The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-25
LENR00T FOR
ACCEPTANCE
Of THE TREATY

WASHINGTON, July 24.-Acceptance
OF the league Of nations, with reserva-
lions 10 protect independence Of Amer
lean action. was advocated in the senate
today by Senator Lcnroot. Republican,
Wisconsin. The right TO determine do
mestic questions. to administer the Mon
roe doctrine and to decide upon its
course in any case arising under article
TO- he asserted, should be more fully
protected by reservations.
or President Wilson's fourteen points,
the speaker said, only six had been COM
piled with in the treaty. while four had
been CLEARLY violated" and four mot
included at ALL" Among those violated.
he mentioned the stipulations relating 20
open covenants. dsarmaments and i'm
partial adjustment Of colonial claims.
He expressed the opinion that tho league
provisions would not be effective in
forcing disarmament.
The country ought to know" said
Senator Lcnroot, that with very few
exceptions the members Of this body, ir-
respective Of party, are in favor Of q
league Of nations. The country ought
to know that with very few exceptions
the Republican members are in favor
Of the league. now proposed. provided
rights and interests Of the United
States.
II believe tho United States can and
should be protected by proper reserva-
lions. and with such reservations, tho
league may be Of great value in pre-
venting future wars and securing a bet
ter understanding between nations"
The articles providing for arbitration
and giving the league authority TO act
in case Of any war or threat Of war
were praised by the senator. who also
said he considered the withdrawal arti-
Gle satisfactory. The provision made
regarding domestic questions he consid-
cred open TO objections" while hc
thought q reservation should be adopted
declaring the Monroe doctrine "unaf-
fcctcd"
lie also suggested 4 reservation under
which nations could not have tho dis
armament limitations placed upon them
while they were ut war.
Regarding article 10. Senator Lenroot
said he considered that neither Pres
idcnt Wilson nor the senate has any
moral right to oblgate the United
States to go to war TO preserve the ter
ritorial integrity OF and existing polit-
ical importance Of members Of the
league" The people should b. left free
in tho future. he said. ito refrain from
engaging in war against their will"
"Partisanship Is being charged against
Republicans in the consideration OF this
treaty" said the Wisconsin senator, "a
charge which l know Mt least as TO tho
overwhelming majority Of Republican
senators is utterly without foundation.
But l do say that if senators across the
aisle would only forget that President
Wilson Is the leader Of the Democratic
party and remember that this is an
American question. l am confident we
would como to an almost unanimous
agreement as TO reservations for the
protection Of the United States.
"N it'll tho reservations have referred
10, believe the league OF nations
should be agreed to. for | believe that
then there would be no surrender OF
those liberties for which tho fathers
fought and died for. whose preservation
thousands Of American boys lie sleeping
under the sod of Franco Lot us declare
that this great people stand ready -
fight in any war which may again
menace tho peace Of tho world. but that
We will Tight only upon tho side of lib
erty and justice and will enter into no
obligations TO do otherwise"