New-York tribune., 1919-02-27
Cummins Sees
Disaster tOU. S.
1n League Pact
Iowa Senator Favors Plan
for "a World Union, but
Opposes Paris Covenant
Neso York Tribune
Washington Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Declarine
Article x of the proposed constitution
of the league of nations to be "almost
the wickedest proposal suggested fol
the commentator of mankind" Senator
Albert B. Cummns, of Iowa, Republi-
can, fired in the Senate to-day the first
gun for those VINO favor the idea of a
league of nations but oppose the pro
visions of the covenant adopted at
Paris
Article x pledges the contracting ma
tions to undertake "to respect and pre-
serve as against. external aggression
the territorial integrity and existing
political independence Of all states
members of the league" and provides
that "in case of such aggression, or in
case of any threat or danger Of such
aggression, the executive council shall
advise upon the means by which the
obligation shall lie fulfilled"
According to Senator Cummins, had
such a covenant been in existence
among the great powers Of the world in
1916 the Republic Of the United States
could never have been founded.
Owen Urges Safeguard
Debate OIL the league continued in
the Senate to-day almost up to the
hour set fer the Presidents conference
at the White House with the members
of the Senate and House Foreign At
fairs committees. 1t was the expressed
wish Of the President that there should
be no discussion until after he had
been given opportunity, at this con-
ference, to disclose to the committees
his reasons for approving each Of the
articles Of the league constitution.
Senator Cummins was followed by
Senator Robert L. Owen, ol Oklahoma,
Democrat, who, though defending the
league plan, urged the advisability of
inserting in the instrument provision
that will safeguard the right of every
nation over its internal affairs and
over such matters as immigration, emf
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, of Mas
sachusetts, ranking Republican meml CT
of the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, and Senator Phiander C. Knox,
of Pennsylvania, Secretary of State
in the administration of President
Taft, who will speak, respectively, on
Friday and Saturday of this week, are
expected, like Senator Cummins, not
to oppose the creation of league of
nations to preserve peace, but the form
Of the constitution as drawn up at
Paris and accepted by President Will
son.
More Bad Than Good
"There is some good in it," said SEN
ator Cummins, referring to the pro
posed league compact; "there is more
that is bad in it. There are parts
which, in my judgment, not only neu-
tralize all the benefits Of a peaceful
settlement of disputes between ma
tons, but which affirmatively destroy
the national structure and which COM
nit the United States to a course
which must end in humiliation and dis
aster."
Asserting that he had been at first
disposed TO withhold comment until the
President had had opportunity to con-
fer with the members Of the two COM
mittees, Senator Cummins said that In
view of the Presidents announced pur-
pose to return almost Immediately to
France he thought it was the duty of
every member of the Senate to give his
views without delay.
"1t would be most unfortunate" he
said, "if the nations represented at the
conference were to conclude treaty
upon this subject and return to their
respective countries only to find that
their work had been disapprovcd bv
the Senate of the United States. leav-
ing an instrument of such vital impor-
tance to the world without force or ef
feet.
CAS- I look at it, it Is of far greater
Importance that we discharge this duty
at this time than it is to consider ap-
preparation bills or legislation Of any
character"
Senator Cummins referred to the
Paris covenant as intending to create
"world nation" with "polyglot and in
coherent power" and he submitted the
following as an outline of what he
thought the league compact should be:
Referring again to Article X of tn.
covenant as drawn up at Paris, Senator
Cummins said:
Il am opposed to it because it is the
most destructive, unjust and reaction
ary proposal which was ever submitted