New Britain herald., 1919-09-10

ly thought that this question would be
 settled by the council of the league of
 nations. The best that can be said
 about it is that the question of dcci-
 sion is clouded with doubt. On such
 a point as this there must be no doubt.
 The United States, which has never
 broken an international obligation,
 cannot permit all it's existing treaties
 to be reviewed and it's conduct and
 honor questioned by other nations.
 The same may be said in regard to the fult1llnent of the obligations to the league. It must be made perfect
 ly clear that the United States alone
 is to determine as to the fulhllment of
 it's obliga tions. and it's right of with draWal must therefore be uncondi- tional as provided in the reservation. Decline Obligations
 '2-The United States declines to assume under the provisions of Ar tice K. under any other article,
 any obligation to preserve the terri torial integrity or political independ- ence of any other country or to inter-
 ference in controversies between other nations, mem bers of the league
 or not. or to employ the military or naval forces of the United States in such controversies or to adopt eco
 homie measures for the protection of
 any other country whether 8 member
 of the league or not against external
 aggression or for the purpose of CO.,
 ercing any other country, or for the
 purpose of intervention Tn the intern.
 al conflicts or other controversies
 which may arise in any other country
 and no mandate shall be accepted by
 the United States uLCer Article 22,
 o,t of Of wit
 Germany, except by action Of the
 congress of the United States
 "This reservation is intended to
 meet the most vital objection to the league covenant as it stands. Under
 no circumstances must there by an legal or moral obligation upon the United States to enter into war or to send it's army and navy abroad or without the unfettered action of con- gress to impose economic boycotts on other countries. Under the conStitu- ton of the United States the congress alone has the power to declare and all bills to raise revenue or af- fecting the revenue in any way must originate in the house of representa- lives be passed by the enate and re- ceive the signature of the president. These constitutional rig hts of congress must not be impaired by any agree ments such as are presented in this treaty, nor can any opportunity of charging the United States with bad faith be permitted. No American | soldiers or sailors must be sent to fight l in other lands at the bidding of a l league of nations. American lives must not be sacrificed except by the 1 will and command of the American ,1a ootiy loix, ;t,, ] tional representatives in congress. This reservation also covers the subject of mandates. According to l the provisions of the covenant of the 1 league the acceptance of a mandate 1 by any member is voluntary, but as l to who shall have authority to refuse 1 to accept a mandate for any coun- l try the covenant of the league is si- lent. The decision as to accepting 1 a mandate must rest exclusively with l in the control of the congress of | the United States as the reservation provides and must not be delegated, even by inference, to any personal agent or to any delegate or commis- sioner.
 "'3-The United States States re- serves to itself exclusively the right 1 to decide what questions are within 1 it's domestic jurisdiction and declares 1 that all domestic and political ques- l tions relating to it's affairs, including ] immigration, coastwise traffic, the
 tariff, commerce and all other domes- l tic questions, are solely within the l Jurisdiction of the United States and l are not under this treaty submitted l in any way either to arbitration or 1 onsideration of the council of the ! of ho If l or to the decision or recommendation 1 of any other power.
 This reservation speaks for itself 1 It is not necessary to follow out here l all torturous windings which to ! those who have followed them l through the labyrinth disclose the 1 fact that the league under certain l conditions will have power to pass ! upon and decide questions of immi- 1 grafton and tariff, as well as the oth-
 CTS mentioned in the reservation. It
 is believed by the committee that this | reservatio relieves the United States 1 from any dangers or any obligations 1 in this direction.
 Final Reservation.
 '"The fourth and last reservation is l as follows:
 '4-The United States declines to | submit for arbitration or inquiry by the assembly or the council of the league of nations provided for in
 said treaty of peace any questions
 which in the judgment of the United
 States depend on or relates to it's own
 esta blished policy, commonly known as the Monroe Doctrine; said doctrine
 is to be interpreted by the United
 states alone and is hereby declared
 to be wholly outside the Jurisdiction
 of said league of nations and entire
 ly unaffected by any provision con-
 tained in the said treaty of peace with