The sun., 1919-08-13
with the internal affairs of other coun-
tries.
Must Not Include United States.

Whtn tho lnternai bIidlTb OI Otuer Oouii-
tries.
Must Not Include United states.
IF Europe desires such an alliance or
league with n power Of this kind, 30 be
Il. I have no objection. provided they
not interfere with the American con-
or force us against our will but
bound by a moral obligation into all the
1uarrels OF Europe. II England, aban-
doning the policy of Canning, desires to
be a member Of a league which has
such powers as this, I have not a word
say But / object in the strongest
possible way to having the United States
agree, directly or indirectly, to be con-
by a league which may at any
time, and perfectly lawfully n In ac-
cordance with the terms of the covenant,
be drawn in TO deal with internal oon
flicts in other countries. no matter what
conflicts may be. We should
never permit the United States to be
in any internal conflict in an
other country. except by. the will Of her
people expressed through the Congress
represents them.
with regard to wars Of external ag-
on a member of the league, the
Is perfectly clear. There can be no
genuine dispute whatever about the
meaning of the hrst clause Of Article X
In the first place, It differs from every
obligation in being individual and
placed upon each nation without the in
Of the league. Each nation
for itself promises to respeat and pre-
serve as against external aggression the
and the political independence
OF every member of the league. OF the
right of the United States to give such n
guaranty I have never had the slightest
doubt. The application of that guaranty
would not be in the slightest degree at
by ten or twenty other nations
the same pledge, II Panama, when
In danger, appealed to us to fulfil our
obligation. We should be bound to do
so without the slightest reference to the
other guarantors. In Article X. the
United States is bound OF the appeal of
any member of the league not only TO
respect but to preserve its independence
and Its boundaries, and that pledge, II
we give 1t, must be fulfilled.
"There Is to me nc distinction what
ever In a treaty between what some
are pleased to call legal and
moral obligations. A treaty rests and
rest, excep where Il Is imposed
under duress n securities and hos
tages are taken for its fulfilment upon
moral obligations.
Would be Individual Obligation.
II return. then. to the first claus of
Article 10. II In. I repeat, an Individual
obligation. 1t requires no action on the
part or the league, except that in the
second sentence the authorities of the
league are to have the power TO advise
as to the means to be employed in order
to fulnll the purpose of III frst sem
tence. But that is a detail of execution.
II l consider that we are morally and
in honor bound to accept and act upon
mat advice. II China should rise up n
attack Japan in an effort to undo the
great wrong of. the cession Of the control
OF Shantung to that Power, we should
be bound d the terms of Article 10.
to sustain Japan against China, and a
guarantee of hat sort is never invoked
except when the question has passed the
stage Of negotiation n has become u
question for the application of force.
do not like the prospect 1t shall not
come Into existence by any vote of mine.
Article IL carries this danger still
further, for 1t says:
Amy war or threat OF war, whether
Immediately affecting any of the men,
bers Of the league or not, Is hereby de-
clared a matter of concern to the whole
league and the league shah take any ac-
tion that shall be deemed wise and erec-
tuaf to safeguard the a OF nations
Amy war or threat of war'-that
means both external aggression and In
ternal disturbance. ANY action covers
military action. because 1t covers action
OF n sort or kind. Let me Jake an ex-
ample, not an imaginary case. but one
which may have been overlooked because
most people have not the slightest idea
where or what a king of the Hedjaz is
The following despatch appeared recent.
ly in the newspapers:
"HEDJAZ VS.. BEpoUINs.-The forces OF
Emir Abdullah recently suffered a grave
defeat. the Wahabis attacking and cap.
turing Kurma. east of Mecca. Ibr
Sayond is believed to be working In har.
mony with the Wahabis. A squadron OF
the Royal Air Force was ordered recent.
ly to go to the assistance Of King Hus.
sein.'
"IIussein I take to be the Sultan OF
Hedjaz. He is being attacked by the
Bedouins, as they are known to US, al.
though l fancy the general knowledge
about the Wahabis and Ibn Savond anC
Emir Abdullah is slight and the name.
mean but little to the American people
Nevertheless. here is a case OF a membe,
of the league-for the King Of the He'd,
Jazz is such a member in good and regu.
lar standing and signed the treaty by
his representatives. Mr.. Rustem Haidal
and Mr.. Abdul Havi Aouni.
No Escape From Participation.
Under Article II. II King Husse,n an
pealed to US for aid and protectio,
against external aggression affecting nj
i~ndependence and the boundaries of hi
kingdom we should be bound TO Civ,
mat aid n protection and to sen,
American soldiers to Arabia, I know
the answer well-that of course the,
could not be sent without action h,
Congress. Congress would have no choic
IL acting in good faith. and II under Ar
tile 10 any member of the league sum
moned us, or II under Article II IN
league itself summoned us, we shout,
De bound in honor and morally to obey
There would be no escape except nv
breach of faith n legislation by Con
gress under those circumstances woul,
be a mockery of independent action. I
II too much to ask that provision shou,
be made that American troops and Am
erican ships should never be sent anv
where or ordered to take part in an,
conflict except after the deliberate actiol
OF the American people, expressed &C
cording to the Constitution throuRI
their chosen representatives. in Congress
Let me now briefly point out tn
insuperable difficulty which l find I'm Ar
ticle l5. 1t begins If there should al is
between members Of the league any dis
pute likely to lead to a rupture. AN,
dispute covers every possible dispute.
therefore covers a dispute over tarit
duties and over immigration. Suppos
we have a dispute over tariff duties an
over immigration. Suppose we have
dispute with Japan or with some Euro
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