The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-20

plans OF course the committee could
not get them.
Asked by Senator Lodge whether he
had seen the resolution for league
submitted by Secretary Lansing, the
president replied: Yes"
Senator Lodge: mo specific action
was taken upon themY" -.
The President: mot In similar war
Reparation Left Open
Senator Lodge then asked whether
the United States would receive any
part OF the German reparation fund
The President: 81 left that question
omen. senator, because ! did not feel
that l had any final right TO decide H.
Upon the basis that was set up IN the
reparation authorizes, the portion that
the United States would receive would
be very small at best, and my own
Judgment was frequently expressed not
as a decision, but as judgment that
we should claim nothing under those
general classes. did that because
coveted the moral advantage that that
would give us In the counsels OF the
world.
we would claim nothing for the sinking
OF the Lusltania|'
The President: "Oh. no. That ulu
not cover questions OF that sort ut All
The president added that pre'war
claims were not covered by the clause
and said that the reparation committee
would decide. He repeated that Amer
lean participation in the reparation re-
manned to be decided.
Boruk ASKS About Withdrawal
Senator borah questioned the presi'
dent at some length about the rlsh'
of withdrawal from the league Inc
president said his Interpretation was
that the council had not power to pass
on withdrawal of a nation or TO oecloe
whether it had fulfilled its Obligations,
"The only restraining influence woula
be the public opinion Of the worlu'
said the president. That. the president
said. was the view Of the commission
which drafted the league.
Senator Harding wanted TO kho"
why, If that was the view, the lah'
guage making provisos for the iui'
fillment of the covenant was put INTO
the article.
"Merely as an argument to the con
science of the nations" responded the
president. adding that it merely served
notice that fulfillment of obligatloils
was expected prior to withdrawal II
that were true, Senator Harding salu
he thought the language rather lar
fetched provision.
The president said, i'm answer 10
question, that he had no way OF KNOW
ing whether Germany placed the saihe
construction on the articles as did the
allies.
Senator McCumber asked whether
governments could not accept hlterpte
tations by "acquiescence.' The presi
dent thought there either would nave
to be explicit acquiescence OF
stimulated time in which the ohlteu
States could know whether acqules'
eence was being given.
Replying to Senator Borah the presi-
dent said the provision of Article TO-
under which signatories to the league
agreed to guarantee one announcer
against external aggression, was only
normal obligation. senator bola'i
thought it would be legal obligation
The president thought not pcau"
there was involved the clement oi
Judgment as to whether territorial IN
tegrity or political independence was
being invaded or impaired
senator Borah wanted to know what
would happen if the actual facts were
beyond dispute. There would then De
the legal obligation to apply the auto
matte terms of the covenant, the presi
dent replied but not legal opllgatioh
to make war, no matter now strohS
the moral one.
1--WE would have complete choice as
to application of force" said the presi
dent in answer to 1urther queStioi
The action contemplated as deem
ed appropriate" in case OF war OF
threatened war was also, the pies'
dent contended, a moral one.