The Washington herald., 1919-12-30

tbNIlNl I'D E1sOM IAtIE ONE
cans should lead in any movement to
modify the Lodge reservations.
Although Senator Kings reserva-
tiOns were drafted with a view to
obtaining their acceptance by the
mild reservationists." the Senator
did not make much headway when
he submitted them to Senator Nc
Nary. leader of that group. and SEN
ators Kellogg and Lenroot.
Senator McNary refused to accept
them as a substitute for the Lodge
reservation and told Senator King
they would not do. 1t is understood
Senators Kellogg and Lenroot also ex-
pressed disapproval of them.
Accepts Labor Reservation.
The King reservations are the
same in number as those adopted
by Senator Lodges committee and
several of the latter are adopted
without change. This is particu-
larly true with regard to the Lodge
reservation which withholds ac-
ceptance of the international labor
clauses in the treaty. Senator King
adopted this verbatim. with the ex-
PLANTATION that if he could have
made it stronger he would have
done so.
The principal changes made by
Senator King are in the reserva-
tions on Article y, the Monroe doc
trine, Shantung and the preamble
which relates to the acceptance of
the American reservations by at
least three of the four principal al
nd
Senator King changed the pre-
amble so that negative action
rather than affirmative acceptance
of the reservations is provided.
His reservations provide that if the
United Safes participates in the ex-
ecution of the treaty, and unless
two of the other powers give no.
tice that they decline to accept the
reservations. they shall be consid-
cred as having been agreed to by
all the powers.
As to Helping Europe.
In reference to his modified reser-
vation on Article Y, Senator. King
said he had found there was a
square conflict between the Presi-
dent and the Senate on the question
of whether or not Americas partici-
patton in the war imposed an obliga-
ton upon the United States to help
European nations out of all their diff
fieulties."
The President has taken the posi-
tion. Senator King said, that such an
obligation does exist. while the the
ory of the Lodge reservation on Ar
ticle y is that there is no such OBJ
legation and that the United States
will decline to assume such an obli-
cation sXcept by express authorize
ton of Congress. Accordingly, Sena-
tor King has drafted his reservation
ON this article to read as follows
Tie United States so construes
and understands Article Y that what
ever obligation arises under Article y
to protect the territorial integrity and
political independence of other ma
tions. whether members of the league
or not. it shall not become effective
as to the United States unless Con-
gress by affirmative action so pro-
vides.''
won't Accept Assumption.
Senator McNary expressed strong
disapprova1 of this reservation, be-
cause, in his opinion, it assumes an
obligation does exist. He declared
the Republican Senators will not
agree to any reservation which is
based upon such an assumption.
He expressed a preference for a
reservation which would state that
the United States would carry out
no undertaking under Article X un-
til Congress so directed. and that
failure to take action under Article
Y should not be considered a viola,
tion of the treaty.
Senator Kings reservation on the
Monroe Doctrine provides that 'the
long-established policy of the Unit
ed States. known as the Monroe
Doctrine, is not affected by any pro-
visions contained in the treaty of
peace with Germany" The Senator
believes this would be less "offen-
sive" to European nations than the
Lodge reservation on the subject;
the latter, he said. would be unac-
ceptable to the Latin-American
countries, because it provides that
the United States alone" shall in
terpret the doctrine.
League Voting Power.
On the question of the voting power
in the League of Nations, Senator
Kings reservation is as follows:
The .United States will not be
bound by any decision. finding or
other action taken by the council or
assembly of the League of Nations
to which the United States has not
assented. in any case in which the
United States Is vitality interested. In
which the member adverse to the
United States has been given more
than one vote by itself or aIfhor1h