The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-07
REED SEES LEAGUE
AS MENACE TO U. s.
Present Plan May Involve Life
of Nation, Senator Gives
Warning.
CAUSES FOR WAR Barred
Construction Autocratic; Mon
roe Doctrine Lost; People
Deceived, He Says.

| DtCclNCu, I1C Guys.
Senator Reed delivered the following
address last night at the Pennsylvania
Hotel:
| THE acceptance by the United States
of the proposed constitution of the
League OF Nations may involve the very
life OF the republic It is high time
patriots should arouse themselves. The
scheme Is revolutionary and dangerous
to the last degree.
! IAN attempt is being made to drive It
through to a conclusion before the Amer
lean people have any opportunity to read
( it's provisions or dig out Of them the
| hidden and sinister purposes of the I'm
dertaking.
! II charge that the people have been
either Intentionally or ignorantly misled
They have been - ught that the league is
merely an am;ca BILE agreement that the
world shall remain at peace. They have
been told that by mutual consent armies
, and navies are to be abandoned or limi-
; ted. They have been led to understand
! that by the mere process of signing an
! agreement war will be obliterated and
universal peace and happiness produced
People are taueht that they can receive
! the benefits OF this league without in
volving our country in any serious OBJ
( legations.
"At the same time they have been
told that unless the league is consum-
mated the world will be thrown into a
chaos of war that will destroy the very
foundations of society and civilization.
No Approval by People.
I'VE are told that the people have al
ready accepted the constitution of the
league. What many people have done
+ Is to signify their hope that war and
suffering may be obliterated in tho
world. But the people have not APP
proved the proposed constitution OF the
League of Nations. Probably not one
! In a thousand has ever read the instru-
! ment through. 1t Is doubtful whether one
in 5000 has sat down to study and I'M
derstsnd its dangerous and sinister pro-
visions. On top OF this. when the iniqui-
lies and dangers Of the instrument have
been pointed out some men of distinc-
ton have denied their existence. al
| though an honest examination of the
proposed constitution renders 1t beyond
reasonable dispute that the charges made
are true.
II challenge the thought OF the Ameri-
can people. l challenge the lawyers and
|
ment, not casually but with painstaking
care Such an examination will demon
strate that the league Is another Trojan
horse. filed with the enemies Of the re-
public.
THE question is not whether we de-
| sire peace. amity and good will. That is
the universal cry of the human heart.
/ The real question is, What Is the eff.
| feet of the PROPOSED contract now pre-
I al 70 N
| the American nation Is requested
! II affirm that It In fact undertakes to
| set up world Government which Will
have control over all international mat
ters as completely as the Federal Gov
eminent now has jurisdiction over ques-
tons affecting the States OF the Union
under the powers expressly granted by
the Constitution.
Cause for War Seen.
Moreover. it will have Jurisdiction
Of all domestic matters which In the
opinion Of the majority of the league
may tend to produce difficulties out Of
which war may spring.
Il assert that:
"First-The seat OF this league =.
! whether established at Versailles
! London. Rome or elsewhere. will bs-
! come in fact the capital OF the world
1T has been recently admitted. in
deed the wide jurisdiction of the
league itself shows, tina. the league
! or it's agencies will be substantially
! in perpetual session.
| "Second-The construction of the
| league is essentially autocratic. The
| powers are 30 highly centralized and
so utterly without balance. checks.
or safeguards as to be repugnant to
| all forms OF democracy.
THE Government thus established
consists OF a body OF delegates meeting
at such times as II may desire. There
Is at the same time created an Execu-
tive Council consisting OF one represen-
tatlve each of the United States,
the British Empire. France, Italy
and Japan. with the representatives
named. To this council Is given
tho Jurisdiction to pass upon any and
all matters coming within the author
| ity OF the league. 1t is plainly contem-
plated that the council shall be prac-
! tically in perpetual session, while the
league is to only be convened upon oc-
! cas!ons,
Mine to Hold Power.
Thus Il appears that except when the
| league Is actually in session all of the
powers OF the Government will he vested
in nine individuals sitting together and
called the Executive Council. These nine
men meet and issue an order. These nine
men have the power TO construe the or
der thus Issued. These same nine men
; have the right to-SS"1maHd the execution
I of the order. Thus there is concentrated
| In nine individuals, eight OF them nom
I residents and aliens TO the United States,
legislative, judicial and executive pow
ers.
More accurately stated. there ia con-
| fided to these nine men the power to issue
DEGREES affecting every nation In the
world; to construe these DEGREES when
Issued and to order their enforcement.
! limits OF its authority all of the auto
cratic powers which characterize the
worst despotisms OF the earth.
| Permit me to dwell on this a moment
/ When we set up our own Government II
I was to be composed of our own people.
In It not a single foreigner can par
| ticipate. Each officlal is required to
swear to support the Constitution of the
| United States and in substance to yield
| allegiance to no other Power whatsoever.
I'VE did not conlde the powers OF
| government TO a single head or to a
single department Neither did we give
| the powers to legislate 10 one single
| body.
Safeguards for People.
| I'VE created two houses Of Congress
| in order that the one might be a check
upon the other. We put a further check
4 A