Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-07-17
Some of the SoIons Say Document
Contains Secrets; SuS-
picious.
FIGHT NOW ON ever LEAGUE
One Resolution Mentions an Alleged
Improper Japan-Germany Docu-
ment-Senator Swanson Opens
Debate-Says U. S. Muot
Not Sulk.

foreign relations committee, beginning
consideration of the peace treaty, re-
ported minor resolutions bearing on
the Versailles negotiations, but took
no action on the question of asking
President Wilson to take part in com
mittee discussion of the treaty.
The resolutions reported would cal
upon the president and the state de-
partment for information regarding an
alleged secret treaty between Japan
and Germany, regarding protest said
to have been made by General Bliss
Secretary Lansing and Henry White
against the Shantung settlement; why
Costa Rica twas not permitted tC
sign the peace treaty.
All Resolutions Amended.
All of the resolutions reported by
the committee were amended in minor
particulars. That regarding the al
legged Japanese-German treaty, intro
duced by Senator La Toilette (Rep.)
Wisconsin, were reported without rec
ord votes.
The Shantung resolution, introduced
by Senator Borah (Rep) of Idaho was
reported by vote of 8 to 3, all the
Democratic members present opposing
it, and the Republicans, including Sen
atOr McCumber, North Dakota, voting
for it.
Senator Johnson (Rep.) of Cali
fOrnia offered a resolution in the com
mittee requesting that copies of all
documents connected with negotiation
Of the treaty be submitted to the com
mittee.
committee said practically all of the
two hours meeting was taken up with
consideration Of these resolutions, and
that there was no discussion as to in
viting the president to meet with the
committee.
Immediately after the committee ad-
journed debate on actual ratification
of the treaty began in the senate.
Before the committee met Senator
Hitchcock of Nebraska, senior Dem
ocratic member, talked with President
Wilson by telephone. The converse
ton was understood to have concerned
the question of Mr.. Wilson's appear
ance before the committee.
Given High Praise by Swanson.
Praising the League of Nations cove
nant as zone of the worlds greatest
documents" Senator Swanson of Vir-
ginia, a Democratic member Of the for
eign relations committee, told the SEN
ate that if the United States rejected
the league, it would mean that she
would sulk in the greatest world cri-
sis that ever occurred"
The speaker defended the league
against the objections that it would
sacrifice sovereignty and American ira
6itions and asserted that on the con-
trary it would result in immense gain
in protecting American integrity and
preventing war. He declared it would
not create a super government, involve
Objectionable obligations or invalidate
the Monroe doctrine.
"The pathway of our duty is plain"
said Senator Swanson. 'Let us not be
frightened by our own prodigious shad-
ow as it projects itself into world af-
fairs Let us not be deferred from
our manifest duty and destiny by a
craven fear Of becoming great in giving
service and direction to a world in a
direst hour of it's need and distress"
Pointing out that the war had
shaken the social order to it's founda-
ton, the Virginia senator said it was
the paramount obligation of RESPONSE
BILE statesmen to prevent another such
conflagration, which would return the
world Ito the rule of brute force and
barbarism of the dark ages"
What the League Won't Be.
"The covenant of the league has
been assailed from two opposite
sources" he continued. ''The league
will neither be superstate nor sover-
eign, nor helpless, powerless associ-
alton of nations. The instrument Gre
ating the league is covenant entered
into by sovereign states. One of the
attributes of sovereignty is the ability
to make covenants or agreements.
That a state reserves it's full sove--
eighty is conclusively settled by the
provision allowing any member to with
draw. No nation, superior or other
wise, ever thus expressly provided
means for it's dissolution.
"This covenant If ratified by the SEN
ate would be no more nor less than a
treaty legalized under our Constitution.
The plan for the formation Of the
league is skillfully conceived, and the
only one possible under existing polit-
ical conditions.
"What better plan for disarmament
could be devised? The council is di-
rected to prepare general plan of dis
armament for the consideration of the
governments, which plan is not bind
ing upon any of the states until ap-
proved by that state. Under our gov
eminent, the proposed plan to be eff
fective in binding us, must have the
sanction Of congress, which is intrust-
ed under the Constitution with the
power of raising armies and equipping