Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-20

force only Il approved BY the
League, Mr.. Brandegee asked
whether il was eonstitutionally pro-
per for the Senate to approve q
treaty with the decision Of its va
iidity left to q body not yet organ
lied. The president said he saw no
objection.
Tt is true. is it not" asked Sena-
tor Brandegee. ''that il difficulties
arise as to the constructors Of any
provision in the treaty with Ger
many after we have passed from the
scene what we thought the provision
| meant will not be very powerful in
the construction that will be placed
upon it by those who then have to
determine what it means?"
The vote Of the United States
will be essential" Mr.. Wilson re-
piled.
Il do not mean that. The fact
| that you think now that everything
in the treaty is plain and the fact
that I think there is grave doub
about some Of the provisions, will
HUI oCT1OuSly dlkS~s SHS OPtuIUH Oh
the country"
NO. But the plain wording of
tibet reaty will have a great deal to
do, and the meaning OF the wording
is plain"
That Is simply another yaw Of
stating, is 1t not, that wou are
clear in your opinion" queried the
senator.
mo sir. It is a question Of being
confident what language means. not
confident of an opinion"
But the language Is in dispute now
| between YOU and certain lawyers of
the country and certain senator's, as
to its meaning"
Senator Brandegee added that with
| regard to Article x his own UNDER
standing Of the language was quite
clear. continuing that the provisions
| was IAN obligation in a contract, and
know Of but one way to perform
| an obligation that you have contract
ed to perform and that is to perform
| it."
The President then made this
statement OF his understanding of the
4 OOiIes0tAOu dAQCI t1ldl al klGtc 10 1Ols
low the advice of the council: 4
Il take it for granted that in prac-
| tically every case the United States
would respond. I quite agree with
you that a moral obligation is to be
fulfilled. and am confident that our
nation will fulfill it; but that does
not remove from each individual case
| the element of Judgment which We
are free to- exercise in two stages:
We are, first, free to exercise it
in the vote Of our representative on
the council who will, of course. act
| under instructions from the home
| government. and. in the second place.
we are to exercise it when the Pres
ident, acting upon the action Of the
| council makes his recognition to
Congress.
Then Congress" Mr.. Wilson add
| ed, lis to exercise its Judgment as
| to whether the instructions of the
| executive to our member Of the
| Council were well founded or not,
and whether this is a case Of distinct
moral obligation"
Asked by Senator johnson whether
| the obligations assumed under the
treaty go to the extent OF compell-
! ing US to maintain American troops
| in Europe" Mr.. Wilson replied:
Such small bodies as are necessary
to the carrying out Of the treaty. I
| think"
And will these troops have to be
maintained under the various treat
les of peace until the ultimate con-
summation of the terms Of those
treaties?" persisted Mr.. johnson.
Yes, but that Is not long. In no
case. as I remember. does thatsexceed -
months.
II was rather under the impression
that the occupation Of Germany was
to be for Is years.
Along the Rhine. yes. 1 was think
ing of Upper Silesia and the other
places where plebiscies are to be carried
out It is the understanding with the
other governments that We are to re-
tain only enough troops there to keep
our flag there"
viii we be maintaining American
troops on the Rhine for the next Is
years.
THAT is entirely within our choice.
but I suppose We will"