The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.
HON. ROBERT L. OWEN OF O K LA H O M A IN TH E SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES M A R C H 9, 1920 W A S H IN G T O N G O V E R N M E N T P R IN T IN G O F F IC E 1920 'l(594 3r»- 20r.91 SPEECH OF I I O N . R O B E R T L. O W E N . Mr. OWEN. Mr. President, I am in favor o f passing the treaty immediately and am quite ready to support the resolu tion of ratification either with “ interpretative reservations,” agreeable to President Wilson, or *he “ Hitchcock reservations,” or the “ Lodge reservations.” The differences are not suf ficiently important to justify delay in declaring peace. The country, with just cause, overwhelmingly demands it, and is incensed with all those who delay it. The treaty of peace should pass at once because— 1. Our laws should be on a legal peace basis— not on a war basis. T he’reduction of the high cost of living demands it. The social unrest in our country demands it. 2. All rules and regulations based on war and all war boards and commissions should be revoked. With peace comes auto matic repeal of war measures. 3. Our relations with enemy nations are definitely fixed by the treaty determining our rights ac a Nation and as citizens. Billions of dollars are involved, including all alien property, Americans’ properties in alien enemy countries, all war damages, and our trade, social, and political relations. . 4. The ratification will stabilize Europe and the reconstruc tion of the nations. It will enable them to pay us, and thus lower our taxes and lower our high cost of living thereby. 5. The more rapid restoration of Europe’s productive activi ties means their self-support, larger exports to us, greater sup plies for Europe and for us. G. It will cause the rise in value o f European currency and •international exchange, and restore many impaired fortunes. 7. It will strengthen the prestige and standing of the United States, and improve our political, social, and trade relations with all other nations. 8. It will help to end the starvation, social unrest, and growth of radical socialism and bolshevism in Europe. The covenant of the League o f Nations ought to pass, because— (a) It provides for a mechanism to settle all international disputes, (1) by diplomacy, (2) by conciliation, (3) by arbitra tion, (4) by a court o f international justice, (5) by the council, (6) by the assembly, (7) by delay, (8) by agreeing to respect the territorial integrity and existing political independence o f member nations, and (9) to preserve it, (10) by boycott, (11) by blockade, and, if necessary, (12) by military and naval force. (b ) (14) It provides for gradual disarmament on land and sea, to abate the high taxes of preparation for war. (15) It ends conscription and (16) abates private munition making. (17) 2 169435— 20591 3 It ends secret treaties and (18) gives publicity to all war prep arations. (19) It provides a world forum where subject peoples can bring their grievances. (20) It establishes a world assembly where all nations may meet in conference and develop the princi ples which will promote the peace and happiness of mankind. (21) It ends military autocracies and establishes for all time the rule of civilized democracies. It ushers in a new great era where the diligence, providence, and creative genius of mankind can fully function under the blessings of peace and liberty. REASONS FOR D E F E A T IN G TREATY NOT J U S T IF IE D . After 12 months of discussion the only irreconcilable dif ference remaining unadjusted between the President, Senator H itc h c o c k , and Senator L odge appears to be over article 10, which provides: “ The high contracting parties undertake to respect and pre serve as against external aggression the territorial integrity and existing political independence of all States members of the League. “ In case of any such aggression, or in case of any threat or danger of such aggression, the executive council shall advise upon the means by which the obligation shall be fulfilled.'’ President Wilson, Senator H it c h c o c k , and Senator L odge are in accord on the United States undertaking “ to respect ” the territorial integrity and existing political independence of mem ber Nations, but differ on the United States undertaking “ to preserve ” the territorial integrity, and so forth. All three agree that the United States undertake “ to respect,” the territorial integrity, and so forth. President Wilson insists that the United States also undertake “ to preserve ” the terri torial integrity, and so forth, subject to interpretative reserva tions. Senator H itch cock agrees that the United States undei'take “ to preserve,” but not to use military or naval forces or the economic boycott “ to preserve ” unless Congress authorizes. Senator L odge refuses to agree that the United States under take “ to preserve ” by any means whatever, unless Congress authorizes in each particular instance. All the world agrees “ to respect and preserve,” President Wilson and Senator H itch cock agree “ to respect and pre serve,” Senator L odge “ to respect ” but not “ to preserve ” un less Congress authorizes in each particular instance. It is my opinion that with the overthrow o f all the military dynasties and the world-wide establishment o f democracies, and the League of Nations with its covenanted safeguards, the world’s peace is assured even if the United States remains out. But to keep the United States out of the league be cause of the very small differences between the President and Senator L odge would be defeating a very great end for a very small end. They agree on 99 per cent of the German treaty and are liable to destroy it over a 1 per cent difference. To keep the United States out o f the moral leadership of man kind would be a great wrong. To defeat the treaty would be a national calamity and would discredit the United States throughout the world. If the President’s view prevailed on article-10 no declaration of war or voting of war supplies could be possible without con- 1G 9435— 20591 g r e ssio n a l a c tio n , and C on gress w o u ld do w hat w as m o r a lly r ig h t w ith o u t th e s u p p o s e d m o r a l c o e r c io n o f a r t ic le 1 0 “ to p r e s e r v e ,” a n d s o f o r t h , a s C o n g r e s s d i d in t h e c a s e o f C u b a a n d in t h e l a s t G r e a t W a r . Ji S e n a t o r L odge ’ s v i e w p r e v a i l e d t h e s a m e r e s u l t s w o u l d f o l l o w w i t h o u t t h e m o r a l in f l u e n c e o f t h e s p e c if ic o b l i g a t i o n o f ai t i d e 1 0 . 1 h e m o r a l o b lig a t io n w o u ld e x i s t a n y w a y to r e s tr a in an in te r n a t io n a l o u tla w fr o m in v a d in g u p s e ttin g th e p e a c e o f th e w o rld . p e a c e fu l te r r ito r y and I a g r e e w i t h P r e s i d e n t W i l s o n in b e l i e v i n g t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s s h o u ld e n te r on e q u a l t e r m s a n d w ith e q u a l m u t u a l o b lig a t io n s w ith o th e r n a t io n s a n d n o t a p p e a r to d is t r u s t th e m o r s e e m to s e e k t h e b e n e fi t s o f t h e t r e a t y w i t h o u t b e i n g w i l l i n g t o m e e t o u r e q u a l s h a r e o f its b u r d e n s . I p r e f e r a r t i c l e 1 0 a s i t is , b u t I a m p re p a r e d , fo r th e s a k e o f p a s s in g th e t r e a ty a n d g e ttin g th e a d v a n t a g e s o f it , t o y i e l d t o t h e d e m a n d o f a m a j o r i t y o f m y c o l l e a g u e s in t h e S e n a t e . The S e n a t e a r e e n title d to r e sp e c t. v ie w s of th e m a jo r ity of th e T h e c o u n t r y u n h a p p ily b e lie v e s th e d iffe r e n c e s a r e n o t r e c o n c ile d b e c a u s e o f p e r s o n a l a n d p a r t i s a n p r i d e . I r e fu s e to b e a p a r t y to th e d e f e a t o f th e d e la y . I a m r e a d y t o s u p p o r t it in a n y f o r m t r e a t y o r to its a n d fo llo w a n y le a d e r w h o le a d s to it s r a t ific a t io n , a n d I w ill n o t f o llo w l e a d e r w h o is l e a d i n g t o i t s d e f e a t o r d e l a y . any M r . P r e s id e n t, th e r e m a r k s w h ic h I h a v e j u s t d e liv e r e d w e r e " 1 it t e n o n M a r c h 7 , b e f o r e I w a s f u r n i s h e d w i t h a m i m e o g r a p h e d c o p y o f t h e P r e s i d e n t ’s l e t t e r t o S e n a t o r H i t c h c o c k o f M a r c h 8 a n d a r e s u b je c t, th e r e fo r e , to th a t u n d e r s ta n d in g w h e r e I seem to h a v e m i s a p p r e h e n d e d t h e P r e s i d e n t ’ s p o s i t io n It appears now to b e th e w is h D e m o c r a tic a s s o c ia te s v o te w ith o f th e P re sid e n t to h a v e h is th e ir r e c o n c ila b le o p p o n e n ts o f P ie t r e a t y , d e f e a t t h e r e s o l u t i o n o f r a t i f i c a t i o n , a n d m a k e t r e a t y w i t h o u t r e s e r v a t i o n s ” t h e i s s u e o f t h e n e x t e le c t i o n . th e r 1 sllo u l(1 r e g a r d t h i s a s a g r e a t i n j u r y t o o u r d o m e s t i c i n t e r e s t s , i h e d e l a y in e s t a b l i s h i n g p e a c e h a s h e lp e d t o r a i s e i n s t e a d o f h e l p i n g t o lo w e r t h e c o s t o f l i v i n g . T h e d e fe a t o f th e tr e a ty w o u ld in ju r e A m e r ic a n p r e s tig e a b r o a d . M i t h t h e t r e a t y , “ w i t h o r w i t h o u t r e s e r v a t i o n s ,” a s t h e c a m p a ig n is s u e , th e d is c u s s io n o f o u r v it a l d o m e s tic p r o b le m s o f r e c o n s tr u c tio n — th e c o s t o f liv in g , m o n o p o lie s a n d p r o fite e r in g , a n d s o f o r t h — w i l l b e o b s c u r e d a s b e h i n d a s m o k e s c r e e n t o t h e b e n e fit o f t h o s e s e lf is h i n t e r e s t s v a n t a g e o f o u r p e o p le . w h ic h have been ta k in g u n ju s t J ad I t w i l l b e i m p o s s i b l e a t t h e n e x t e le c t io n t o e l e c t a S e n a t e f a v o r a b le to th e t r e a t y w it h o u t r e s e r v a t io n s , a n d e v e r y w e llin fo r m e d p u b lic m a n k n o w s it , so t h a t a f t e r th e c a m p a ig n th e t r e a t y w i l l b e in n o b e t t e r p o s i t i o n r e l a t i v e l y t h a n it is n o w , a n d w ith th e “ tr e a t y w it h o u t r e s e r v a t i o n s ” a s th e is s u e th e D e m o c r a t ic P a r t y w o u ld h a v e a r u in o u s h a n d ic a p . A s fa r as I am concerned, a s an A m e r ic a n S en a to r, w h o fo r v e r y m a n y y e a r s h a v e a r d e n tly a n d s tr e n u o u s ly se rv e d m y p a r ty a n d m y c o u n t r y a n d s u p p o r te d th e a d m in is t r a t io n on a ll s u ita b le o c c a s io n s , I d e c lin e to a s s u m e th e s lig h t e s t r e s p o n s ib ility fo r th e d e la y o r th e d e fe a t o f th e tr e a ty . 1(50435— 2 0 5 9 1
@FedFRASER