Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-14
KNOX RESOLUTION
MAY WAIT ON BILLS
The Appropriation Measures
Must Be Passed Before
July ].
DRAWING RESERVATIONS
BY N. O. MESSENGER.


What will the Senate do with the
peace treaty and the league of ma
tions Covenant
Men in public life are accosted with
this Interrogation every day. Cate
gorical answer to ii is. of course. in
the lap of the future. but at the same
time statesmen on Capitol Hill have
the pretty definite idea. which APP
parently is growing all the time. that
in the end the Senate will attach
some reservations to the covenant of
the league of nations and ratify the
treaty of peace.
Is Solution of Some Senators.
There are senators who have the
temerity to venture this solution as
the answer.
The question of whether it can be
done without invalidating the treaty
Is very much on all fours with the
oft-quoted case of the lawyer who
told his client that he could not be
jailed for the offense cited, whereat
the latter replied, But / am in jail
The belief is increasing in the Senate
that the reservations will be attached
and subsequent proceedings permitted
to adjust themselves.
q. S. Not Facing Exigencies.
1t is pointed out that il there should
be a deadlock over the effecting OF
peace, resultant from the reserva-
lions, the United States is in a posi-
ton to hold out as long as any other
of the parties in interest. 1t hap
pens that this country does not face
exigencies. it is claimed. which COM
pei acceptance of conditions regard
ed as inimical to the nations welfare.
Reservations Being Drawn.
1t is known that several reserva-
tions are being drawn, in addition to
the one phrased by Senator Sterling
of South Dakota, introduced and now
pending before the committee on for
eign relations. That reservation,
which is to be the guide. relates to
article 10, the section of the covenant
of the league of nations which would
compel the United States, along with
other powers, Ito respect and pre-
serve as against external aggression
the territorial integrity and existing
political independence of all states
members of the league"
The reservation proposed by Senator
Sterling declares: That the United
States of America, in view OF their
remote situation with reference to
European states or other states OF
the eastern hemisphere and their
more Immediate interest in the terri,
torial integrity and free institutions
of the sovereign states Of the western
hemisphere and policies concerning
which and cordial relations with
which the United States will en-
deayor to maintain, expressly re-
serve to themselves their right TO
determine through the Congress the
Justice or expediency of any fulfill
ment on the part of the United States
of the obligations contained in or i'm
posed by article ten OF the covenant
for a league Of nations. SO far as
such obligations at any time apply to
the situation of any state or states
of the eastern hemisphere.
See Chance for Covenant.
It is the belief of many senator's.
whose opinions are held valuable by
their colleagues and given credence by
the public, that if this and few other
reservations shall be attached to the
treaty, 1t will be ratified as contain
ing the league of nations covenant.
Very few senators entertain abso-
lutte conviction that 1T will be possible
to eliminate all trace Of the covenant
from the treaty, and this belief is held
by some senators who think the cove
nant is a bad proposition all the way
through, in its present form. and Of
doubtful SApeulcHCy even III lOTL
containing reservations.
But, somewhat on the complacent
principle of I'VE will go anywhere
once" they would give the league a
trial if it is bounded and restrained
by the reservations which. in their
opinion. would prevent its being posi-
lively deadly to this nation.
The resolution of Senator Sterling
differs in degree from Senator Knox's,
in that the latter defers to a future
time consideration of the league of
nations and delegates to diplomatic
commissions the accomplishment of
indispensable participation by the
United States of matters covered by
the league. The Sterling resolution
accepts the league as a going con-
Germ, but limits application of its
covenant to the United States in a
certain specified instance.
Will Form Basis of Action.
1t is thought at the Capitol that
these two resolutions. along with the
other reserving resolutions to be Of
fered hereafter. will form the basis of
action by those senators, democrats
and republicans, who oppose taking
the covenant in gross as it is now
written. when the treaty comes up
for consideration in the Senate.
1t is regarded as by no means GER
tain that the Knox resolution will be
pressed for action next week, as
appropriation bills interpose and it Is
felt that it is necessary to pass the
supply bills before the beginning of
the next fiscal year, July l, and that
the Knox and other resolution will
be more germane when the treaty is
mp.