The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-07
CUMMINGS QUOTES
LODGE ON TREATIES
Cites Him as Admitting in
1906 Senate Power Begins
After Negotiations End.
MOROCCAN CASE WAS UP
Spooner Argued President
Could Use Any Method or
Means He Pleased.

WAsHINGToY, April 6.-1n = state.
ment tonight declaring that a careful
observer cannot fail to note that oppo-
sition to the League OF Nations In rap
idly crumbling," Homer s. Cummings
chairman OF the Democratic National
Committee, reproduced extracts from a
speech delivered by Senator Lodge
(Mass) in 1906 to. show the attitude
of the Republican leader at that time
toward the negotiation of treaties by
the President without advance consulta-
ton with the Senate.
Statements ISSUED by opponents Of the
league, Mr.. Cummings said, are less
sweeping in character and carry the
implication that when the time comes
for ratification the treaty will be resist
ed by a very small minority.
Criticism Is rapidly narrowing down
to mere trifies." the statement con-
tinued, "and those who follow the lead
OF the Senators who issued the round
robin accompany their rapidly dimin-
ishing objections with attacks upon
President Wilson for the manner in
which the matter has been handled. The
provision in the Constitution relating to
the approval of treaties by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate Ia
still being, relied upon to challenge The
conduct of the President in Ignoring a.
It Is said, the proper functions OF the
Senate. ,.,..... .....
: Senator Lodge has been particularly
inclined to be captious with reference 10
the attitude Of the President, and many
others have followed that lead"
: Recalls Moroccan Debate.
Recalling that there was criticism in
the Senate of President Roosevelt for
sending delegates to the Algeciras con-
ference on the Moroccan question. Mr..
Cummings quoted the following from a
speech on January 90. 1906. by Senator
John c. Spooner tWis.). member Of
the Foreign Relations Committee:
THE Senate has nothing TO do with
the negotiation OF treaties or the con-
duct OF our foreign intercourse and rela-
tons save the exercise of the one consti-
tutional function of advice and consent
which the Constitution requires a. q
precedent condition to the making Of Q
treaty. The President nsso-
tiates the treaty to begin with. He may
employ such agencies as he chooses to
negotiate the proposed treaty. (.
The Senate has no right to demand what
he shall unfold to the world or to It.
even In executive session. his instructions
or the prospect or progress Of the nego-
.tiations. :, When he shall have
negotiated and sent his proposed treaty
to the Senate, the Jurisdiction Of this
body attaches and it's power begins"
Senator Lodge, speaking later, Mr..
Cummings said. gave his complete in
dorsement to the position assumed by
Senator Spooner by saying: >. "a
1T don't think that II 10 possible for
anybody to make any addition TO the
mastery statement In regard to the
powers of the President in treaty max
ing, which we have heard from
the Senator from Wisconsin"
cites I-sAsse on senate's Power.
on the following day Mr.. Cummings
added, Senator Lodge used these words ::
mo one, I thiAk, can doubt the abso-
lutte power of the President to initiate
and carry on all negotiations We
have no possible right to break suddenly
into the middle OF a negotiation and de-
mand from the President what instruc-
ton. he has given TO his representative.
That part of treaty making is no con-
Germ OF ours. 1t Ia a mere invasion
ident II we are TO plunge In at a stage Of
the negotiations where we have no bust
ness and demand from him the instruc-
lions which he has given to his properly
appointed representatives When the
treaty made by those representatives
comes before US then is the time, and
not before, in which we can properly ask
for Information in regard to all which
led up to it,
THE foregoing qeotation." said Mr.
Cummings. ought to mako an end. for
all time, OF the Ill advised and unJustif-
able criticism to which President Wilson
has been subjected for a supposed ignor-
Ing of tho Senate"
Mr.. Cummings also quoted from q
speech by Senator Lodge on the same
day in which he discussed mistaken ideas
about washington's famous warning
against entangling alliances, and re-
marked that Washington was alto
gether too sensible and too practical a
man to suppose that because we were
not to engage in alliances which might
involve us in the wars OF Europe, in
which we had no concern, therefore we
were never to engage In any agreements
with any nations OF Europe. no matter
how beneficial they might be to the
world at large or to ourselves