The sun., 1919-08-25
FRANCE THANKFUL
FOR WILSON CANDOR


lance not supplemented by a military
convention does not constitute a conven-
tlon upon which IT is possible to base
any serious hopes
Let US thank President Wilson for
mis- brutal frankness, while regrettins
that he waited until he reached WASH
ington before disclosing to us his real
idea"
The Presidents plan for getting
through the covenant of the league un
changed by allowing a separate resolu-
tion which would be interpretative rarh.
err than amendatory of the covenant
also is provoking much comment here
In conference circles, The opinion held
here by many Is that such a plan of
entering into diplomatic engagement
Is not judicial and would not have a
binding effect on other members OF the
league. It Is held also that It would
pave the way for interminable contro-
versy imperilling the future Of the
league.
There are some even who maintain
that IL would be tantamount to a rejec-
tion of the covenant by the United
states IL the interpretations should take
the form suggested. inasmuch as these
appear to be in direct conflict with the
construction placed upon the clauses in
question by the other nations.
Vital Objections Discussed.
From the controversy which has been
provoked here since the Presidents dis
cussion with the members of the For
eign Affairs Committee OF the Senate two
things seem to stand out very clearly:
First, that the President is in dis
agreement with the other collaborators
in holding that Article Y. contains a
moral obligation only and also in his
view that a nation seeking TO withdraw
shall be the sole Judge whether 1t has
fulfilled its obligations, instead OF the
league being the judge. 1t is declared
that the trainers had Germany in mind
in this connection.
Second, that resolutions embodying
such interpretations would not be bind
ing upon other nations, as would reser-
vations which would require the consent
of the sgnatories. Thus should the
United States ratify the text Of the cove
nant the other nations would be dis
posed to hold 1t to a majority interpre-
tation. regardless Of the resolutions
passed by the Senate.
In this connection II Is pointed out
that should other nations follow the
example OF the United States with inter-
pretative resolutions the resulting con-
fusion would be worse than no covenant
or league at all. 1t Is understood that
In the last few days the Presidents
representatives here have sought to
draw out comment in regard to this pro-
cedure without much success Premier
Clemenceau was non-committal on the
other hand, Lord Robert Cecil and a
few British enthusiasts, fearful OF hav-
ing their work textually changed and
resubmitted to the conference, are
understood to have approved the plan.
The European view may be said to be
summed up in the comment OF a noted
French jurisconsult, high in the diplo-
matte service OF the Government, to
whom the question OF the legal effect
Of such interpretations was submitted
by THE Sun. This authority. who asked
that his name be not used because the
covenant issue still is a domestic matter
in the United States. toward which
France must hold an impartial attitude,
said:
The Presidents scheme Of interpreta-
lions creates an entirely new method in
international treaty making and estab-
fishes a precedent fraught with q multi
tude of perils In the first place. such a
procedure which tends to modify and
even to alter a contracted agreement
after Its text and sense have been ac-
cepted and signed, is not turidically le-
gal FTon the STANDPOINT OIL internal
tional law II Is, in my opinion. equivalent
to rejection of the agreement-that is.
| the treaty, of which the covenant is an
integral part.
The danger in such a procedure lies
in the controversies which would result
For example, II the league at some mo-
| ment In the future arrives at the point
Of putting into execution one of its
clauses and one OF the members Of the
league does not interpret the clause in
the same way as the United States.
so that while 1t would be expedient
to interpret the pact to conform to
American policy In such a way as not
to disturb the text an extremely embar-
RAISING situation would be created for
the other members OF the league. such
as would tend to virtual anarchy within
! the league, inasmuch as no mem
would feel any conjunction about fol-
lowing a similar method and going ahead
interpreting the pact after its own
fashion.
I'm other words, most unfortunate
hybrid condition would be the inevitable
issue OF the procedure"
One feature OF the comment in French
| circles is the regret expressed that the
treaty proper should have been so In
| extricably interviewer with a covenant
| so controversial In its nature.