The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20

dealing with what I think IL an entireIv
oinerent matter-that is the adjustments
as between the nations-not Adjustments
as between the allied and associated
| POWERS and Germany--it comes into
force whenever the ratilcavlons are
made; but 4 you will take the body Of
me treaty you will find that every
ming that Germany is to do is to be
done within a certain number of DAYS
after the ratification has been made. and
q certain number of months afterward
she IL to demobilize, give UP her ships
and do all things that will make her
practically noncombatant, within n
number Of days after ratification by
three of the Powers SO she Ia either at
peace with the world or she Is only
partially at peace with the world; and
as the requirements of the treaty are
/ specific that she is to go out of the
war business Altogether there Is a con-
elusive inference in my mind that she
Is at peace with the world when those
three Publications have been made.
The President-Allied and associated
Powers ratify this treaty, Germany hay-
Ing ratified II. then the treaty Ia in
force that Is to say, she has been en-
gagged to do the things provided in the
treaty, and her engagement is with
those three Powers. among the rest, and
she must then proceed to do what she
has promised, but 1t does not establish
peace between her and other countries.
| Senator Knox-I think that language
shows that 1t establishes peace and pro-
vides for a resumption of diplomatic and
all other relations with Germany. l
intend within short time TO try to
| make my Views upon that clear
The President-Yes.
| Senator Brandegee-I went into that
question rather thoroughly-'From the
coming into force OF the present treaty
the state OF war will terminate" Then
II says. From that moment and subject
to the provisions of this treaty official
| relations with Germany and with any
of the German States will be resumed
| by the allied and associated Powers"
which 1 assume means all OF them.
Now to revert to another point, Mr..
| President. Have you any knowledg, and
I ask all these questions of course sub
jet to your determination as to whether
IL ie proper for you to answer them or
| to make any statement about them
| The President-Yes.
| Mr.. Brandegee-Are the Austrian,
Bulgarian and Turkish treaties, which
assume are in process of being
Tho President-Yes.
| Mr.. Brandeges (continulng) - inter-
wined with the covenant OF the League
Of Nations, as in the treaty with Ger
| many?
The President-The covenant of the
league constitutes part of each of
| these treaties.
Senator Brandegee-would you feel at
| liberty to state what percentage of
| progress they have made up to the pres
ent time, or how nearly completed they
| are?
| The PRESIDENT think they are all
| completed, Senator, with the exception
of some debatable questions of terri
| torial boundaries.
Constitutional, Says Wilson.
Senator Brandegee-Inasmuch as our
| Constitution provides that treaties shall
be made by the President by and with
! the advice and consent of two thirds
OF the Senators present. do you think
that 1t is constitutional for us to ap-
| prove the Franco American treaty which
provides that before it goes into opera
ton 1t must secure the approval Of
the Council OF the League of Nations7
The President-Why, yes, we can con-
| sent We have the sovereign right to
consent to any process that we choose.
Senator Brandegee-We have the
| right to consent, of course the Senate
has the constitutional right to ratify the
| treaty. but in the present treaty We
have right to provide that in addition
| to- the constitutional requirements for
| the making of valid treaty there shall
also be required the consent of the coun-
Gil OF the League of Nations, which the
Constitution was not aware OF.
-, The President-If that is a part of the
treaty, yes I think we have.
| Senator Brandegee-But you do not
think that the treaty can in any way
amend the Constitution or the constitu-
tional requirements for executing
treaty?
| The President-No.
Senator Brandegee-Then by what
process of ratiocinatlon do you assume
that the treaty compel the consent
Of the council before this covenant is
! approved?
! The President-Suppose you would de-
! termine that when any group of nations
adopted a treaty we should adopt a
! treaty that contained certain pro-
visions that we wished TO put in and
to make the operation OF the treaty con-
tingent upon its acceptance by the other
nations In the group. 1t seems to me
| that that Ia an entirely analogous case
In other words. I am assuming that we
adopt the treaty with Germany. In that
| case we Will De members OF tne league.
We are in effect saying that we have
| become members Of the league. II the
! council OF the league accepts this we
agree to put 1t in force. It is means
of being consistent with the thing that
| we have already done in becoming a
member Of the league.
Senator Brandegee-I get your view
point about that. Now do you think II Is
! wise for us to adopt the Franco-Amerl-
! can treaty which In substance provides
! that we cannot denounce 1t until the
council of the League OF Nations gives
us permission to do so or agrees to
denounce Il?
The PRESIDENT do, Senator. I have
! a very strong feeling with regard to our
! historical relations with France and also
| a very keen appreciation OF her own
sense OF danger. and think It would be
one of the handsomest acts OF history TO
erteI into that,
] Questions wisdom of Act.
! Senator Brandegee-I feel Just as cor
| daily toward her heroic conduct as
! anybody can. But that was not the
( question. The question was whether 1t
was wise to 80 tie ourselves to contact
| to any foreign nations as that we never
| could repudiate-r will not use the word
| 'Iepudicate'-can never cancel our
treaties without due notice without the
consent of n body not yet created7