The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-13
MIR. LODGE LAUNCHES HIS
LOSG-EXPECTED ASSAULT
ON LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Continued from pnge II


rests and must rest, except where II Is
imposed under duress and securities
and hostages are taken for its fulfill
ment, upon moral obligations. The
pathway OF dishonor IL always open.
But whatever the United States agrees
to, by that agreement she must abide.
"lf the United States or any other
great country should refuse no matter
how speciOus the reasons. to fulfill both
In letter and spirit every obligation In
this covenant, the United States would
crumbe into dust, leaving behind \
legacy of wars"
Quoting press report that Bedou!ns
were attacking the kingdom of Hedjaz.
the senator pointed out that Hedjaz
was Il member of the league whose in
tegrity the United Stayes would guar
antee to preserve from external ag
gression under the covenant
Under Article IL" he said, 'if King
Hussien appealed to us for aid and pro
lection against external aggression ar
fecting his independence and the boun'
daries OF his Kingdom, we should be
bound to give that aid and protection
and to send American soldiers to Ara
bia know the answer well--that OF
course they could not be sent without
action by congress. Congress would have
no choice, II acting in good faith.
Holds II Covers Tariffs
LET me now briefly point out the
the insuperable difficulty which / find
II 10
should arise between members OF
the league any dispute likely to lead
to rupture'--'any dispute covers every
possible dispute. It therefore covers
dispute over tariff duties and over i'm
migration.
The senator said the British delegates
to the peace conference, in statement
rega riding the Monroe doctrine, had as
certed that should a dispute arise as TO
the meaning of the doctrine, 'the
league is here to settle it.
at has seemed to me-" he continued
"that the British delegation Travelled a
little out of the precincts of the peace
when they undertook to ex-
plain the Monroe doctrine and tell the
United States what it was and what IL
was not proposed to do with 1t under
the new article.
"Another point in this covenant
where change must be made in ordei
TO protect the safety of the United
States in the future Is in Article l.
where withdrawal is provided for. AS
it now stands it reads that:
"'Any member of the league may,
after two years notice Of its intention
to do so withdraw from the league. pro
yided that all its international obliga'
lions and all its obligations under this
covenant shall have been fulfilled at
he time of its withdrawal
Whatever of virtue there may be in
he right thus conferred is completely
nullified by the proviso The league
alone can decide whether all inter
national obligations and all obligations
lnder this covenant have been fulfilled;
md this would require, under the pro-
visions of the league, a unanimous vote
so that any nation desiring to withdraw
could not do So even on the two years
notice, II one nation voted that the OBJ
legations had not been fulfilled. Re
that this gives the league not
only power to review all our obligations
under the covenant, but all our treaties
with all nations. for every one is an
obligation
"Any analysis of the provisions or
his league covenant brings out in
startling relief one great fact. What
aver may be said, 1t is not league OF
peace; It is an alliance. dominated at
the present moment by five great pow
ars. really by three, and it has all the
marks of an alliance The development
IF international law Is neglected. The
court which is to decide disputes
brought before it fills but small
place. Those articles upon which the
whole structure rests are articles
which provide for the use of force; thar
s, for war This league to enforce
peace does a great deal for enforcement
md very little for peace