Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-20
AGREEMENT is POSSIBLE

Whatever else may have been accomplished at the
conference between the president and the senate COM
mittee on foreign relations one thing. stands out quite
clearly. namely, that an agreement as to the treatment
tc be given the treaty of peace is possible unless individ-
uals insist on full recognition of their own personal views
without regard to what the effect Of such action may be.
During the past weeks various suggestions have been
made for the adoption of resolutions by the senate which
would interpret or modify the terms of the treaty. AS
the discussion has progressed the desire of those who
wish such interpretations has seemed to center On a few
points and there has been a fair degree of unanimity as
to the declarations which should be made with reference
to them. The. president has been represented to be OPP
posed to any amendments whatever, and there has been
somewhat the appearance of a deadlock between him
and certain of the senate leaders. There are senators
who need not be taken into account in the consideration
Of any interpretations. Senators Borah, Reed and two
pr three others are opposed to the League of Nations,
jected and make no secret Of their desire. But there is
a group OF other senators of whom Senator Lodge is
one. who have declared themselves to be earnestly de-
sirous of the creation of a League Of Nations and who
would be in favor of this particular plan with certain
notifications or understandings. These with the sena-
tors who are willing to accept the entire treaty as it
stands are more than enough to provide the necessary
two-thirds majority.
In his opening remarks to the committee yesterday
the president stated specifically that he saw no valid
objection to the adoption of resolutions by the senate
substantially along the line OF those which have been
most frequently discussed and whose effect would be to
set forth in a little different language the senate's un-
Outstanding of what certain sections in the league COW
enant mean. The presidents objection is to incorporat-
ing any matter into the text Of the treaty itself, and his
objection is stated on the grounds which are very easy
to understand. The treaty is a compact among many
nations. No single nation can vary its terms without
submitting the changes to all the other parties to the
compact. If changes are made by the United States
which require the resubmission of the text, the way
will be opened for such other changes as will be pro-
posed by other nations. 1t need not be supposed that in
a lengthy document covering so many subjects all OF the
terms are perfectly satisfactory to every nation except
the United States. Undoubtedly several Of the other ma
tons would like to see certain changes made and would
avaif themselves OF the opportunity presented by Amer
lean amendments to proposed amendments Of their own.
These amendments. like ours, would have to be submit
we came to consider them we should find some Of them
less satisfactory to us than the provisions with which
nc are nos, dealing.
The developments at the conference seem to indi-
cate quiet clearly that no great objection will be raised
to the adoption OF resolutions Of Interpretation by the
Donate providing such interpretations are in accordance
With the existing text. That is true Of practically al Of
the important interpretations which have been seriously
AE &N&9R