Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-15

- uu'Sii'S relevant ana irrelevant. All
WI, be caught In repose or in motion.
ana may be easily placed before the
senate. But why should the President
The United States has ' mesotim,e ID" or r
bcch party to over COO treaties. and /
n1h recall only one OF these the signers
members of the Senate. and that one
was the Spanish American peace
.reatE. Is true that Senators have
sat In aspirations 'r other councils
IN some Few instances. but these
tribunals negotiated no treaties.
though subsequent treaties sometimes
preserved and perfected their conclu-
SONS or findings.
STRONG SENTIMENT OPPOSES
SENATOR'S ON COMMISSIONS
ON the contrary. Mr.. Chairman.
,atniy since the Spanish american
peace treaty. noticeable public sem
lincnt in oDposit!on to senatorial mem
bership or treaty conferences. And for
the commanding reason that the public
interest is the better served and pro-
noted. the real purpose OF the Con-
piled. by holding that great tribunal In
reserve as rcvisory or appellate
agency, detached IN interest or asso-
citation. calm and judicial. to consider
and concur or nonconcur In tho treat?
submitted by the executive. This de-
sirable achievement can mover be fully
upon work partly or largely from the
hands OF it's own membership.
'Of course, would not be under
stood to con;rovert the full right oil
tho Senate to advise tho President in
respect OF contemplated treaties. This
has been done from time to time, and
Presidents have even gone SO Tar as
to ask lE advance for this advice, but
tho advice OF the Senate in its col
lect!ve or collegiate capacity is very
different from tho actual consent or
review by the Senate OF the action OF
1t, individual members In negotiating
treaties. One action Is free from tho
personal equation, while the other liz
embarrassed by the personal factor.
CRITICIZE IL ADVANCE
USDISCLOSED PURPOSES
mt. Chairman. animadvcrsions have
been directed TO what is alleged TO be
tho vicious or uncertain meaning OF
somI Of tho items OF the Presidents
fourteen points address. For exam
pic. tho danger said by some 10 be
round in his views respecting economic
barriers. and the Indebtedness OF his
views as 20 ornaments and freedom
OF the seas.
CRITICISMS of these three PROPOSE.
lions arc based mainly ,pon assump-
tons as 10 the Presidents meaning
despite the fact that az to economic
barriers he has written letters eS'
pressly d!sclaiming the meaning or in
depreciation imputed to him, expressly
disc!aiming any purpose or plan where
by the economic or fiscal policy Of tho
nation may be interfered with or IL
any manner controlled save By tn,
unhampcred constitutional agencies o.
the government.
The question Of proportional or rela-
tive reduction OF ornaments can o.
course only be wisely and practically
considered and determined in the con
ference Itself. But tina. there is {
serious purpose. in tho mind or The
of ornaments either Immediately oil
gradually is beyond question. and thu
President merely expressed this r!ghtc
Gus desire. Arc the allied govern
mcnts more definite in their express
s!ons as 10 CONSUMPTION and standing
armies? Indeed. Mr.. Chairman, ha:
any OF the governments likely 10 par
tic!pate in tho conference been more
definitely in expressing It's views upor
the subjects TO be considered than oul
own government through its President
FREEDOM OF SEA IS
our TRADITIONAL POLICY
And OF the freedom OF tho seas
America has always favored this free
her three traditional and historic poll
cics. Does the Presidents Language
authorize an unprecedented extension
or limitation of this freedom? LIE
his Words answer:
absolute freedom of navigatio,
upon the seas. outside territorial wa
;ers, alike in peace and in war. cI
cept as the seas may be closed IL
whole or in part by Internal ional ac
ton for the enforcement OF interna
tional covenants
Il submit that in this language IN,
President simply makes a pronounce
ncnt Of the general policy of America
and OF civilized nations respecting th'
Ia wful use OF the seas. and that the
detail or concrete enlargement Of
abridgment of the rights Of navigation
is prc-cminentiy a matter to be con
s!dered and adjusted At the council
STORM CENTER OF CRITICISM
~ l.EAGUE OF NATION:
Mr.. Chairman, the storm centel
OF criticism. though very late in gath
ering. is directed at the Presidents at
iitude on league Of nations. Thi!
league means either too much or to,
little, and that In any event il shoult
not be considered at the peace con
ference
originality for the idea of establish
Ing such league. Many men il
America have favored such an inter
national arrangement for some years
notably Ex-President Aaft and Mr.
Lowell. president OF Harvard Univer
sity. The plan brought forward by tn,
association headed by these eminen
men gives a rather distinct outline o
the object and plan of the league. which
may he found in the common litera
ture of the day.
1.-THE subject. however. seems tt
have been even more profoundly dis
cussed in England, and hear il
France as we'll. DR.. David jayne Mill
a distinguished publicist. has in re-
cent article given the names OF those
who have made special study of the
scheme. lie does not, however, men
ton what to me appears to be the
most philosophical of recent discus
sions. namely. two articles appearing
in the Edinburgh Review by W. Ali
son Phillips. This writer puts his fin
ger upon the vital Joint In the armor;
that is, it's success depends largely upon
the development of a cosmopolitan pa
t:iotism which in given instances may
he paramOMnt 10 our national natriot-