The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-08-29
No Objections to interpretations
After Ratification
MAY END SENATE FIGHT
Executive Makes Clear That He Will
Oppose Textual Changes Which
Might Necessitate Resub-
mission OF Pact

paved the way LOT compromise Will
the Senate on the treaty of peace with
Germany when he told the members Of
the Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations that there can be no reason
able objections to such interpretations
accompanying the act Of ratification,
provided they do not form part Of
the ratification ITSELF"
This frank statement was made at
the opening Of the conference between
the President and the Committee. a
conference which will become historic
If its ultimate reEplt is an understand
ing between the Executive and the
Senate upon one of the most moment
GUS questions which the American Gov
eminent has ever faced.
Nor did the President content him.
self with this invitation to the Senate
to meet him halfway upon an agree
ment as to the American understand
ing of the league Of nations covenant.
During the questioning which followed
he repeated his willingness to have
such an understanding set forth in for
NAL fashion.
But this is not to be taken as will
ingness on his part to accept any
amendment to the peace treaty, any
textual change whatever, or even any
qualification of that document which
necessitates its resubmission either to
the Peace Conference or to any or all
Of the signatories for their approval.
The President thinks it would be a
mistake to take any such step.
Up To Senate To Decide.
All that the President feels that it
will be safe to do in that direction is
to pass an accompanying resolution
which will give this Governments in
terpretaton of it's obligations under the
disputed articles Of the league COW
enant. The articles include that pro-
viding for the withdrawal of mem
Der nation after two years notice has
been given, and Articles 10 and II,
which seem to impose upon every
member the duty of safeguarding the
territory interests of every other
against external aggression.
And it now remains for the Senate to
decide whether or not the invitation
of the President is to be accepted, or
whether the demand of Senators Lodge
and Knox for straightout amendments
to the league covenants, is to be al
lowed. Meanwhile the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, having extracted from
the President all the information that
its members have asked for collective
ly and individually, will meet and for
mulate report.
The committee members talked very
little after their prolonged interview
with the President. They talked none
at all while at the White House and
while nomina1ly the guests of the Pres
ident Most Of them seemed content
to let the questions they asked indi-
cate their attitude. But at that, there
was feeling that the President had
been persuasive in his appeals to the
committee for immediate and favor
able action upon the treaty even if he
did not make single out-and-out con-
vert.
Members of the committee, Demo
Gratis as well as Republicans, had gone
to the White House with the general
idea that the President would insist
upon the unconditional ratification of
the treaty. Within the last week he
had given this impression Of his atti-
tude in his talks with leaders of the
treaty fight. And all Of the committee
men were agreeably surprised to find
that he was in sympathy with the-gen-
eral demand that this country itself
fully understand and let the world I'M
derstand just what It binds itself to
do as league member.
The early part of the conference was
devoted largely to cross-discussion
OF the right, first, of any member of
the league of nations to withdraw
from that body and next the obliga-
lions which would rest upon it in
that connection. Senator Borah
sought to draw from the President
an admission that this withdrawal
was an unconditional right on the
part of the member, but the Presi-
dent did not wholly assent. His re-
ply was that the right twas condi-
tional on the faith of the consci-
ence of the withdrawing nation" He
did agree a little later, however, that
the member nation had an uRcondi-
tional legal right to withdraw at the
end of two years and the right to
determine for itself whether or not
Il had discharged its international
obligations.
At this point Senator McCumber
asked if there would be any objec-
fion to reservation by the Senate
declaring that to be the understand
ing of the withdrawal section of the
league covenant. In answer the
President said: