Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-08-21
WILSON |N7EPPRETS
LEAGUE COVENANT
FOR ]. 5. SENATORS


ate to approve a treaty with the de-
cison Of its validity left to a body not
yet organized The President said he
saw no objection.
1T is true. is it not. asked Senator
Brandegee, that II difficulties arise
as to the construction OF any provs-
ion in the treaty with Germany after
we have passed from the scene. what
we thought tho provisions meant will
not be very powerful in the construc-
ton that will be placed upon it by
those who then have to determine
what II meansT'
VOTE OF U.S.. ESSENTIAL
THE vote Of the"United States will be
essential" Mr.. Watson replied.
II do not. mean that. The fact that you
think now that everything in the treaty
is plain and the fact that I think there
is grave doubt about some of the provi-
sions. will not seriously affect the opin-
ion OF the council?'
mo. but'the plain wording of the treaty
will have a great deal to do, and the
meaning of the wording is plain
THAT is simply another way Of stating.
is it not, that you are clear in your
opinion?" queried the senator.
mo. sir. II is question of being
confident what language means. not
confident of an opinion
But the language is in dispute now
between you and certain lawyers of the
country and certain senators, as to its
meaning"
Senator Brandegee added that with re-
gard to article ten his own understand
ing Of the language was quite clear. con-
tinuing that the provision was IAN
obligation in contract, and | know of
but one way to perform an obligation
that you have contracted to perform and
that is to perform it,"
PRESIDENTS INTERPRETATION.
The President then made this state
ment of his understanding of the obliga-
| ton under that article to follow the adj
vice Of the council:
| Il take it for granted that in pract
| ically every case the United States
| would respond. 1 quite agree with you
| that a moral obligation is to be full
filled, and l am confident that our ma
ton will fulfill it, but that does not re-
| move from each individual case the ele-
ment of judgment which we are free TO
| exercise in two stages
I'VE are first free to exercise it in
the vote Of our representative on the
| council. who will OF course act under
instructions from the home government.
| and. in the second place, we are to ex-
I ercise IL when the president, acting upon
the action Of the council, makes his
recommendation to Congress.
| Then Congress" Mr.. Wilson added,
lis to exercise its judgment as to whether
the instructions Of the executive to our
member Of the council were we'll found
ed or not, and whether this is a case
Of distinct moral Obligation
MUST KEEP TROOPS IN EUROPE.
; Asked by Senator Johnson whether
the obligations assumed under the trea-
ty go to the extent Of compelling us
to maintain American troops in Europe"
Mr.. Wilson replied.
Such small bodies as are necessary to
the carrying out Of the treaty, think -
And will these troops have to be
maintained under the various treaties of
peace until the ultimate contamination Of
the terms of those treaties?" persisted Mr.
johnson.
Yes, but that is not long. In no case,
as l remember, does that exceed eigh-
teen months"
Il was rather under the impression that
the occupation of Germany was to be for
Is years.
Along the Rhine, yes. l was thinking
| of Upper Silesia and the other places
where pebiscites are to be carried out.
It is the understanding with the other
governments that we are to retain only
enough troops there to keep our flag
there"
will We be maintaining American
American troops upon the Rhine for the
next 10 years."
That is entirely within our choice
but / suppose we will"