New-York tribune., 1919-11-20
Not a Reservation

iie Aei! OoI reservation, approved
by the Senate by vote of 55 to 39.
is in the following languages:
"The United States assumes no
obligation to be bound by any cleo
ton. decision. report or indnr of thc
council or assembly in which any
member of the league and it's self
governing dominions, colonies or parts
of empire, in the aggregate, have cast
moro than one vote.
"And assumes no obligation to be
bound by any decision. report or find
ing of the council or assembly aris-
ing out of any dispute between the
United States and any member of the
league if such member, or any self
governing dominion, colony. empire
or part of empire united with it
politically has voted"
The Tribune separates the rescr-
vatlon into two paragraphs lin the
original one) to emphasize the fact
that two distinct propositions are
put forward.
One, an ultimatum, is to the effect
that the United States will not
junction as part Of the league if
any self-governing dominion par
tlcipates therein and at the same
time there is participation by a COM
panon dominion or by a parent
nation. The other is, if DISPUTE
arises between the United States
and any part of federalized nation
the latter shall not vote in behalf
OF itself as whole or in behalf Of
any part, thus standing completely
aside, as the United States is re-
quired to do.
1t is to be noted, first, that the
Lenroot reservation is not a reser-
vation at all, but an amendment: it
changes the league structurally: is
not to clear up ambiguity; or to
bring to the attention of the world
facts relating to the constitutional
limits Of the Presidents power; or
to declare our independence or con-
tinued allegiance to long establish
national American policies.
AS an amendment it is open to
the objections that apply to all
amendments-that is, the necessity
of reopening negotiations. In a bar
gain there are concessions, one
gives to get, and the withdrawal by
us from one item of the tentative
agreement. of course invalidates the
entire agreement and compels the
making Of new one. Besides being
Objectionable as an amendment. the
Lenroot reservation is Objectionable
as one whose acceptance abroad is
unlikely.
1t is to be noted next that It is
Objectionable on it's merits. Propo-
sitfon No. 2 can be defended in the
forums Of reason and fair play. The
British Empire as a totality should
be willing to stand aside when the
United States does. Moreover, the
chance of the two countries being
l1t1gants before the bar of the league
is slight, and practical minded
britons would hardly make difficult
ties over an imaginary issue.
But Proposition No. / is basically
different. The peace conference
assigned votes In the league to Cam
ada, Australia, ETC., because Of a de-
sire to meet the proper aspirations
OF these great commonwealth. For
US not to participate If Canada has
q vote is to put Great Britain
IN the dilemma Of being COM
PEELED to insult proud dominions
or not to have the United States az
a league member. The issue Is not
whether Great Britain Is to have
plural votes, but whether we shall
drive our good friends the Cana
dians and Australians from the
league. Sound policy requires us to
want to have Canada In. Surely.
Canada II = safer and mara halnful