Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-20
DEFINES LEAGUE
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UEFlNES LEAGUE
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necessary. he held. 30 that . peace ba-
sis might DO reached and the other trea-
ties under negotiation now at Versailles
were being delayed until the world
learned what would happen to the trea-
ty with Germany. He said he saw no
reasonable objection to Senate freserva-
tons, but thought it unwise to incor-
pcfate them In the ratification itself.
In replying to a long series Of ques-
lions by Senator Brandegee. Republi-
can, Connecticut, the President was led
into an exhaustive discussion of the CO.
mingling of moral and legal obligations
In treaties.
"A moral obligation" said Mr.. VIII
son. els. Of course. superior to legal
obligation. and. il I may say SO. has a
greater binding force. In every moral
ment: in a legal obligation there 10 no
element Of judgment"
Senator Brandegee suggested there
was no important distinction, because
We are obligated in any event"
Il think it is of the greatest import
ance." replied the President, because
the element of judgment enters into it.
But I am assuming" replied Mr..
Brandegee, IF the council should ad.
wise us to do certain thing. and Con
gress refused to do II. and IL eyerv
other nations representative assembly
can do the same thing. il seems to me
yfkA n ~ cana
tribunal which would result in promot-
inf peace.
"The reason I do not agree with
you. Mr.. Wilson replied. lis that I
do not think such a refusal would
likely often occur. believe it
would be only upon the gravest
grounds-and in case Congress is
right I am Indifferent TO foreign
criticism"
Senator Harding. Republican,
Ohio, suggested that there was no
necessity Of a written compact for
this republic to fulfill it's moral obli-
cations to civilization, to which the
president rejoined:
"But it steadies the whole world
by its promise beforehand that it
will stand with other nations of
similar judgment to maintain right
in the world.
Senator Brandegee called atten-
ton to the fact that many author
tiles on international law had diff
fered as to the meaning OF various
provisions of the treaty and that
Charles E. Hughes. William Howard
Taft and Elihu Root had suggested
| reservations, but the president in
sisted that he thought it perfectly
safe to leave the present language
to the Interpretation of future
| statesmen without fear that the
United States would suffer by their
construction.
When Senator Fall suggested that
any amendments to the league cove
| nant would not require Germany's
assent as she was not a member OF
the league. the President replied he
| mex er had thought Of that feature.
He disagreed with Senators Bran
| degee and Knox, who asserted that
the treaty would come into force
among all the signatories as soon as
tnFee na0 ratlne0 IL.
For more than three hours the
committee members questioned the
President and afterward they stayed
for luncheon at the White House.
| When the recess was taken there had
been no discussion whether the meet
ing was to be resumed during the
afternoon, but later it was decided
not to do so. There was no intimation
tonight whether the committee
would seek further conference. To-
morrow it will resume it's open hear
ings at the Capitol
Senator Fall left with Mr.. Wilson
a list of questions which the latter
said he would reply to at length lat
er. They concerned the powers Of
the President or Congress to declare
a state of peace, details of the re-
sumption Of trade and diplomatic
relations with Germany: what dis
position is to be made Of the German
colonies and the need for American
representation on various European
reconstruction commissions.
The Presidents declaration of q
compelling moral obligation under the
league was emphasized in a state
ment issued jointly tonight by Sem
ators Berah and johnson or Cali
fornia, Republican members of the
committee, and two of the bitterest
opponents to the treaty in its present
form. They declared that the davis
testimony had borne out their claim
that the league would lead to inter
n,inable foreign complications. They
also pointed out that Senator john
son had developed in the days meet :
ing that good part of the territorial
settlement resulting from the war wa 8
yet to be determined.
The arrangements for PUBLISHING q
transcript Of the discussion, which
grew out of suggestion from the
committee, that senators be not re-
qutred to keep the proceedings in
confidence, had Mr.. Wilson's personal
supervision.
After the committee had denarted
ne went to the White House base
ment, where the newspaper CORE
spondents were waiting for the last
OF the stenographic report,
I came down." he said to the
correspondents, ito inquire of vo,,
gentlemen II the report of the con-