Full text of Statements and Speeches of Robert L. Owen : The Peace Treaty and League of Nations : Speech in the Senate of the United States

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

The Peace Treaty and League of Nations
SPEECH
OF

HON. ROBERT L. OWEN
O F O K LA H O M A

IN TH E

SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JU L Y 31, 1919

WASHINGTON
1919
133035— 10751




■■■

.. ..............



SP E E C H
OF

HON. ROBERT L. OWEN.
THE P E A C E T R E A T Y A N D L E A G U E O F N A T I O N S .

Mr. OWEN. Mr. President, the Senate of the United States
is facing its greatest responsibility in the history of the Re­
public. We are face to face with the acceptance or the rejection
of a treaty of peace with Germany, and the acceptance or re­
jection of a covenant establishing a league of nations and a
new world order of liberty, justice, and humanity.
In a great enterprise of this character we must not permit our­
selves to deal with the shadows ; we should deal only with the sub­
stance.
The treaty with Germany establishes the disarmament of
Germany as a great vital fact, absolutely breaks its military
and naval power, its dynastic ambition and militarism, and com­
pels reparation for the damage done by, the German people. It
compels the German and Austrian Governments to recognize the
rights of subject peoples heretofore dominated by Germany and
her allies. They are compelled to recognize the Poles, the
Czecho-Slovaks, the Jugo-Slavs, and to recognize the new bound­
aries of these peoples and their right to self-government, their
right of self-determination, and equitable treatment to their com­
merce and industry. The reduction o f the military power of
Germany is an event of the first magnitude. It is the reduction
of the only great power which in modern times has entertained
the ambition of world dominion; it is the reduction of the only
great power deliberately building up a military force for ag­
grandizement, for annexation, for indemnity, and for profit.
The reduction of German war power and lust for dominion by
this war and by this treaty is one great fact that must color
everything which follows. Above all, there is established by a
world agreement the covenant of the league of nations with a
force of sufficient financial, commercial, military, and naval
power to command the peace of the w’orld for all time.
I have studied the covenant o f the league of nations with
care. I have read many speeches hostile to this covenant, and
have weighed the arguments against the covenant. I have
found them very hypercritical, partisan, and without convincing
force.
I am profoundly convinced that it is my duty as a Senator
of the United States, representing the people of the United
States, to give this covenant my support without amendment or
reservation. I regard it as my duty to the world to support
this covenant.
Mr. President, the peace of the world might have been se­
cured by the conventions at The Hague in 1899 and 1907 if it
133035— 19751




3




4
had not been for the military autocracies governing Germany,
Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey, whose representatives refused
to agree to arbitration or to disarmament and who, when ready,
violated all The Hague conventions and their solemn treaties
with other nations in their violent attempt in 1914 to establish
world dominion.
The great obstacle to world peace of 1899 and 1907 is happily
removed.
These autocratic military governments are now disarmed.
They will be compelled to accept the principles of international
morality, and it may well be believed that with the overthrow of
the military autocracies which governed these peoples, which
dominated and drove them into battle, the people themselves
will soon realize their deliverance and will appreciate and sup­
port with heartfelt loyalty the new world order.
Mr. President, the great conflict between military autocracy
and the growing democracies of the world was almost unavoid­
able. The Romanoffs, the Hohenzollerns, the Hapsburgs, and the
Bourbons, by the Secret Treaty of Verona, had sworn, in 1822, to
destroy the democracies of the world. That treaty, articles 1 and
2, provided:
A R T IC L E 1. T H E H IG H
C O N T R A C T I N G P O W E R S B E IN G C O N V IN C E D T H A T
TH E SYSTEM
OF R E P R E S E N T A T IV E G O V E R N M E N T IS E Q U A L L Y A S IN C O M ­
P A T IB L E
W IT H
THE
M O N A R C H IA L P R IN C IP L E S A S T H E
M A X IM
OF TH E
S O V E R E IG N T Y O F T H E P E O P L E W I T H T H E D I V IN E R I G H T , E N G A G E M U T U A L L Y ,
I N T H E M O S T S O L E M N M A N N E R , T O U S E A L L T H E I R E F F O R T S T O P U T AN
5N D TO T H E S Y S T E M
O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E G O V E R N M E N T S IN W H A T E V E R
C O U N T R Y I T M A Y E X I S T IN E U R O P E A N D T O P R E V E N T I T S B E IN G I N T R O ­
D U C E D IN T H O S E C O U N T R IE S W H E R E I T I S N O T Y E T K N O W N .
A R T . 2 . A S I T C A N N O T BE D O U B T E D T H A T T H E L I B E R T Y O F T H E P R E S S
IS T H E M O S T P O W E R F U L M E A N S U SED BY T H E P R E TE N D E D S U P P O R T E R S OF
T H E R IG H T S O F N A T IO N S TO T H E D E T R IM E N T OF T H O S E OF P R IN C E S , T H E
H I G H C O N T R A C T IN G P A R T IE S P R O M IS E R E C IP R O C A L L Y T O A D O P T A L L P R O P E R
M E A S U R E S T O S U P P R E S S I T , N O T O N L Y I N T H E I R O W N S T A T E S B U T A L S O IN
T H E R E ST OF EUROPE.

They immediately overthrew the limited monarchy in Spain
and established an absolute monarchy under the same prince.
They did the same thing in Italy with a view to establishing
absolute monarchies throughout the world and keeping the
people of the world as subjects, as political slaves, and*as in­
dustrial slaves subject to the mastery of the ruling powers.
The Monroe doctrine was declared for the express purpose of
checking this monarchical movement and preventing its exten­
sion to the Western Hemisphere. The Hohenzollerns were the
leaders o f this conspiracy from 1822 down to 1914, and down
to the day when William II fled to Holland before the victorious
powers o f the democracies o f the world.
This great war was fought by America on the principle that
the peoples o f the world had the right to govern themselves,
and the allied Governments confirmed the American theory on
November 5, 1918, as the basis of the armistice. The present
dictated treaty of peace is the result and is before us.
This war was a war to establish right against might, justice
and humanity against injustice and inhumanity; to establish
the rule o f conscience throughout the world against the rule
of brute force, the right of men everywhere to govern them­
selves.
The principles of righteousness were successful, and In the
final months of battle the great powers of the United States were
133035— 19751

•>

marshaled and thrown upon the battle field, giving vitality to
the flagging forces of Great Britain, of France, of Italy, and of
Belgium, and brought an imperishable glory to the American
Republic as the world apostle of liberty and righteousness.
l e a g u e o f v ic t o r io u s n a t i o n s .

Mr. President, on the battle field a league of victorious nations
was established, led by the United States, Great Britain, France,
Italy, Belgium, and Japan, and including 20 others. It may be
fairly said that the sympathy of all of the nations o f the world,
of all the people of the world was finally aroused against the
wicked lust for dominion exhibited by the rulers of Germany,
and that finally on the inside of Austria and on the inside of
Germany disintegration commenced because of the discontent of
the Austrian and German people with the false leadership they
had been compelled to follow.- It was a pathetic scene when we
saw the Czecho-Slovaks, who had deserted Austria and fought
for the Allies, having passed around the world, reached Wash­
ington and marched before the White House as a tribute to the
United States and as an evidence of their own devotion to the
cause of justice and righteousness.
Mr. President, the still small voice coming from the Divine
Spirit moves the hearts of all men and ultimately makes truth
triumphant and justice victorious.
We have now, Mr. President, a league of nations in actual
operation— a league of victorious nations, with their representa­
tives in Paris completing the task imposed upon the world by
William II.
A league o f victorious nations, through their representatives,
has presented to us a treaty of peace with Germany, with a
covenant of a world league of nations approved by the represent­
atives of 32 nations: United States, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil,
the British Empire (including Canada, Australia, South Africa,
New Zealand, a’nd India), China, Cuba, Ecuador, France, Greece,
Guatemala, Haiti, Hedjaz, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Liberia,
Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Roumania, SerbCroat-Slovene State, Siam, Czechoslovakia, and Uruguay.
Mr. President, 13 other great States—Argentina, Chile, Colom­
bia, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Persia, Salva­
dor, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Venezuela— in effect Republics
more or less advanced, are ready and have been invited to join
the covenant of the league of nations.
Mr. President, I can not but believe that within a short period
of probation Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria will be admitted
to the league of nations, and that Russia— a united Russia, a
great Republic of Russia, or perhaps several republics com­
posed of Russian people— will gladly join the league when they
shall have established orderly, democratic government.
All of these nations stand for peace and justice and sympa­
thetic cooperation, and the Hohenzollerns, the Hapsburgs— the
governments based on militarism and lust for world dominion—
are dead beyond the possibility of resurrection.
We are entering a new world order. The representatives of
32 nations have been conferring together since the 11th day of
November, 1918, and have finally worked out with infinite pains
a treaty of peace with Germany which is now before us ( S. Doc.
No. 49. 66th Cong., 1st sess.). It comprises 440 articles—a
133035— 19751







6

volume of 194 pages. It is the most important treaty the world
has ever seen. It deals not only with Germany but in effect
it deals with the new nations that are brought into life by this
peace treaty.
I shall support the treaty of peace as the best settlement
found possible by the representatives of the great nations light­
ing together for liberty and justice.
We have a league of nations now, born of necessity, created
by war, by the exigencies of life and death, and they are trans­
acting business without any other charter than the charter of
necessity. This treaty has not been carelessly drawn. The
United States alone had a large number of expert men engaged
in an advisory capacity to gather together the information for
our peace commissioners, and it is quite a wonderful tribute
to the excellence of this treaty and to its thoroughness and to
its accuracy that the opponents have found in 440 articles so
few of which they can complain. I shall refer to some of these
objections later.
But, Mr. President, what I now wish to emphasize is that we
have a league of nations working without a charter, establish­
ing by military force the peace o f Europe, a peace which is
essential and necessary to the peace o f the American people;
that the league of victorious nations in arms through its repre­
sentatives has finally reached an agreement. Germany has
ratified the terms; Great Britain has ratified it; France in a
few days will have ratified it, and so will Japan. Are these
great voices o f no persuasive force? It is a dictated peace, as I
had the honor to advise the honorable Senator from Massachu­
setts [Mr. L odge] it would be, when he denounced the armistice
and President Wilson’s question to the German people which
preceded the armistice. It is as much a dictated peace as if the
Allies had gone to Berlin after having devastated hundreds of
cities and villages and marched over the bodies-of hundreds of
thousands of the slain.
Never was a greater assemblage of scholars, technical experts,
historians, and trained statesmen assembled.
Their work
should command the respect of all thoughtful men who respect
authority and are moved by competent argument.
Mr. President, the nations composing the league o f victorious
nations discovered that while they were bound together by the
exigencies of war in framing the future relations of the nations
of Europe wi i Germany and her allies, and compelling compli­
ance to the decrees of the great Allies, it was essential to estab­
lish a league o f nations that should embrace all the nations of
the world, 32 of whom were already at the peace table joining in
the making of peace with Germany, and it was well known that
all the other nations in the world, except Germany and her
allies and disordered Russia, were ready to adjust themselves
to a world-wide league of nations for the preservation of the
future peace of the world and for the very vital purpose of mak­
ing effective the settlement with Germany and her allies, making
a certainty that militarism should not again raise its martial
head, and that Germany and Austria should respect the penal­
ties imposed upon them and make reparations for the damage
they had done.
Throughout the treaty of peace with Germany the proposed
league of nations is charged with many responsibilities to see
133035— 19751

7
that this treaty is carried o u t; that the boundaries fixed shall be
respected. This treaty establishes new relations between Ger­
many and all other nations in the most important particulars,
with the new States, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Austria, Hun­
gary, Schleswig, with Russia and the Russian States, with the
German colonies, with China, with Siam, Liberia, Morocco, with
Egypt, Turkey, Bulgaria, and in respect to Shantung.
This treaty is of gigantic importance in disarming Germany,
demobilizing her forces, limiting her army and navy, her arma­
ments, her munitions, her materials of war, abolishing abso­
lutely compulsory military service in Germany, preventing short
enlistments in the army to train citizens as soldiers, limiting her
fortifications, depriving her of the right to have military aero­
planes or submarines, authorizing interallied commissions of
control, making sweeping provisions for reparation, and propos­
ing proper penalties upon the criminal leaders who committed
the hideous crime of the war o f 1914.
This treaty of necessity deals with commercial relations, with
property rights, contracts, judgments, ports, waterways, rail­
ways, navigation, and so forth.
Mr. President, the covenant of the league of nations sub­
stitutes law and order in place of anarchy between nations.
We have had no such thing as international law. We have
had merely international precedents, international ethics and
agreements. No rule of human conduct not prescribed by com­
petent authority and capable of enforcement deserves to be
called a law.
The covenant of the league of nations is the beginning of
international order and international law to govern relations
of the citizens of one nation with the citizens of another
nation. The covenant is drawn up with avowed purpose—
to promote international
peace and security.

cooperation

and

to

achieve

international

The most intense partisan bigotry will not challenge the
nobility of this purpose. The means by which this noble end
shall be accomplished is specifically laid down—
First. By the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war.
Second. By the prescription of open, just, and honorable relations
between nations.
Third. By the firm establishment of the understandings of inter­
national law as the actual rule of conduct among Governments.
Fourth. By the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect
for all treaty obligations in the dealings o f organized peoples with one
another.

These four proposals are the proposals of the first paragraph
of the covenant of the league of nations, and whatever follows
must be interpreted in the light o f the purpose and the plan
proposed to carry out the purpose of achieving international
peace and security.
The 26 articles then lay out a plan for achieving international
peace and security.
First it pledges every member (art. 10) not to invade the
territorial integrity or existing political independence o f any
other member nation, and not only to respect this principle but
to preserve against external aggression the territorial integrity
and existing political independence of all members of the league.
Abundant means for safeguarding the future peace of the world
is provided as follow s:
13 3 03 5 — 19751







8

a. By recognizing the importance of reducing armaments to
the lowest point consistent with national safety and interna­
tional obligations;
b. By limiting the private manufacture of munitions and
implements o f war and providing a means for abating this
menace to peace;
c. By giving full information with regard to the manufac­
ture of armaments and military, naval, and air programs;
d. By establishing a commission to deal with the question
o f military and naval programs;
e. By providing for an immediate call o f the council in case
of war or a threat of war (art. 1 0 );
f. By providing that members of the league shall submit dis­
putes to arbitration or to inquiry by the council, and that they
will not resort to war until at least three months after the award
by the arbitrators or the report o f the council (art. 12).
g. By recognizing as suitable for arbitration—
First. All disputes relating to the interpretation of treaties.
Second. Any question of international law.
Third. The existence o f any fact which if established would
constitute a breach of any international obligation.
Fourth. Or as to the extent and nature of the reparation to
be made for any such breach.
h. Provision is made that the members of the league will
carry out in good faith any award that may be rendered, and
that they will not resort to war against a member which com­
plies with the award (art. 13).
i. A permanent court o f international justice is contemplated
to be submitted to the members of the league for consideration
(art. 14).
k. A further provision is made to settle disputes by provid­
ing that questions not submitted to arbitration shall be sub­
mitted to the council for full investigation and consideration.
l. Provision is made for an appeal to be made from the coun­
cil to the assembly (art. 15).
m. If any member resorts to war in disregard of its cov­
enants to arbitrate or adjust its differences with other nations
under articles 12,13, or 15, it shall, ipso facto, be deemed to have
committed an act of war against all other members of the league,
which undertake immediately to subject the offending nation—
First, to the severance o f all trade or financial relations.
Second, the prohibition of all intercourse between other na­
tionals and the nationals of the offending State.
Third, the prevention o f all financial, commercial, or per­
sonal intercourse between the nationals of the covenant-breaking
State and the nationals o f any other State, whether a member
of the league or not.
These penalties are sufficient to deter any nation on earth
from attacking another nation in violation of the covenanted
agreements (art. 16).
n. Moreover, it is provided that it shall be the duty o f the
council in the case of an outlaw nation to recommend to the sev­
eral Governments concerned what effective military, naval, or
air forces the members of the league shall severally contribute
to the armed forces to be used to protect the covenants of the
league (art. 16).
13 3 03 5 — 19751

9

This provision is similar to the provision in article 10 that
where any nation is exposed to an exterior aggression of its
territorial integrity or existing political independence by an­
other nation, the council shall advise as to the means by which
the obligation to preserve the territorial integrity and existing
political independence of nations shall be fulfilled.
o. Article 16 makes further provision that in the case of an
outlaw nation the members of the league shall cooperate in
financial and economic ways to minimize the harm done by a
blockade and boycott of the offending nation.
p. Article 17 provides for the settlement of disputes between
nations not members o f the league, and provides for the coercion
of any nonmember which assails a member nation contrary to
the principles o f the league.
q. Publicity of treaties is provided for as a safeguard against
secret treaties (art. 18).
r. The assembly is authorized to advise the reconsideration
o f existing treaties that may involve or endanger the peace of
the world (art. 19).
s. The members of the league are to cancel and set aside obli­
gations or understandings among themselves which are incon­
sistent with the principles of the proposed league, and they
agree not to hereafter enter into engagements inconsistent with
the principles of the league (art. 20).
t. I lie league is intrusted with the general supervision o f the
trade in arms and ammunition with the countries in which the
control of this traffic is necessary in the common interest
(art. 23).
u. The very great and important principle is laid down in the
proposed covenant that the people in German colonies and terri­
tories where the people are not yet able to stand by themselves
shall have their right of development placed under the an
tliority of the league o f nations as a sacred trust of civiliza­
tion, and that mandatories shall be established comprising
nations trained in the art o f government which shall exercise the
responsibility, under a charter issued by the council in behalf of
the league, determining the degree o f authority, control or ad­
ministration to be exercised by the mandatory, and providing
for annual reports, and recognizing the principles of justice
and the right o f the people who are governed to primary con­
sideration.
J
v. Some very important principles are laid down in section
23, pledging the member nations—
(a) To endeavor to secure and maintain fair and humane con­
ditions of labor for men, women, and children both in their own
countries and in all countries to which their commercial and in
dustrial relations extend, and for that purpose to establish and
maintain the necessary international organizations__
(b) Pledging the members to undertake to secure just treat
ment of the native inhabitants o f territories under their control
(c) That they will intrust the league with the general super'
vision over the execution o f agreements with regard to the
traffic in women and children, and the traffic in opium and other
dangerous drugs.
(e) That they will make provision to secure and maintain
f i eedom of communications and of transit and equitable treat
ment for the commerce of all members of the league
133035— 19751------- 2







10

(f ) That they will endeavor to take steps in matters of inter­
national concern for the prevention and control of disease.
That they will encourage and promote voluntary Red Cross
organizations (art. 25).
Mr. President, this covenant provides for the settlement o f
every international dispute that can honestly arise. It pro­
vides for the disarmament of nations to the limit of safety.
It provides a gigantic penalty o f international boycott and
blockade of any nation which, contrary to the principles o f the
league, invades the territorial integrity or political independence
of another nation. It lays down the principles of justice and
humanity. It pledges the nations of the world to the great
principles of peace and international justice and international
understanding. And above all the old enemies of peace and
justice are powerless and made incapable of future mischief.
Those who have been opposing the league have not been able
to point out in a single instance where they could improve upon
the precautions taken by this great covenant to prevent war in
future.
We are face to face with either accepting the covenant or re­
jecting it. I f I should take part in rejecting it, Mr. President,
my conscience would never cease to distress me as having
failed in a great crisis o f the world’s history to do what I could
to establish peace on earth, good will toward men.
Mr. President, the covenant of the league of nations is the
consummation of a century of the aspirations of the good men
o f the world. It is the work o f many hands. The doctrine of
disarmament and of arbitration would have been adopted at
The Hague in 1907 except for Germany and her allies.
It is absolutely inconceivable that any existing democracy
on earth would disregard the principles laid down in this league.
They would have no motive, in the first place. They would not
dare, in the second place.
P R E S ID E N T W IL S O N .

The political enemies of President Wilson should not throw
themselves in blind fury against the covenant of the league of
nations on the theory that it is his child, conceived by him and
brought forth by him, and therefore deserving a merited
slaughter. The principles of the league are those of The Hague
conventions brought down to date. It represents the best opin­
ions of the whole civilized world. As far as the covenant o f the
league o f nations is concerned it is full of wisdom and virtue. It
is a child conceived by all the lovers o f men.
I was one o f those, and I assume the responsibility, who urged
President Wilson to go to Paris and to use his prestige as Presi­
dent of the United States to bring about this covenant. I think
he is entitled to very great credit for having succeeded in bring­
ing back a covenant fundamentally sound, which will accom­
plish the purpose of world peace, world order, and world pros­
perity. History will give him a credit which his political oppo­
nents would now deny.
O P P O S IT IO N

TO

THE

COVENANT.

Mr. President, one of the lirst principles which I learned as a
Member of the Senate, in its capacity to pass upon foreign
treaties, was this—
That in the Senate of the United States party lines should cease at
tidewater.

133035— 19751

11
I have been profoundly disappointed to find the distinguished
Senator from Massachusetts, the present chairman of the Com­
mittee on Foreign Relations [Mr. L odge] , ignoring this sound
principle with his round robin, marshaling all the Republican
Senators whom he could influence to protest against the cove­
nant establishing the league of nations, making hostile speeches
against it, and leading other Senators to do the same thing.
The opponents of the league have proven too much.
The distinguished Senator from Illinois [Mr. S h e Um a n ] un­
dertook to demonstrate that the league would be controlled by
the Catholic Church by controlling a majority of the votes of the
assembly and that the Catholic Church would thus rule the
world.
Another Senator undertook to prove in the same way that the
colored races would control the league of nations, and therefore
control the world.
Other Senators to their own satisfaction have shown that
Great Britain would in like manner control the league and
therefore control the world.
These Senators might do well to reconcile their own differ­
ences before they ask the people of the United States to follow
a leadership that leads in all directions at once.
But, Mr. President, they are completely put to confusion by a
fair interpretation o f the covenant itself. The action of the
league (art. 2) must be effected through the instrumentality
of an assembly and of a council. It is expressly provided in
article 5 that—
Except where otherwise expressly provided in this covenant or by the
terms of the present treaty, decisions at any meeting of the assembly
or of the council shall require the ayreement oj all the members of the
league represented at the meeting.

In other words no decision except by unanimous vote.
The only exceptions provided for by the covenant are in
respect to matters of procedure, the appointment of committees
(these arrangements may be decided by a majority) (art. 5),
and in the case of an appeal to the assembly o f a pending dis­
pute it is provided that a decision may be arrived at if con­
curred in—
by the representatives of those members of the league represented on
the council and of a m ajority of the other members of the league,
exclusive in each case of the representatives of the parties to the
dispute.

In other words, the decisions of the assembly or of the council
in relation to international affairs must be unanimous. Where
is the possibility of the dominance of any nation over other
nations represented on the council or in the assembly? Where
is the danger of dominance by England, the Catholic Church, or
the colored races when no action can be taken except by unani­
mous consent?
Great stress has been laid upon the number of votes given
to Great Britain as in the cases o f Australia, South /A frica,
New Zealand, Canada, and India, while only one is given to the
United States.
The answer to this is that since a unanimous decision is re­
quired it is not of the slightest importance; and, second, that in
so far as mere votes are concerned, the United States has a
number of small nations whose support could be relied upon, as
Cuba, Haiti, San Salvador, Panama, Liberia, Nicaragua, Hon13 3 03 5 — 19751







12

duras, and Guatemala, whose population is negligible but whose
dependence upon the United States is of such a character that
their cooperation with the United States can be as much relied
upon as the cooperation of Canada with Great Britain.
But there is nothing in the argument one way or the other
Ihe argument is specious, it is fallacious, it is misleading, and
unworthy of being presented to the American Senate. A few
votes are of no importance where all must agree.
ENTANCUM NG

A L L IA N C E S .

The opponents o f the covenant establishing the league declare
with suspicious zeal that we are violating the advice o f our
alliarmes'' asbinston and iSnoring llis warning against entangling
The entangling alliances to which Washington referred were
agreements, common in his day, making offensive and defensive
alliances between one autocracy and another, between rival
groups of monarchies. He was very wise to advise the United
States to keep out o f such difficulties where nations were
trigiie 6( ^ milltary and dynastic ambitions and selfish inrevf ed Washington had not the faintest conception of
the piesent covenant establishing a world order bv the democlacies ot the world as a result of the complete overthrow o f the
Hohenzollerns, the Hapsburgs, and the Romanoffs. So far is
,T w bf f f hlPi 11? the league o f nations under the present covewh ch wH, l e iLg an enti nglillg alliance, it is an association
\\hidi will make impossible any entangling alliances such as
those contemplated by Washington.
The present covenant precludes the possibility of military
dynastic alliances. The present covenant establishes peace on
taith, establishes a just and fair relationship between all nauons, with all the nations of the earth pledged to maintain the
political integrity and the existing political independence of
every single member nation. I agree with Senator i m!
speech of June 9, 1915, at Union College, that “ there is no escape
from the proposition that nations must unite to prevent war "
and diaagree wtthhis present attitude. Is it not strange he has
made no constructive proposals?
1
MONROE DOCTRIN E.

. " ‘ f 0111 a gl®a™
humor there are opponents o f the league
who have the hardihood to confront the intelligence of man­
kind with the astonishing proposal that the present covenant
r Uw ? ° M Sh the Monroe d°etrine. These unhappy statesmen
think the Monroe doctrine is a charter establishing suzerainty
over the Central and South American Republics and that it is a
species of overlordship by which the United States has a rieht
to manage and control the policies of the other Republics o
the \Vestern Hemisphere. This un-American conception has
been highly mischievous just to the extent that it has had the
temerity by mysterious innuendoes to formulate itself It has
caused the Republics of South America and o f Central America
to look upon the United States as the Colossus o f the North
ready to invade their territory and their existing political in­
dependence whenever a pretext arises for the purposes of profit—
commercial, financial, or political.
y
133035— 19751

13
This is the doctrine which the Germans have used in the
Argentine, and Chile, and Brazil, and Colombia, and throughout
the South American Republics and the Central American Re­
publics, for the purpose of discrediting the United States and
breaking down our just influence with these neighboring Re­
publics whose faithful friend we always have been and whose
faithful friend we always shall remain.
The Monroe doctrine is this: That the United States will
regard it as an unfriendly act for any foreign nation to at­
tempt to establish on the Western Hemisphere its system of
government or to interfere with the political independence or
policies of the Republics on the Western Hemisphere.
This doctrine has been somewhat expanded to mean that the
United States would not be indifferent to an attempt on the part
of a foreign Government to acquire additional lands on the
Western Hemisphere.
The Monroe doctrine does not give the United States any
rights of suzerainty. The rights of the United States have
been somewhat expanded, by the necessities of the case, as in
Haiti, under the same principle which is recognized in article
22 of the pending covenant, establishing mandatories over
communities showing themselves incapable of orderly selfgovernment. But this is an entirely different principle from
the Monroe doctrine, and the Monroe doctrine may fairly be
construed to preclude a foreign nation from exercising the rights
of a mandatory on the Western Hemisphere.
Article 10 pledges all the members of the league to respect
and preserve the territorial integrity and existing political in­
dependence o f the member nations, and this is a powerful
confirmation of the underlying principle of the Monroe doc­
trine, forbidding foreign nations and all other nations to invade
the territorial integrity or to interfere with the poiltical inde­
pendence of the Republics of the Western Hemisphere.
But the covenant goes further. It actually recognizes, in
terms, the Monroe doctrine (art. 21), which is all any reason­
able man ought to desire; and this great covenant of the league
of nations, instead of weakening the Monroe doctrine, would
strengthen it, confirm it, and cause it to be acknowledged by all
the world.
THE

I .E A G U r

HAS

NOT

S T O rrE D

WAR.

The opponents of the proposed covenant sa;> that it has not
stopped w a r ; that there are a dozen wars pending now.
Nearly all of the so-called wars pending are civil wars, and not
really International wars. A few are over disputed boundaries
or disputed authority.
The league of nations has not yet been established. The
United States has not yet approved the covenant. But the
league of victorious nations, which is giving birth to the league
of all nations, has stopped the greatest war in history, the war
in Belgium, in France, in Italy, in Greece, in Serbia, and in
. Germany, in Austria, Bulgaria, and Turkey, and demobilized
their armed forces.
The gigantic armies of the Teutonic allies are demobilized.
The great warring armies are rapidly returning to civilized pur­
suits, and the smaller civil disputes which remain will rapidly
adjust themselves when the great nations of the world act. ,
133035— 19751







1-1
R E SE R V A T IO N S.

nJ , h.e, opponent of the league having observed that article 1
that the members of the league are those who shall
accede without reservation to the covenant now insist upon res'r 0Ukl exell!de- bj’ the conditions of article 1,
the United States from membership in the league of nations
Reservations are not necessary to the covenant as drawn
and are objectionable because by the terms of the covenant
ai*y reservatl0n _to article 1 would exclude the United
f,10111 membership in the league of nations and possibly
defeat the covenant itself by leading to otfier reservations and
withdrawals.
Instead of making reservations which would temporarilv ex­
clude the United States from membership in the league it
would be much better to ratify the treaty of peace with Ger­
many and let Senators who have doubts remaining pass reso­
lutions at the same time stating what the interpretation o f the
Senate or of Senators may be. This would be ratification with
an explanatory interpretation of the meaning coincident to it hv
I n U V 'U , thfi " k th‘.'
' necessary.But „o , e f e ™ £ „ s "U u/.S t
attached to the ratification of the treaty itself, for the reason
that it would exclude the United States from membership in the
league if this were done, or bring the covenant into great confusmn b> inviting oO nations to make reservations and amend­
ments, to be in turn submitted to other nations and invite new
amendments or reservations.
., ^ r; Resident, I think it should be remembered by the Senate
that the sovereignty of the United States is vested in the people
ot the United States; that the Senate and House of Represen­
tatives merely occupy a position o f temporary authority. No
Congress can bind a succeeding Congress. Any Congress can *bv
act of Congress, repeal any treaty which is made That is the
law of the Umted States, as repeatedly construed by the United
States Supreme Court. The effect of a treaty in the wav of a
promise to another nation only carries with it as valid ami Vnd
mg a moral obligation. A moral obligation, of c o u r t s su
SteantL t0butlnif ti „ T r ntS Ve'l 0£ r‘ w P e o p fu M ^ e UnttSl
Should o n t h e nhmo m ^
this Treat-V with Germany, tliev
resolution slot o f mC
and 111 a separate instrument pass a
StatHl f What’ in the opinion of the Senate, is the
tion^of t L ^
t? e ? ° wer of the Senate. what is the interpretaui! the Senate m agreeing to the covenant, it would comiTnifiii c w 6Very possible objection at any future time that the
United States was not living up to its moral obligation if anv
future shouid put upon the covenant a meaning
^ Inch the Senate of the United States now believes they would
have no right to put upon that covenant. In other words w i
by an independent resolution passed
•cu^eniJnt f r p /’fWlth0Ut Int1erferln» with tlie ratification of this
agieement, free from amendment or ivservation.
* am in favor o f ratifying it without amendment and without
reservation, and I do not think it is even necessary to have a reson? 1 baVe 1described: although for those who are timid
and fearful o f a moral responsibility to nations in the future tliev
th a /co u rs e 6 tbeniseives to themselves and to the world by taking
133035-

107", i

15
The league of nations—•
First. Will prevent future war.
Second. Will establish world peace.
Third. Will promote international law and international un­
derstanding and international morality.
Fourth. Will promote international industry, commerce, and
finance.
Fifth. Will promote higher conceptions of liberty and justice
and humanity.
Sixth. Will save the enormous expenditures and waste in
life and property of preparation for war and of war.
Seventh. The economic penalties of the present covenant are
sufficient to prevent war without the use of international police;
the international police being in existence does not imply and
probably would not require its employment, except on very rare
occasions.
Eighth. It will promote democracy throughout the world, the
rule of the people, and make the Government responsible to the
need, the welfare, the health, the happiness, the prosperity of
the people.
Ninth. It will make international agreements relative to
finance, commerce, and industry easier of accomplishment.
Tenth. It will give a new dignity to human life and exalt it
above the conception o f mere property, so that property would
be considered as secondary to human life.
Eleventh. It will mean the freedom o f the seas and freedom
of international waterways, and a new birth of freedom through­
out the whole world.
Twelfth. It will promote genuine democracy and end Bol­
shevism.
Thirteenth. It will stop civil wars that are now raging in
certain demoralized portions of the world.
Fourteenth. It will promote the better interests of those who
labor throughout the world, of those who create values and give
them a larger part o f the values which they create.
Fifteenth. It will put an end to dynastic ambition and to
military atrocity forever.
Sixteenth. It will end the rule of the few over the many and
establish the rule of the majority for the happiness of the
majority and of the minority as well.
Seventeenth. It will not impair the internal sovereignty of any
nation.
Eighteenth. It will abate racial and class prejudices.
The future success o f the league is forecast by the success of
the British Empire, by the success of the Government of the
United States with its 48 sovereignties, living in peace and in
the most abounding prosperity the world has ever known, for
the very reason that they have complete cooperation instead of
selfish conflict one with another.
The rules of international law are simple and few and imper­
sonal, and can be adopted by unanimous agreement o f the rep­
resentatives of the nations.
SHANTUN G.

A tremendous outcry has been made over Shantung by the
opponents of the treaty of peace with Germany.
The treaty, in articles 156 to 158, turns over to Japan the
r i g h t s which Germany had under the treaty of March 6, 1898.
133035— 19751







By this treaty with Germany China retained sovereignty
over the Shantung Peninsula, giving Germany, however, cer­
tain railroad and mining rights therein and leased for 99 years
to Germany a special tract which only involved 208 square miles
of land and 200 square miles of water at Kiaochow, the total
being less than 1 per cent of the Shantung Peninsula, which
has 55,984 square miles. The population o f the leased area
where Germany was permitted to exercise sovereignty involved
about 200,000 people.
When the war of 1914 arose, Germany, with the port facilities
on the Chinese coast, was in a position to destroy the transports
bringing troops from New Zealand and Australia.
Japan, on the invitation of the Allies, having entered the war
in 1914, took the German concession by military force, broke up
the port which the German ships had, and cleared the Pacific
Ocean of German ships, giving a free right of way to the British
transports.
On May 25, 1915. at Peking, Japan made a treaty with China
by which the Chinese Government agreed to recognize any ad­
justment made between the Japanese Government and the Ger­
man Government as to Kiaochow, but with the understanding
reduced to writing, at the same time and place, to w it:
*

rE K iX G ,

M a y 25, 1915.

l i t
land and concessions and rights of sovereignty leased or
ceded to Germany should be returned by Japan to China Spon the con
clusmn of the present war upon the condition of opening the Kiaochow
?n n ?m o« ^ f f Ciai+iPOrt’ .perllV tt’‘ Ilg a Japanese settlement there and an
fn»ie+£«tj« na* se.ttlf I ?«nt. and that suitable arrangements should be made
for the disposal of the German public establishments and properties.

1

1

T T hlso ; vas excellently well set forth by Senator R o b i n s o n in
July 24, 1919, C o n g r e s s i o n a l R e c o r d , page 3264. Various
Japanese authorities have recently referred to this obligation of
Japan, which will undoubtedly be carried out in perfectly good

Viscount Uchidi, minister o f foreign affairs o f Japan, in his
address of January 21, 1919, confirmed this understanding, as did
Baron Goto, former minister of foreign affairs of Japan, in a
statement made in New York May 6, 1919. The Associated P ress
repoit from Paris of April 30, 1919. is of like effect. Baron
Makino confirmed this pledge on April 30, 1919.
f-*Fain *iS Jt wonclerful nation. It is a great nation, and is
entitled to the respect o f all the world, especially of the great
Allies with whom Japan joined forces for the defense of civiliza­
tion and righteousness.
It has not been possible for Japan to carry out the arrange­
ment with China up to this date for the obvious reason that the
treaty concluding the war between Germany and Japan has not
yet been presented to Japan.
It is to be profoundly regretted that Senators occupying such
high responsibility on such an occasion, where the welfare o f the
whole world is in the balance, should speak words reflecting upon
a great and friendly nation, whose fidelity has been so serviceable
and whose right to our confidence and trust has been abundantly
established in the history o f recent years.
I have every respect and confidence In Japan and have not the
slightest doubt that Japan will carry out in good faith her asrree133035— 19751

17

ment with China, and it is the orderly way to settle the Shan­
tung matter by providing that Germany shall make a formal
relinquishment to Japan, which conquered it, in order that Japan
may herself, having cleared the title o f German claims, transfer
these lands and sovereignty back to China, as Japan agreed to do.
IN V A D IN G

OUR

S O V E R E IG N T Y .

Some of the hostile critics of the covenant insist that our sov­
ereignty would be invaded by the provisions of the covenant;
that the assembly or the council would pass laws authorizing
the Japanese or Chinese to immigrate into the United States.
This whimsical conceit has nothing to justify it. The league of
nations does not contemplate dealing with anything except in­
ternational questions, and does not contemplate dealing with in­
tranational questions. None of the member nations contemplate
giving up their sovereignty. None of them had such a concep­
tion. The only way a decision could be arrived at under the
covenant, even on such questions, is by unanimous vote (art.
5). It is grossly unreasonable to argue that 45 nations would
unanimously vote a precedent to invade their own sovereignty,
and no reasonable man believes it or can believe it if he is
capable of logical, consecutive thought.
Moreover, Mr. President, the sovereignty of the people of the
United States as vested in the people of the United States, is
inalienable, indestructible, and incapable of invasion. The Con­
gress of the United States can not invade the sovereignty of the
people of the United States. It might commit political suicide
and be kicked out of office. But one Congress can not bind a
succeeding Congress, for the very reason that the sovereignty
is vested in the people, and they change their servants at will,
and they can. by an act of Congress, repeal any treaty the Senate
can pass if the Senate should pass a treaty that was unaccept­
able to the American people.
I shall not criticize the rhetoric or the verbiage o f the cove­
nant. This covenant is wise. It is thoughtfully drawn. In
its substance it is splendid. In its purpose it is glorious.
A perfect contract between scoundrels is worthless. An im­
perfect contract between trustworthy friends, who have fought
and bled together in a common love of justice and liberty, is of
very great value.
Are we justified in trusting the British people to faithfully and
justly interpret this covenant? Did not that first wonderfully
heroic army of British die almost to the last man in Flanders
defending liberty and justice against the armed Hun? Did not
the British sailors and men of war and destroyers ride through
the misty darkness of the North Sea for five years, day and
night, in storming sens defending the world against Teutonic
aggression? Have they not shown themselves for a century our
faithful friends?
It was Canning, the prime minister of England, in 1822, who
served notice on the Holy Alliance that the British Government
would not stand for the invasion of the liberties of the strug­
gling Republics on the Western Hemisphere. It was through
Canning and the influence of the British Government that Mon­
roe was informed and encouraged to send his great message to
Congress establishing the Monroe doctrine.
133035— 19751




18
Shall we be afraid of France and refuse to trust France? Did
they not, when this Republic was struggling for its liberties in
the beginning come with all the force they had and all that we
required to establish our liberties upon this continent? Did they
not cede to us a mighty continent in the Louisiana Purchase?
And have they not been faithful to the uttermost in defending
civilization against the Teutonic allies?
Shall we doubt Italy? The'Italian people have shown them­
selves to be glorious in war and magnificent in peace. When
Paris was about to be struck down by the advancing field-gray
troops of Germany, coming like swarms o f locusts down upon
the Marne, it was Italy that told the French statesman, “ You
need not guard the borders between France and Italy. Italy
will not stand by Germany in a war of aggression.” Italy made
a treaty with Germany and Austria, a defensive alliance,
against aggression on Germany and Austria, but not by Ger­
many and Austria on undefended borders o f others or any
unprovoked assault upon their neighbors. Shall we question
Italy when the Italians by tens o f thousands and hundreds of
thousands died for a common cause with us?
An agreement between scoundrels is worthless, no matter
how well drawn. An agreement between these great nations
who have common ideals and common purposes is worth while.
It is a great step forward, no matter how awkwardly, how
immaturely, how poorly drawn. The language and the rhetoric
might be finer perhaps, but the purpose is there, the substance
is there, and the covenant deserves the support of the American
people.
Some of the critics of the league o f nations complain it is
not strong enough. I deny it. It is as strong as need be.
THE

i

133035— 19751

U



LEAGUE

P R O V ID E S

ABUNDANT

FORCE.

The league provides a world-wide boycott, a world-wide block­
ade— commercial and financial—by land and by sea, and cuts
off the citizens of any outlaw nation from communication with
any other part of the world. This is the most gigantic penalty
ever proposed in history.
The effect of the war with Germany was to destroy the value
of the bonds issued by her and her allies, and reduce such
bonds to the level of waste paper. This will serve to be a sound
warning to the citizens of any future proposed aggressor nation
that they can not afford to finance a war against the world
with an overwhelming prospect o f complete loss o f every dollar
invested in such a nefarious enterprise.
While it is impossible to think of a force much greater than a
world-wide blockade and boycott against an outlaw nation,
still the league goes further and provides that armed forces o f '
all the nations of the world can be summoned, in addition to
world-wide blockade and boycott, to reduce the outlaw nation
to subjugation, to peace, and to recognition of international
duties and international justice.
Moreover, it is to be assumed that since democracy had its
modern birth, with the printing press and the French Revolu­
tion, and has grown like the green bay tree in the last 100 yeaVs
until it has assumed to establish this covenant o f a world-wide
league for the purpose of protecting itself, there is no possibil-

19
ity of any nation in the world having the temerity to assail a
democratic world and to put itself in the attitude of an outlaw
nation.
There is not the slightest danger of Japan doing so, and if
she did the powers visible at her very doors could be used to
restrain Japan from any unlawful aggression against the peace
of the world or of any of the other nations of the league.
The force is sufficient to safeguard the peace of the world,
and far-seeing men will realize the gigantic character of the
force which can be summoned through this league for the pro­
tection of mankind.
The league will safeguard the peace o f the world, as well as
our own. It will end war. It will not interfere with our sov­
ereignty. It is the blessing o f God descended on earth.
Mr. President, we are entering upon a thousand years of
peace; into an era of great world prosperity; into an era
where the productive capacity of man is being multiplied in a
very wonderful way so that within the generation the time will
come when every man, every industrious man, will be able to
supply himself and his family with shelter, with clothing, with
abundant good food, and be afforded an opportunity for educa­
tion and for leisure to enjoy the providence of nature. Let us
be devoutly thankful for the opportunity to bind the world to­
gether in bonds of amity and peace.
133035— 19751




o