The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-03-20
REDRAFT ESSENTIAL

NV first constructive criticism is that
this covenant ought to be redrafted.'
This is essential, he added, because the
sanctity OF treaties is vital above all else
AS another constructive criticism he
demanded a definite statement in the
covenant of the vote required in the ex-
ecutive council, for it to recommend" or
advise" or propose" as the case might
be.
He also declared for "a larger reserva-
ton of the Monroe doctrine" the policy
which Stands on two facts. geography
and human nature, that are neither tram
silent nor ephemeral
ut must not be within the jurisdiction
of the league of nations to say who shall
come into the United States" he said.
ITO have other nations NEEDLE with our
tariff would run up against our constt-
tuition.
II offef an amendment to exclude cues
tions affecting immigration and tarlf.
from the public view of the league as
fourth constructive criticism
AS another constructive criticism he
called for a provision permitting with
drawal from the league to make unneces-
sary denunciation or abrogation OF the
treaty.
In concluding his opening argument.
Senator Lodge referred to the provision
for manufactures with its failure to state
"who will seelct them" for the nations.
Cries of no" no." that nearly
drowned scattering shouts of yes" arose
when Senator Lodge. in emphasizing the
Importance of article 10 in the covenant,
asked If the American people would be
willing to send forth "our sons to fight
the battles of all the nations of the
world"
yet that is what is demanded" he
added, land the American people should
ponder this soberly- before accepting a
covenant containing any such stipula-
ton -- p. ..,.-.+ ..... .t...+
.,,4 e MUST BE OMITTED
IF they are ready to accept it, all
right If the American people are not
ready to, that article will have to go
out of the treaty If that league With
that article had existed in the eighteenth
century France could not have assisted
this country to win the revolution II
that league had existed in 1898 we could
not have interfered and rescued Cuba
from the clutches of Spain; we should
have brought war on with all the other
nations of the world.
perhaps the time has come to do it.
| wish tonight to call your attention to
the gravity of that promise. to what it
means; that it is morally binding; that
there is no escape when guarantee of
that is all I ask. Consider it. And re-
member that we must make no PROMISE
enter into no agreement that we are not
going to carry out in letter and in spirit
without restriction and without deduc-
ton
Senator Lodge spoke not quite an hour.
As he concluded there was demonstra-
ton which was renewed moment later
when Dr. Lowell was introduced. The
la tiers remarks drew frequent applause
from the audience.
DIR. Lowell laid the premises for his
argument by asserting that to be effec-
tive league of nations to prevent war
must provide for compulsory arbitration
with penalties for the offender that no
nation would venture to incur Punish
n,ent should be melted out not by coun-
ell of the league but automatically by
the agreed and immediate attitude OF the
members of the league who had bound
to resist the aggressor. Then
he analyzed the proposed covenant, de-
claring that though there were faults
in the drafting, it offered the minimum
essentials of an effective anti-war league
WIDELY misunderstood
THE covenant of Paris" he said, is
very defective in it's drafting. 1t is easily
misunderstood, and has. in fact, been
widely misunderstood. Let us remember
that in it's present shape it is intended
only as draft subject to correction.
He summarized the provisions of the