The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-08-20
President Pleads for
Peace Agreement
CONTINUED from Page ~

troops on the Rhine for the next fiji
teen years.
Some Of the inside details Of the
peace conference, how the League of
Nations covanant was drawn and 9TH
err historic happenings, were handed
out verbatim for the world to read. in
contrast to the time honored proceed
ure of secrecy, PRESIDENTIAL and sena-
torial. Confidence"
Nothing approaching the conference
in that respect is recalled since George
Washington went to the senate to dis
cuss troubles with the Indians.
Making a plea for ratification o.
the treaty that the world may be
turned wholly back to a peace basis.
the president said he saw no reason
able objection to the senate express
ing it's Interpretation of the League of
Nations covenant so long as those in
depreciation did not actually become
part of the act of ratification.
Senator Borah questioned the presi-
dent at some length about the right
of withdrawal from the league. The
president said his Interpretation was
that the council had no power to pass
on withdrawal of nation or to decide
whether it had fulfilled its obligations.
The only restraining influence
would be the public opinion of the
world" said the president.
That the president said, was the
view of the commission which drafted
the league.
Senator Harding wanted to know
why If that was the view, the league
making provisos for the fulfillment of
covenants was put into the article.
Merely as an argument to the con-
sceince of the nations" responded the
president, adding that it merely served
notice that fulfillment of obligations
was obtained prior to withdrawal.
If that were true, Senator Harding
said, he thought the language rather
far fetched provision"
The president said in answer to
questions he had no way of knowing
whether Germany placed the same
construction on the articles as did the
allies.
Senator McCumber asked whether
other governments could not accept
interpretations "by acquiescence."
The president thought there either
would have to be explicit acquiesc-
the United States could know whether
ence" or stipulated time in which
acquiescence was being given.
Any change in the treaty would
have to be submitted to Germany, the
president said in reply to Senator
Pittman.
SenatorLodge said it was his un-
derstanding, however, that any reser-
vations, which applied to the United
States rather than to the others would
international practice be understood
as acquiesced in if others signatories
were silent.
Replying to Senator Lodge, the
president said he had not looked up
the authorities on the point. but felt
that in a treaty involving so many
signatories, reservations by others
would follow, and how the treaty was
to work would be obscured. II Ger
many, for instance, remained silent in
regard to a reservation and later con-
tended it did not affect her. the presi-
dent thought her position could not
be justifiably disputed"
Senator Fall pointed out, however,
that as Germany was not member of
the league, changes in the covenant
would not have to be submitted to her.
To that the president agreed, adj
hitting freely that the point had not
occurred to him before.
Replying to Senator Borah, the
president said the provision of article
10 under which signatories to the
league agreed to guarantee one an
other against external aggression was
only a moral obligation.
Senator Borah thought it would be
legal obligation. The president
thought not. because there was in
volved the element of Judgment as 70
whether territorial integrity or polit-
ical independence was being invaded
or impaired.
Senator Borah wanted to know what
would happen if the actual fact were
beyond dispute. There would then be
the legal obligation to apply the auto
matte terms of the covenant, the pres
ident replied, but not legal obliga-
ton to make war, no matter how
strong the moral one.
I'VE would have complete choice
as to the application of force said
the president, in answer to further
question.
The action contemplated as deemed
appropriate" in case of war or threat
ened war, was also. the president con-
tended a moral one.
Senator Lodge: MIR. President your
reference to the necessity of action
leads me to ask one question. II we
have to restore peace to the world. ii