The sun., 1919-09-24
Explains Reservations.

I want you to have a very clear
idea of what is meant by reservations.
Reservations are to all intents and
purposes equivalent to amendments.
can say, 1 believe with confidence.
that it is the judgment Of the people
of the United States that neither the
treaty nor the covenant should be
amended.
Very well, then, look at the char
acter Of reservations. What does a
reservation mean7 1t means a stipu-
lation that this particular Govern
ment insists upon interpreting its
attitude to that covenant in n special
way. 1t insists upon interpreting 1t
in a way in which other nations, it
says, do not interpret II.
This thing. when we ratify II, is a
contract. You cannot alter so much
as the words of contract without the
consent Of other parties. Any reser-
walton that we have will have to be
carried to all the other signatories.
Germany included We shall have to
get the consent of Germany among
the rest to read this covenant in some
special way in which we prefer to
read It in the interests, or in the in
terests of safety. of America. That,
to my mind, Is one of the most unac-
ceptable things that could happen.
To reopen the question of the mean
ing Of this clearly written treaty is to
reopen negotiations with Germany.
and don't believe that any part of
the world is in the temper to do that.
And in order to bring this matter, to
put this matter In such a shape as
will tend itself to a concrete elucida-
ton, let me read you what l under
stand is proposed form of reserva-
ton.
The United States assumes no obli-
CATION under the provisions Of Article
y. TO preserve the territorial integ-
rity or political independence of any
other country or to interfere in con-
troversies between other, nations,
whether members of the league or
not, or to employ military and naval
forces of the United States under any
article for any purpose unless in any
particular cas- that Congress, which
under the Constitution has the sole
power to declare war or authorize
the employment of military and naval
forces of the United States, shall by
act or joint resolution, so declare.
Now, my fellow citizens
Now wait, now wait a minute.
You want to applaud that. Wait
until you understand the meaning of
it, and If you have a knife in your
hands with which you intend to cut
out the heart of this covenant aD-
plaud; but IL you want this cove
nant to have heart in it and want Il
to have purpose in it, want II
to be something subscribed TO by a
red blooded nation. withhold your
applause. Understand this thing
before you form your sentiment with
regard to 1t. This is a rejection or
the covenant. This is an absolute re-
fusal to carry any part of the same
responsibility that the other members
of the league carry. Does the United
states want to be in on that special
footing? (Cries of No NOD Does
the United States want to say to the
nations with whom it stood in this
great struggle: I'VE have seen YOU
through on the battlefield, but now
We are donew (Cries of Nod. I'VE
are not intending TO stand by you"
Wars Due to Land Grabbing,
Why, my fellow citizens, Article
X. is an engagement on the mart of
the great fighting nations OF the
world. because all tho great fighting
nations are going to be members of
the league, that they will observe.
respect and preserve as against ex-
ternal aggression the territorial in
tegrlty OF existing political indepen-
dencies OF the other members of the
league. That is cutting into the heart
OF all war. Every war of any con-
sequence that you can cite originated
IN an attempt to seize the territory
OF interfere with the political indie
pendence of some other nation.
We went into this war with the
sacred promise that we regarded all
nations as having the same rights.
whether they were weak or strong.