndings, that a f1nal decision could
only be reached by unanimity, and it is
said that the league would not be unani-
nous. L think that highly probable,
but deny the jurisdiction. 1t must not
be within the jurisdiction of the league
at all
"The tariff is involved in the article
for the boycott. The coastwise trade is
involved In Article XXI. I think we
ought to settle our own import duties
They say it Is a domestic question. So it
is, so is immigration, but they are do
mestic questions with international rela-
tions.
Doctor Lowelrs Reply
Departing from his set address to re-
ply to his opponent. Doctor Lowell said:
I'VE both feel that this covenant Is,
as It stands. detective but the difference
is that I feel that when those defects
have been removed that covenant. with
those defects cured, ought to be ratified
and he does not tell us whether he
thinks so or not
In, developing the point that universal
arbitration treaties would have pre-
vented Germany from precipitating this
war, Doctor Lowell remarked that such
system might have prevented our
fighting Spain in 1898. but was taking
Cuba worth this warp
''It is sometimes asked. IL the author
ity OF the organs of the league Is so in
significant. where Is Its efficiency in pre-
venting war? The answer is that it lies
III the obligations assumed under the
covenant directly by the several men,
bers of the league; and this is both the
most effective and least adventurous
method OF preventing war. There are
this purpose. One, that projected In the
covenant Of Paris.
Other Forms Objectionable
"The other form of league to prevent
war would be one where the members
should agree to comply with the direc-
tions OF some International body and
In that case the obligation of the mem
bers to act would arise until after a
deliberation and vote of that body.
This second form Of league has two
serious disadvantages. The sanction of
the provision against waging war, that
~Danaltv viz OF rp
vision, Is neither immediate nor certain.
but depends upon the somewhat doubtful
process OF discussion, where a single
negatiye voice Of a powerful nation
may virtually prevent action. The second
disadvantage Is the uncertainty in tho
obligations assumed by the members of
the league. which depend upon the deter
minations of the international body.
Another bogey of tan equally unsub-
stantial kind is that England has in the
body Of delegates six votes to our one.
ir the only functions of this body are to
thalk. "a to select the four other states to
ell. and to make unanimous recommen-
dations after inquiry into dispute, the
number of votes therein are not Of much
consequence.
Another objection brought forward
by the opponents of the league is that
Astat'c immigration, the policy of q pro-
tective tarin, or some other, matter OF
vital domestic interest may form a sub
= ct OF dispute with another nation and
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 intend
to submit to the interference Of the
council the internal affairs of the MEM
bers of the league, and assumed that
the council would in such questions fol-
low the recognized principles of inter-
national law.
Next we come to the greatest bug
bear of all, the point on which popular