Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-13
The Knox Resolution.

slider the Knox resolution relative to
the league of nations next week, while
the German representatives at YER
sailles are bordering their final de-
cision upon the peace treaty, it is we'll
to note precisely what this proposed
declaration is, and how it affects the
general peace situation. It consists of
five distinct declarations, after pre-
amble which sets forth the fact of war
with Germany and the apprehensions
of the Senate on the score of obliga-
tions entailed in the peace terms and
the belief that the treaty may be
framed without pledging its sigma
tories to particular form Of league
Of nations.
The first proposition is that a peace
treaty assuring the United States the
attainment of the ends for which it
entered the war will be adequate to
our national needs and completely re-
sponsive to our duties and obligation
toward our allies and to humanity, and
that the Senate looks with disfaver
upon all treaty provisions going be-
yond.
Proposition number two is that the
Senate cannot agree to a treaty that
in effect changes the Constitution Of
the United States.
The third proposition is that the
treaty should be so drawn as to re-
serve to each nation the question of
any league of nations, and that any
indispensable participation by the
United States in matters covered BY
the league covenant shall, pending
United States entry into the league,
be accomplished through diplomatic
commissions.
The fourth proposition is that the
Senate believes that adoption by the
peace conference of these limitations
will facilitate the ratification of the
treaty by the United States.
The fifth proposition, in effect pledg-
ing the United States to 60 to the
aid of European nations in the event
Of war of aggression by any power,
has been stricken out in committee.
Thus it appears that the Knox reso-
lution, which will be taken up next
week, does not declare against a
league of nations, but asks the separa-
zion of the league covenant from the
peace treaty. Obviously this separa-
lion cannot now take place without
recasting Of the entire treaty. To ac-
complish the purpose of the resolu-
lion the Senate can, however, accom-
pany its ratification, when the treaty
Is submitted and acted upon, by
supplement stating the reservations
embraced in the resolution now pend
ing, definitely excepting the United
States from initial membership, but
pledging the concurrence Of the United
States in term enforcing efforts
through commissions named for the
purpose.
The Knox resolution can be adopted
by majority vote. The treaty can
not be ratified save by a vote of two
thirds. If majority wishes to ex-
elude the United States from initial
participation in the league of nations
as now planned it can prevent ratifca-
ton of the treaty. On the other hand,
. minority of the Senate can protraet
the debate On the resolution until the
treaty has been signed, if it wishes
to do so. If this is not done and a
majority votes for the resolution be-
fore the final decision is reached at
Paris-there is no sign that the pro-
eeedings in the Senate are causing
postponement of action there-the ae-
tion by that body, which is part of the
treaty-making power of the United
States, may have a profound effect.