Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-09-03


external aggression under the league.
and the president replied that primar-
lily the duty would rest with the man
datory power.
Only through action by congress
shall the United States lend any mill
tary assistance to other members Of
the League Of Nations. This was
stated emphatically by the president.
The United States is only under
moral obligations 10 the other nations,
the president said, declaring that the
league covenant does not in any way
detract from the power Of the con-
gress.
Asks About Other Treaties.
After the president had delivered his
statement. Senator Lodge said:
'Mr. President, so far as Fam per-
sonaliy concerned-and think rep
resent perhaps the majority Of the
committee In that respective have no
thought Of entering upon arguments
az TO interpretations or points Of that
character; but the committee was very
DESTROYS Of getting information on GER
tain points which seem not clear and
on which they thought information
would he Of value TO have In c0nsid-
Grafton of the treaty which they,
think / may say for myself and others,
desire TO hasten in every possible way.
Your reference to the necessity Of
action leads me to ask one question.
l. we have to restore peace to the
world. it Is necessary. / assume. that
there should he treaties with Austria,
hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria. Those
treaties are all more or less connected
with the treaty with Germany The
question / should like to ask Is. what
the prospect Is Of receiving those trea-
ties for action?"
Senate Cause Of Delay.
The President think Il Is very
good, sir. and so fir as can judge
from the contents of the dispatches
from my colleagues on the other side
Of the water, the chief delay is due to
the uncertainty as to what is goinL 10
happen to this treaty. This treaty is
model Of the others. ! saw enough
Of the others before left Paris t.
know that they are being framed on
the same set Of principles and the
treaty with Germany is the model.
think that is the chief element of de
lay, sir.
Senator Lodge-They are not regard
ed as essential to the consideration of
this treaty?
The Presdent-Thcy are not regard
ed as such, no sir; they follow this
treaty.
Senator LODGE do not know about
the other treaties, hut the treaty with
Poland, for example. has been cone
pleted.
Treaty With Poland Signed.
The presldent-Yes and signed but
it is dependent upon this treaty. MY
thought was 10 submit II upon the &C.
ton on this treaty.
Senator Lodge then asked whether
the President could show the commit
tee the tentative League of Nations
drafts submitted by Great Britain,
France and Italy.
The PRESIDENT would have sent
them To the committee with pleasure.
senator, If had found that had them
| took II for granted that | had them;
but the papers that remain in my hands
remain there In a haphazard way. |
can tell you the character of the other
drafts. The British draft was the only
4 a..
form of n definite constitution of a
league. The French and Italian drafts
were In the form of a series of propo-
sitions laying down general rules and
assuming that he commission, or
whatever body made the final formula
tions would build upon those prlnci-
pies II they were adopted. They were
principles quite consistent with the
flaal action.
At Liberty to interpret.
In reply to Senator McCumber the
president repeated that he felt It would
be a mistake TO embody interpreter
tions in the resolution of ratification.
saying: we can interpret only
moral obligation. The legal obligation
can be enforced by such machinery as
there is to enforce 1t. We are therefore
AT liberty TO interpret the sense In
which we undertake a moral ohlga-
ton"
Senator McCumber asked Mhether
the other nations could not accept In
terpretations by the senate by acqui-
essence"
The President-My experience as n
lawyer was not very long but that ex-
perience would teach me that the Ian
guage of a contract is always part OF
the debatable matter, and can testi-
fy that In our discussions in the com
mission on the League of Nations we
did not discuss ideas half as much as
we discussed phrGseology.
The president said II reservations
were embodied in the ratification
there would have to be either explicit
ncquiescence or the elapsiBg Of a long
enough time for us 20 know whether
they (the other governments were i'm
plicitly aequiescing or not"
Guests at Luncheon.
The satisfaction of the presidents
household turned into positive Joy
when the senators accepted Mr.. VII
sons invitation to stay to luncheon.
''rhe pleasant character of the
luncheon. said Senator Borah. "Indi-
Gates merely that the opponents of The
treaty are not in the least actuated ny
any personal hostility to the preSi-
dent They merely disagree with him