The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-19
Text of Presidents
Speech to Senators

nized that thar question must be left to be
resolved by the conscience OF the nation
proposing to withdraw and I must say
to propose that the article be made more
explicit because / knew that the United
states would never Itself propose to with
was not entirely clear as to the fulfillment
Of all its International obligations. 1t has
never failed TO fulfill them and never will.
Article X Not Doubtful.
"ArticIe Y Is In no respect Of doubtful
meaning when read in the light of the
covenant as whole. The council of the
league can only advise upon the means
by which the obligations of that great
article arctic be given effect to unless the
United States ls party to the policy or
Her own affirmative vote. In the council
is necessary before any advice can be given.
For a unanimous vote Of the council is
hers anyhow, and the unanimous vote of
the council is only advice in anyscase. Each
Nothing could have been made more clear
to the conference than the right of our
congress under our consultations to exer-
ters OF peace and war. No attempt was
made. to question or limit that right
The United States will indeed undertake.
under Article K, to respect and preserve
as against external aggression the terri
torial integrity and existing political in
dependence of all members of the League
and thnt engagement constitutes very
grave and solemn moral obligation. But it
i Is moral. not a legal obligation and
its own Interpretation upon 1T in all cases
that call for action. 1t is binding in con-
science only, not in law.
Backbone of Whole Treaty.
ARTICLE X seems to me to constitute
the very backbone of the whole covenant,
without 1t the league would he hardly
more than an Influential debating society.
1T has several times been suggested in
public debate and in private conference
that interpretations of the sense in which
the United States accepts the engagements
of the covenant should be embodied in the
instrument of ratification. There can be
no reasonable objection to such interpre-
tations accompanying the act Of ratifica-
ton, provided they do not form a part of
the formal ratification itself. Most of the
interpretations which have been suggested
meaning of the instrument itself. But if
such interpretations should constitute a
part OF the formal resolution. of ratifca-
ton, long delays would be the inevitable
consequence, inasmueh as all the many gov
ernments concerned would have to accept,
In effect, the language Of the senate as the
would be complete. The assent of the Ger
man assembly at Weimar would have to
be obtained among with the rest. and
must frankly say that 1 could only. with
the greatest reluctance approach that as
sembly for permission to read the treaty
as we understand It and as those who
framed 1t quite certainly understood.
Would Rain Reservations.
"If the United States were to qualify
the document in any way. moreover, / am
confident from what I know of the many
conferences and debates which accompanied
the Formulation of the treaty that our ex-
ample would Immediately be followed in
many quarters In some instances with very
serious reservations, and that the meaning
ana operative force of the treaty would
presently be clouded from one end of its
clauses to the other.
I. Pardon me, Mr. Chairman II have
been entirely unreseryed aud plain spoken
IN. speaking Of the great matters we all
nave so much at heart II excuse is need
e. l trust that the critical situation of
nffairs may serve as my justification. The
lSSuesthat manifestly hang upon the con-
and upon the time of its action are so
eraEe and so clearly insusceptible of being
ttnlust On one side or postponed that
terefts to make this urgent plea and to
possible"