New-York tribune., 1919-09-12


even though Germany is not a mem
Der. Germany, in agreeing to the
treaty, has assented to the provisions
of the covenant, and one of the pro-
visions is that it can be amended only
by the action of the league, which has
not yet started; ratified by all the
members of the council, which has not
yet organized, as we'll as by major
| ity of the members of the assembl ~.
1t is obvious, therefore, if it is to be
amended in any other way Germany's
assent will be just as necessary as to
any other article Of the treaty.
"The reservations proposed by the
majority of this committee are of such
character as at once bctray their
authorship. They are the work OF
Senators organized for the purpose or
destroying the league and if possible
defeating this treaty. Their phrase
| Ology is such as make thls purpose
| plan. They are in no sense interprc-
tativc reservations to be used to make
clear language in the treaty that might
be considered doubtful. but they arc so
framed as to receive the support of
Senators who desire the defeat of the
treaty.
Alterations Masked
AS Pact Amendments
"While masqueradng in the guise
of reservations they arc in fact artera .
tions of the treaty They have all the
vices Of amendments and the additional
vice Of pretending to be what they are
not. Presented as parts of the rcsolu-
tion to ratfy the treaty they would in
fact, if adopted, result in it's defeat.
All of them apply to the league of
nations section Of the treaty. Those
who oppose the league of nations real
ize that it is invnciblc on siuarc
! fight and they hope to destroy it b.
this in.lircction. The lcagu" of nations
has stood the test Of rcr'dEvidc crit
cism and unlimited attacks. II etanc ;
to-d day the only hope &c" World peace.
After al the ASSAULT Of many months
! It's purpose and provisions stand out
ccar!y defined, unaffected b. criticism
and unyielding to attack.
"The league OF na,ions proposes to
organize the nations of the world for
peace, whereas they have always here
toforc been organized for war. 1t
proposes to establish the rule or inter
national justice in place Of force 1t
proposes to make war of conquest
impossible by uniting all nations
against the offenders.
ut is the first international arrange
mcnt ever made by which small and
! weak rations are given the organized
strength Of the world for protection
Called Working Plan
To Reduce Armaments
at is covenant between many ma
4 tioNs by which each agrees not to do
certain things which in the past have
produced wars and to do many things
which have been found to preserve the
peace.
"It is a working plan for the gradual
reduction Of armament by all members
slmu taneously in proper proportion
and by agreement.
ut sets up arbitration as friendly
, method OF adjusting disputes and in
curry when arbitration is not agree d
to- In both cases it provides cooling
oil period Of nine months, during which
the differences will be adjusted.
ut preserves the territorial integrity
and political indepe ndencc Of each
member and leaves to each the exercise
OF its sovereign rights as a nation.
ut will save the world from wars
and preparations for wars. 1t viii re-
Guce armies and navies and taxes.
1T will hclp to remove discomfort
win government in all countries w
making government bcneticcnt and de-
voting It's revenues to constructive
rather than to destructive purposes.
ut is the only plan proposed to re-
dccm the world from war pestlenco
and famine. The only one by which a
stricken world can be redeemed from
the disasters OF the late war and the
dangers Of impending international
chaos Those who daily and delay
as they seek with microscopes to fin /
some petty flaws in its structure have
nothlAE themselves to propose. They
nave appoased to every prejudice and
rosortod to every desperate method of
attacE to destroy this great Internal
1 t,onai effort to establish peace, but
they su&geSt nothing in its place.
They denouncc the public demand
for energetic action as 'clamor.' They
rail at the President, VINO with the
representatives of many other great
nations has devoted months of hard
woik to great constructive effort to
settle tho terms and roorganizc the
world for peace. Finally, unable to
stem the tide of public demand for the
league Of nations. they resort to so.
called reservations in the hope thai
they can Gcstroy by indircction what
they have found unassailabe bv direc.
attack.
We renew our recommendation that
the work of the peace conference be
conilfmed, the viii Of the people full.
llled and the peace Of the world ad
vanccd by the ratification of this treat,
the best hope OF The world'-evcu il
ike an human instrumentaIities i. be
not divincly perfect in every detail"