The sun., 1919-02-15
COMMENT HELD UP
BY G. 0. P. LEADERS
Congress Chiefs Study Closely
the Clauses of League
Plan.
MEXICAN MENACE Barred
Senator Hitchcock Defends
Proposed Covenant as
War Preventive.
MEXICAN MENACE Barred

wAsHIHaroN. FEB. 1i--Careful an
alysls OF the League OF Nations consti-
tuition SO far has seen made by only a
few competent judges here. but already
there are indications that 1t will have
, TO weather a protracted storm of Ameri-
can opposition before there can be the
| remotest thought OF ratification or ap-
and Representatives refrained from
snap Judgment and read the document
over and over before forming definite
opinions.
In many cases the more the real sig
nificance OF the world constitution began
To sink in the greater will he the op-
position to q programme which Congress
leaders declared saps tn" sovereign
rights OF the United States. binds It's
military and naval forces into obedience
TO foreign dictates, pledges the nation
to allow its internal Affairs to be man
aged from without and commits Ameri-
cans for the next generations TO share
in every enlargement affecting civilized
or uncivilized nations in any part OF
the globe.
The only note Of humor which Senators
ound in the leagues constitution was the
reference to regulating the liquor traffic
In South Africa and It was assumed
that America as the leading prohibition
nation would be called on to take over
the full burden Of this work.
Flood of Comment Near.
Although comment so far is reserved
II Is certain to come copiously before
many hours.
Republican leaders Ike Senators
Lodge (Mass.) and Knox tPa) read
the document in silence and aInazcment
but agreed among themselves not TO
comment unit! the proper time. The sig
nal 20 dispense with loose criticism"
spread through the Republ can ranks
It was admittedly felt that the situation
and the danger 10 Americas traditional
policies were such as TO necessitate very
careful action by the leaders speaking
now FOR the majority Of the American
people.
Senator Hitchcock. Democrat. chair
man o. the Foreign Relations Committee
until March !. issued "a statement prais-
Ing the document As champion OF the
new policy OF interrnt!onslisn as
against American rAt.onal'srn the Pres!-
deNt appears nov 70 have provided a
Clean cut Issue which IS certain to IL
throshed out without delay. Senator
Lewis fIllD the Democratic whip, a.
ready indicates that eNo-t will be made
TO obtain ratification OF the leagues con-
s,iiution by tho Senate before March l.
The chance OF this, however is extremely
remote and Il appears much more likely
that the Senate Will express such rro-
nounoed opposition that thc docunen,
Viii become from now on side issue
"hile the pra rticnl NuH.ness OF Imposing
terms OF pAacc on tie enemy are con-
Guided
cn!c'sls OF the state Drpar;:neu, re-
fused al comment as I'D Diplomats The
interest o, the average cit.zen here did
rot sserl 20 lie awakened AND t,y II any
could be fcurh who mad more than
Cianced ct N. newspaper headline.
Army officers were nor Interested and
showed early concern over the Tao; mat
the military arm OF tho nation seems
bound hand and foot ny the leagues
constitution and made subject 10 'hs VI.
~ foreign committee IN any case where
It's future service n sht be required