Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-01

Senator Knox, who attended the
White House dinner conference last
Wednesday with other members of
s he Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, said the constitution of the
league as presented to the Peace
Conference Sanctions. breeds and
commands war" and after criticising
Various clauses of the document,
asked:
Questions Feverish Anxiety
"Why this feverish anxiety for the
adoption of this plan? Why this rae
ng up and down the land by prop
igandists urging its adoption? What
benefit is to come from such a sale
E # the country as is urged upon us?
Who are the beneiciaries of this be-
rayal of our people?"
The Pennsylvania Senator said that
the people of the United States de-
! ired what he termed a real League
s If Nations to prevent war and not
merely to build a coalition to further
rade or preserve and expand terri
orial possessions. it might be Sc
ured through the formation of an
International organization compris-
ng the nations of the world.
Senator Knox said the constitution
zf such an international coalition
should primarily declare war an In
ernatiOnal crime and stipulate that
! NY nation engaging I'm IL except in
elf-defense he punished by the world
y an internal tiOnaI criminal. He also
zuggested that the constitution pro-
i ide that international disputes be
ecided by an international court, ac-
81 to-, Il
] ming war; that no nation could sum-
non another before trx court unless
he subject under discussion was of
ommon concern to the contending
ations and that jurisdiction of the
ourt not to extend to matters of
governmental policy.
Under such a code, the senator de-
Jared, America would not, as in
vent the present plan for a League
zf Nations were realized, be called
pom to arbitrate 1.-The policy involv-
d in the Monroe Doctrine, our con-
ervation policy; our immigration
olicy; our right to eXpel aliens, our
! light to repell invasion and the
] ight to maintain military and naval
Establishments; our right to make
ecessary Notifications of the Pdna-
na Canal or on our frontiers, and
8 zur right to discriminate between ma
: ives and foreigners in respect to
ights of property and citizenship
Suggests Limited Jurisdiction
Among other suggestions for the
Constitution, he said it should pro-
de that the countries of the two
emispheres be called upon to en-
orce DEGREES of the international
ourt only in their respective hemis-
@heres.
"A league framed on these broad
nes," he continued, would carry
NTH it a minimum loss of our SOW
zreignity would relieve us from par
icipation in the broils of Europe:
would preserve the Monroe Doctrine
nd would save America from the
esults of European intrigue and s.
PRESTON"
In opening his address, Senator
lnoX, said he wished it understood
Q had not secured negative conclu-
ions in regard to the constitution of
he proposed league through un-
riendliness or bias. He said he was
gainst war even TO the extent of
eeing the United States make the ut
host sacrifices possible, but that he
Wanted to feel sure that when tho
fferng of the United States had been
laced upon the altar and burned,
his country should have measure
bly, and proportionately advanced
he cause of human liberty and hap
iness.
Points to Covenant Flaws
Referring to the proposed consti-
ution of the League of Nations, he
rst criticised it for "looseness of
xpression," which he said character
ked it throughout and then because
appeared to set up to operating
ntities for it's enforcement, the high
contracting parties" and the league
tself. In this connection he said
he Importance of this became appar-
mt when it was observed that "the
gh contracting parties" did not COM
prise every member state in the
easue, and that, therefore, the "bur-
en- assumed by the high contracting
'arties, whoever they may be, possi-
'ly the big five,' is crushing in its
Weight"
Fears Second League
The Senator warned especially
gainst leaving the central powers
tut of the league, saying the inevi-