Salt Lake Herald-Republican | 1919-02-20 | Page 1 | Senators Point out Weak Spots in Formation of World Pact

I Senators Point Out Weak Spots in Formation of of W World arId Pact W WASHINGTON F Feb b. b 19 Sena Sena Senator tor Borah of Idaho an opponent opponent ent of or the thc league of nations made public to today ay an open letter to former President Taft asking whether Mr Mt b Taft an and other oilier league advocates ad would object to the addition of an amendment to the tile proposed constitution tion lion specifically g guaranteeing ein continued con existence of the Monroe doc doe trine Senator Borah quoted the former Pr President as st stating ting that the tile league of nations av saves n cs s the Monroe fonroe doc doctrine C c trine TilIe and anti said aiU dispatches from ng nd and Fr c ca a as t well H li I I I ions lons hero here took tho the opposite view Senator Borah quoted provisions pro adopted t by y the arbitration convention of oC The rhe Ha Hague ue conference of 1907 providInG providing pro pro- viding that nothing contained In the convention con should be construed to re require re- re flU quire Ire tho tim United States to depart from its policy of or not entering entangling alliances an and exempting the tho Monroe doctrine This provision he declared was thought necessary then by Elihu Hoot Senator and Senator Knox then secretary of ot state It ItI ItI I 1 am nm told the letter leller added b by those who were were in public life at the time time that It 11 met with your jour our endorse endorse- ment Most of oC all It was insisted upon by Theodore Roosevelt who who always alwa's stood dauntless against every Infringement Infringe infringe- mont ment of oC American rights and for Cor the full preservation of or American ples pies Now ow Tile The Hague convention con has been swept aside for a more drastic organization with vastly increased Jurisdiction tion and greater powers If It was deemed necessary and wise lse to have this reservation In Tho The Hague conventions how can It be contended that it Is not equally necessary and wise to have ha this reservation reser In this proposed constitution of the thc league of ot nations nations Senator Reed Collo followed ed with crIticisms criticisms criticisms of or delay In concluding peace and releasing An American soldiers Return If It w we had been cen making peace in instead instead instead in- in stead of oC contracts fo for tor the tho future we have been much nearer a final I settlement of peace conditions sale said Mr Reed asserting that retention of ot I soldiers In American 4 camos carnos especially I I wag waa a piece of ot stupidity without parallel or excuse c. c I 1 dont don't think It Is difficult to tell who Is telling the war department when to release soldiers declared Senator Reed I r think any department department department depart depart- ment that keeps three fourths of or a million men in camps after arter the war is over is Incompetent or worse than In In- In competent If It we could send en to Europe he lie continued men a month through seas In infested tested with mines mints and I submarines why cant can't we when the thc theseas theseas seas are clear cleam and amid free trec from danger return them as ns rapidly Declaring It was wrong to keep I American soldiers abroad another da day Senator Reed advocated demanding that Great Britain and France Franco assist In furnishing ships to bring them hack back lIe Ho declared th tho United States has done enough for Cor both boLh those countries to warrant such a H. reque request t. t Would l n Demand Senator Lewis of Illinois interrupted to say the allies allies' ships could not bo be controlled b by this nation I know the they ther would furnish ships If It the proper demand was mado matIo and It ought to be mado mighty quickly Quick de declared de- de e- e dared Senator Reed Heed Instead of oC writing leagues ues of oC na tin- lions he said ald Id I sa say to lo the gentlemen gentle Jentle men nen running these countries I 1 need some sonic ships wont won't you ou give o them to tous tous tous us And if the they refused Id I'd see to lo lot It t er e every benefit and ad advantage c tile thC they have In tile the American market would betaken bo be taken away from Crom them the da day after atter- wards The Tho gallery galler loudly applauded the senior sen-I sen son sen ator and Vice Vice Pr President Marshall sharply warned warnell spectators that repetition ion tion of or time the applause would result Inthe in inthe the he galleries being cleared Senator Smoot of oC Utah Republican interrupted d to 51 say ho he was Informed f Ingland had placed only three e ships at I the thc disposal of ot t the e Am American KO Jov gov 1 J Continued on n page ge 4 3 f I SENATORS POINT OUT WEAK SPOTS IN PACT Continued from Crom Pa Page c 1 1 cr ment for Cor or the tho return troop movement move move- m ment en t t LeIs said bald England nce needed td j c her Ile to transport he her own colonial troops and nl nth added he dIll did hot hoi the thera ra department criticized tot for conditions condi condl tion tot for fl U 17 Tad Tas riot Jot responsible n Sen to n Hi Reed p d said ald U us ItA o of if this country would not hot b bloj In a n. temper to support the next loan unless they found th government nt Inclined to cut Characterising tho failure t to sp ed Op tip demobilization ns as gross ro mismanagement ho raid r-ald unless some somo Immediately tely to Improve Improve Im Im- irn- irn steps step were vero taken prove tho the Ilu ho would Introduce I n a resolution r requiring that llon tion be hastened In concluding hi his n tho the senator announced ho would dl discuss cu tho the o of nations In the tha Senate Saturday Declaring the criticisms wore unfaIr unfair un Unfair fair Senator of ot Colorado Democrat defended tho the war department which submitted tJ figures ho said he had Just obtained by 11 telephone showing that lO men In camps n tho tile United United Unit Unit- ed cd States had hall been discharged since Binco th the signing sl of or the armistice lie He said that th In a addition men had be been n re returned returned re- re turned from France while were at sea en route home Half lIale n In Camps Gump to questions uy u cn i Reed Recd Senator said It was true that more than men were now in homo home camps awaiting discharges es Statistics showing production of or war materials and the amount transported to France Franc were read by lIy Senator Shaf Shat- roth from r m figures which ho said salt had hud been furni furnished him b by the war department depart depart- ment mont These were characterized by Sen Sen- Senator Senator ator Reed as being deliberately misleading mis- mis leading as to facts The Missouri senator said sahl many marty things could be said In praIse pralto of or the war department but ho lie added that wh when n th the department tried to convince the country countr that It has performed it was vas not presenting the tire truth Senator Reed Hoed read real several lIe telegrams sent last September b by General Per Pcr- shing urging the sending a of supplies I and telling of ot the shortage o of motor I transportation I 1 have got sot a stack of oC these said I Senator Reed but I J dont don't Intend to read them for Cor I do llo not want to discourage discourage dis dis- dis courage the American people Senator Smoot criticised what he said was a practice of ot the war ar department nt In n sending up A load of oC stuff to encumber encumber encumber en en- cumber the record the ver very minute any criticism of or the tho department is made I House Members Criticize League o c I Io Washington Feb 19 Criticism Criticism of or orthe the tho constitution of oC the league of nations nations na na- nations na- na was opened in the House lato late toda today with an addre address s b by Representative tie tive Foss Fess of oC Ohio Republican who de declared de- de dared tho league plan plait Wl was monstrous and filled with vicious possibilities Just as soon a as the American people shall grasp the tho vicious possibilities herein Included he said raid there will willbe willbe willbe be such a revulsion re of oC sentiment aroused that an any man mm who will subscribe subscribe subscribe sub sub- scribe to this perpetual surrender of or orUll Ull this republics republic's future to a l lote vote ote of or foreign for for- eign elga nations will be as he ho should be repudiated aa lS an enem enemy to the spirit and genius of oC Amerl American an Institutions Representative e Fess Fes said one of or the principal objections to the league plan was that It made five tive votes for tor forthe the United Kingdom a against one 1 lor 1 the United States b by permitting self self- governing go dominions or colonies to become independent members Europe to Hold Hoh Power The sovereignty of or the United States continued the Ohio member will be transferred completely to a group of ot European powers b by a mere voto oto of ot the tho league that matters under consideration by br it might lead to towar warThe warThe warThe war The executive council which t Is to be the tho real agency of or the lea league ue to enforce Its findings is II to be limited to nine members one ono each from Crom the United Unit Unit- ed eti States France Great Britain Ital Italy ItaI and Japan and one each cach from four tour other states to be selected b by the body bldr of delegates The Tho dech decisions lons of or each body delegates or executive counci are arc b by a a. majority vote yote somewhat In n nall all cases the findings of oC the council will be determined b by five fi members rs In Jn other words art ari ariy five of or tho the nine voting voting- together tog can bind the United States without its consent to tn ny matter matter mat mat- ter within the province province-of or tho tire league No Xo matter how much the people of or the United States ma may wish to avoid mixing in European or Asiatic poi pol- tics any five tl of or the nine members can fix Ix th the re responsibility on this coun coun- try Mandatory To bo be specific article D 9 authorizes cs the league to vest est mandatory mandator author 1 It ity RI and select tho the nation to exercise It over O such I countries recently under other sovereignty so t an and l which arc are not yet ct regarded SUC sufficiently stable to maintain stable self ho This article means mean that by a aoto vote voto of or the tire league tho United States would have ha to undertake the tho maintenance of oC law lawand lawand and order in Armenia for tor example or cr r a country in Africa i Moreover an any group of oC five of tl the e nine nIno can ean fix the character of at our defon do- do de de- fon tense e pro program ram as the que question of oC the size o of armament t large lare-c or f small mall of ot an any member of ot the league Is subject to this vote ote b by article 8 8 Mr Foss Fess said the most dangerous an erous feature of or the proposed constitution constitution- was the proposal ml which would make the United States a constituent part of a league which would exercise s su- su u- u promo authority through h a a. body or of delegates without name or number each of oC whom would have ha equal au- au In all nil matters which would come before it affecting this country The matters of ot consideration are not defined and therefore not limited he lie said If It the tho Monroe doctrine is Included in In- In in tho the judgment ot of a majority of ot the members what recourse have we after atter w we have o entered the league which speaks by br a tL majority vote if It Immigration is included according to a majority of or tho the league what Is our defense If H a tariff Is included according according ac ac- ac- ac cording cording- to the judgment o of ot tho the ma ma- what ha hae ve we left lott but to surrender sur sur- render or commit a breach of or COVenant covenant cove cove- nant Should Hold old Sovereignty l ty This nation should never nn-er under an any circumstances surrender it its sovereign so t ty on any questions which pertain to Its future futuro welfare to a a. vote ot of a league made up ot or an Indeterminate number of oC countries whose major interests cannot be exp expected to be Identical with our own Mr Peas declared d that once once the United States Statu had agreed to the pro pro- posed league It would not have the tile pow power r to compel h hanges f In the constitution con con- tor for its Hs benefit bOnet Article Io 6 purports r to provide for tor amendment of lit the thO league he said but of ot course no amendments in thin tho interests of ot the United States will likely ever be made as ns It requires tho vote of ot all the thc he nine states which t aro arc represented In the council anti and thoU then the ratification of ot th throe three of or tho the stAt represented n the thc bo body r of ot dele gates If It It should 1 bo La claimed iJ bv proPonents proponents pro pro- of or this thrA pr preposterous proposition lion tion that questions I have named are aro not included In the league no man or ors s sense nse will nII den deny that tinder article 26 6 amendments can van be made mado ii h by interested ted nations to Include these thes questions question rr nH Mr fr I es criticized artIcles article of or the he league constitution which ho said re required re- re d abrogation of 6 existing existing- treaties s I inconsistent with trio tho l agun charter This means If It a 1 treaty treat now exists between i in 1111 anti and Japan inconsistent with the tho ho Judgment of or th the tho league as j expressed b by nn any five o of th the th nine it must Lo be a said saIl Mr Ir Ic Tho quest Ton Jn of European Immigration ion tion nl also o will fall tall und under r this thit authority t ty tv and our laws of t limitation Inconsistent Incon incon- with what a majority of oC this Iris 13 league ue shall find must be abrogated No further lc legislation on European or Asiatic Immigration could bo Le enacted enacted enact enact- ed without tho th consent nt of or the lel league ue a as a It covers coYer not only treaty treat making but such laws law's a J a-J arc are based upon treaties Can Cart wo wp bo Ilc sure that questions of ot otan an American merchant merc marine will not fall all under a vote of European countries coun coun- tries which quite Quito naturally will prefer pre pro for fer r to o keep the thc monopoly of or this pa par par- r- r lt activity Who ho will wm ue be me the ne Judge Evidently E the lea league ue will have something to sa say about it Commerce Controlled Mr fr Fess Foss also objected to article 21 1 of ot the constitution which he said would give o the league certain powers o over oer er the tire commerce of oC the tire nations which composed It This article rea read In the light of or article article ar ar- ar- ar tide 20 O which looks to a permanent International labor bureau the speaker speak speak- er or sal saId will wiil show the settled plans plaits of or placing the matter of or our own com com- mercial lal standing and of or legislation looking to maintenance of American standards under a n group of oC r European countries tries rite Tho moment this tills authority Is granted grant grant- rant rant- ed cd we e will hear hrar democratic trade free politicians demand that all protective legislation he repealed on Ott the basis that to fa favor r an American standard not reach reached ell by hy Is not within the authority of oC this nation because e by ty this covenant cO we have surrendered any ally such authority wo we ma may have havo had hlll to I the findings of the league of nations of oC which we are aro a tL pa party part ty