The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-08
big 4 MUST ACCEPT
CHANGES IN TREATY
League Opponents in Senate
Serve Notice No Mild Reser-
vations Can Be Made.
U. S. STAND TO BE CLEAR
Lodge Asserts Other Powers
Will Willingly Assent to
Americas Position.
Special Despatch 10 TIE Sun.


opposition TO the League OF Nation'
served notice in effect to-day that the,
were not going to be satisfied with mild
reservations in ratifying the treaty
They are determined on nothing ies'
than a statement of very definite res
ervations which shall be affirmatively
accepted by other nations signatories to
the treaty; that as affecting the United
States they will have the weight Of
amendments to the treaty.
Senator Lodge (Mass.) expressed the
hope that when the Senate adopts the
reservations protecting American inter
ests they viii be required to be accepted
affirmatively by the other leading
Powers before this country shall enter
the league. Then there would be no
question about them. He did not doubt
that the other countries would give this
assent
In this he was sustained by Senators
Borah (1daho) and Brandegee Comm,
The discussion grew out OF a speech by
Senator Kellogg (Minn.), in which the
treaty making power and the effect OF
amendments and reservations was dealt
with from legal point of view. Mr..
Kellogg after long consideration OF the
authorities declared his conclusion that
IneTe must Dc TtbtTNdllOho NOheeA ohib
Article X. so as to make It absolutely
certain that the function of the league
council is simply advisory so that the
other signatory Powers will thoroughly
understand that tho Congress of the
United States has sole and exclusive
power to declare war and provide for
the operation OF the military and naval
forces Of the United States. and that
the failure of the Congress to contribute
to the relief of any member of the
league shall not be deemed violation
of the covenant. or. as the President
says. that It shall be left OF the 1udg-
ment of each member whether the cir-
cumstances justify such action. Other
wise It will be impossible to determine
the construction that the council may
place upon this clause.
Control Vested in the Senate.
"I cannot understand why II this is
the proper Interpretation as claimed by
proponents of the league, the Senate. in
the exercise Of its prerogative, should
not SO declare" he added.
THE individual expressions Of opinion
by Senators, or even the President. do
not control It. The expression Of the
collective Judgment Of the Senate by Its
vote does control II.
Shall we leave to the uncertain ar
bitrament Of contending nations In fu-
ture years the question whether the
United States shall marshal its armies
upon foreign soil or be branded as a vio-
lator of treaties, or shall the world rely,
as II must, upon the good faith OF the
American people which has been abiding
for the protection of this country as well
as that Of our allies in this war? II We
- g. Mt for a laaC
OF nations 1t is incumbent upon us to
be scrupuIous in the observation Of all
its provisions.
There is another reason why this
should be done by a reservation rather
than an amendment. There are many
parties to this treaty. III the Senate
strikes out Article X. entirely its elm
nation must be accepted by all the sig
natory powers and Article X. will no
longer constitute a part Of the treaty be-
tween them.
''The United States can have no objec-
ton to the European nations guarantee
ing the territorial integrity and existing
political independence of any Of the
members OF the league. We on the other
hand are situated differently. We are
not In the immediate vicinity of those
lately set up as independ-
emit. We are not SO intimately interested
in their stability as is France, England.
Italy and other European nations. We
have a more direct interest in the sta
bility of the nations OF the Western con-
tinent. We might therefore by a res
eryation limit the obligation of the
United States without affecting the
treaty between the other nations who are
willing to accept Article X. without res
ervation.
-
we ratify the treaty defining the obliga-
ton OF the United States under Article
X. 1t will not interfere in any way with
the other nations ratifying the treaty
and obligating their respective govern
ments to any extent they see fit. Such
a reservation would simply modify our
obligation under Article X"
Favors KelloEg's Restrictions.
Senator Pittman (Nevada) declared
himself in favor OF every reservation
proposed by Mr.. Kellogg. adding: i
IT think 1t Is important to determine
what the effect would be II they were
included In a separate resolution or II
included In the resolution of ratification.
| am satisfied in my own mind that II
Included in a separate resolution 1t
serves as notice to those with whom we
are dealini, OF the position we VIII take
II the construction OF the treaty comes
in question"
Senator Pittman insisted that a reser-
vation would not be binding unless II
we're agreed to by the other signatories
TO the treaty. He said that whether he
would vote for reservations or not de-
pened on whether the reservations pre-
,ented might endanger the whole treaty.
II hope when we put these reserva-
lions on we shall provide that they shall
De accepted by at least the other four of
The 1--WE principal allied and assooi-
ated Powers before we become members
of the league" said Senator Lodge, land
hat we shall have their acceptance of
,ur reservations There will be no ques-
ion about It. They will accept them"
Senator Williams (Miss.) asked why
4 II had been the general practice that
were accepted II they were
not protested against by the other sig
latories IL must be necessary to secure
he acceptance OF four other nations to
ne reservations to this treaty.
Undoubtedly II a foreign country
,hould put the treaty into force with a
upon It II would be accepted
he same as any man who puts a con-
ract into force with a reservation upon
L." replied Senator Kellogg
Senator Brandegee, referring 10 Sena-