Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-20

course, subject TO your oeterm1n2tlon
as to whether it is proper for you to
answer them, or to make any state
ment about them
The President: Yes.
Senator Brandegee: Are the Aus
trian. Bulgarian and Turkish treaties.
which / assume are in process of be-
=, ing made
| The President: Yes.
Senator Brandegee (continuing)
Intertwined with the covenant of the
league Of nations as is the treaty with
Germany?
| The President: The covenant of the
| league constitutes a part of each of
\ those treaties.
| Senator Brandegee: Would you feel
i at liberty to state what percentage OF
| progress they have made up to the
| present time, or how nearly complet-
ed they are?
Believes All Completed.
! The President: I think they are all
| completed, senator, with the exception
| of some debatable questions of terri
! toriaf boundaries.
! Senator Brandegee: Inasmuch as
our Constitution provides that treaties
| shall be made by the President by and
| with the advice and consent OF two
| thirds of the senators present, do you
| think it is constitutional for US to
| approve the Franco-American treaty
which provides that before it goes
| into operation, or. substantially. 1
would say, before it goes into opera
ton. it must secure the approval OF
| the council of the league of nations?
The President: Why. yes. we can
consent. We have the sovereign right
to consent to any process that We
choose.
Senator Brandegee: We have the
right to consent, but, of course, the
Senate has the constitutional right
to ratify the treaty. but in the present
treaty we have right to provide that
in addition to the constitutional re-
Quirements for the making of a valid
treaty there shall also be required the
consent of the council of the league
of nations, which the Constitution
was not aware Of.
The President: If that is a part of
the treaty, yes. I think we have.
Senator Brandegee: But you do not
think that the treaty can in any way
amend the Constitution or the consti-
tutional requirements for executing
treaty.
The President: No.
Senator Brandegee: Then, by what
, process of ratiocination do you as
sumo that the treaty can compel the
consent of the council before this
covenant is approved?
Presents Analogous Case.
The President: Suppose you would
determine that when any group of
nations adopted a treaty. then we
could adopt treaty that contained
certain provisions that we wished to
put in. and to make the operation of
the treaty contingent upon its ac-
ceptance by the other nations in the
group. 1t seems to me that that is an
entirely analogous case. In other
10 Il inc m
the treaty with Germany. In that case
we will be members of the league. We
are in effect saying that we have be-
come members of the league. If the
council of the league accepts this We
agree to put in in force. 1t Is means
Of being consistent with the thing
that we have already done in becom-
ing member of the league.
point about that Now. do you think it
is wise for us to adopt the Franco
American treaty, which in substance
provides that we cannot denounce 1t
tians gives us permission to do SO or
agrees to denounce 1t.
The President: / do, senator. j have
a very strong feeling with regard to
our. historical relations with France:
and also a very keen appreciation of
her own sense of danger, and ! think
it would be one of the handsomest acts
of history to enter into that.
Senator Brandegee: l feel Just as
cordially toward her heroic conduct
as anybody can. But that was not the
question. The question was whether
it was wise to SO tie ourselves to con-
tact to any foreign nation as that we
never could repudiate. will not use
the word "repudiate'-can never can
eel our treaties without due notice,
without the consent of a body not
yet created.
Whole Matter Bound in League.
The President: Of course. am as
Stunning that body will be created be-
fore we adopt the Franco-American
treaty. and in that case that provision
that you are alluding to Is only
completion Of the idea of the treaty.
namely, as / have been quoted as
saying, this is an agreement on our
part to anticipate the advice of the
council of the league. as we shall
take such and such measures to de-
fend France. Inasmuch as we are
anticipating that, we are assuming
the action of the league. and there
fore 1t is with the league and Its
action that the whole matter is bound
up, and / think that the provision
you allude to therefore is consistent
and almost logically necessary.
Senator Brandegee: Well, now, in
asmuch as you have stated in your
message. and have, of course, agreed
to it. and have no doubt that it is
true, that the Franco-American
treaty is only designed for temporary
purposes. the defense Of France until
the league says that it is competent
to do it, or words to that effect.
The President: Yes.
Senator Brandegee: Would 1t not be
the part Of prudence for us to include
in the Franco-American treaty. If 1t
should be ratified. a provision that 1t
shall have some time limit put upon
it, that it shall exist for not more than
ten years. say. assume If the league
Is going. is ever going. to be effective
to preserve the territorial integrity
and political independence Of it's -vari-
Gus members 1t will be in the course
of ten years. and there is no objection
to having some time limit on the
treaty.
hTe President: Only a psychological
objection. The sentiment between the
two countries.
Senator Brandegee: The other al
tentative is to guarantee it for ever
or until the council Of the league
loosens us from it, is 1t not?
The President: Yes, when the coun-
Gil Of the league will exist, among
others the uses should be that the
whole international influence could
be brought to bear. for the manage
ment Of all these things will be pres
ent there to bring about this re.
arrangement.
Senator Brandegee: Yes under
| stand that. But the fact that we have
a vote to loose ourselves does not help
US. as unanimous action is required by
Line gentlemen. any one Of whom can
prevent US.
Relies on Diplomats.
The President: No, senator, but the
diplomatic relations Of the different
countries in that council will be such. IL
1 may judge. that those things may be
accomplished.
Senator BRA nde0ea. That 10 ar<1