The evening world., 1919-08-19

| Ine BfeAtdents Inc leRol ODn-
cation to apply the automatic pun
ishment fthe covenant, undoubted-
w, but not the legal obligation TO so
TO arms and actually to make war
! not the legal obligation There might
be a very strong moral Obligation.
Rsplyinn 70 Senator Mocun,-
: ber, the President saidi "We
I would have eonplete freedom Of
choice 40 10 the application Of
Asked whether there would be the
same freedom as to application OF
boycott. the President replied:
'Only In regard to certain. articles.
The breach OF certain articles OF the
covenant does bring on what have
designated -os an automatic boycott.
and In that we would have no choice
WILSON INSISTS ONLY MORAL
OBLIGATION.
Senator Knox-Mr. President, allow
me to ask this question; Suppose
that Il Is perfectly obvious and ac-
cepted thai there is an external ag-
gresslon against some power, and
suppose II Is perfectly obvious and
accepted that II cannot be repelled
except by force. Of arms, would we
be under any legal obligation to par
ticlpate7
!, The President--No, sir, but. we
should be under an absolutely COM
peiling moral obligation.
Senator Knox referred to the White
House statement OF May 10, which,
he said. had quoted the President as
saying that the French defensive
treaty would merely bind the United
states TO do Immediately what she
would otherwise be bound 10 do un-
der the League covenant
The PRESIDENT did not use the
word bound but morally bound"
! Let me say that you are repeating
what said to be other representa-
tlves. | said: ''Of course II is under
! stood we would have 70 be convinced
that II was an unprovoked movement
OF asgression," and they at once ac-
qulesced in that.
Discussing further the qdestion
of reservations with Senator Me-
Cunlber, the President said;
I'VE differ only as TO the form
Of action, I think t>would be a
VerY serioue practical mistake to
put u in the resolution Of rAtih-
oationi But I do hops that we are
At liberty, eontemporaneously
with opr acceptnneo Of the treaty,
to inttfprot our moral obligation
under that article"
Senator Knox: 'Tf we embody in
our resolution Of ratification a state
ment that we understand section
TO- or Section 16,' or section some
thing else in a particular sense, and
this Government through its For
eign Department transfers the pro-
posed form OF ratification TO the
chancellors OF the other nations that
are concerned in this treaty and II
these Interpretations are the same
as you have agreed upon with them
In your conversations, / do not see
how we would need anything more
than a mere reply to that eject"
The President: 1T would need con-
nrmatlon."
Senator Knox: YES Il would need
confirmation In that sense.
The President: MY Judgment is
that the embodying OF that in the
terms OF the resolution Of ratinca-
! ton would be acquieseRncA pot only
| In the Interpretation. but in the very
| phraseoiogy OF the Interpretation. be
cause il would form a part OF the
| contract"
Senator Borah quoted Article XII.
/ declaring ANY war or threat Of war"
| a matter OF concern to the League
and directing that "the League shall
take any action that may be deemed
wise and effectual to safeguard the
| peace OF nations"
| He asked whether the President ap-
piled the Interpretation OF a moral
obligation also TO that article. He re-
piled his construction OF Article XII.
was the same as for Article X.
Senator Harding-"If there Is moth
ing more than a moral obligation on
the part of any member OF the
League. what avails Article 10 and
Article liza
The Preeldent-"Why, Senator, Il Is
surprising that that question should
be asked. II we undertake an obllga-
tion we are bound In the most solemn
way 10 carry II out. There Is a ma
tional good conscience In such n
matter. I should think that was one
OF the most serious things that could
possibly happen. My understanding
when I speak of a legal obligation, !
mean one that specifically binds you
to do a particular thing under certain
sanctions. That Is legal obligation.
Now moral obligation IL. OF course.
superior 10 q legal obligation. and u
] may say so, has a greater binding
force. In every moral obligation there
Is an element OF judgment: in n le-
gal obligation there Is no element OF
Judgment"
| Senator Johnson-"But, Mr.. Presi-
dent, when the moral obligation Ia
undoubted It will lmpel action more
readily than a legal obligation"
The President-"If II Is uhdoubted.
yes; but that Involves the circum-
stances OF the particular case. We
would be our own judges as to
whether we were Obliged in those cir
cumstancea To act In that way or not.
Senator Hltchcook-In such a case
the Council would only act unani-
mously ana our representative on the
Council or course would have tn con-
cur In any advice given.
The conference was adjourned In
the early afternoon for luncheon At
the White House. and II was not re-
sumed. the members Of the commit