Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-22
RESERVATIONS
TO PEACE TREATY
URGED BY ROOT
Program for Acceptance Of
League Laid Before Sen.
ators by Former Sec
rotary Of State.

ate was enlivened Saturday by a
series of developments accepted as
foreshadowing the lines into which
the final RATIFICATION fight may fall.
Elihu Root, secretary of state TIN
der President Roosevelt, laid be-
fore the foreign relations commit
tee program for acceptance of
the league with certain restrictions
Senator ~Borah,> republican, of
Idaho, gave notice in a speech that
Re could not remain in the repub-
liean party if it failed to take a
more definite stand against the
league.
Senator Hitchcock democrat, of
Nebraska, replied that no party
dared stand against the league pro-
oosal and declared the covenant
was assured of ratification by re-
publican votes.
Senator Knox, of PENNSYLVANIA,
decided to call for a showdown of
senate opinion Monday, by bringing
in his resolution declaring the
treaty cannot be accepted with the
hSuSuS covenant dttdIlfSl.
OF these developments the rec
ommendation of former Secretary
Root presented after two days of
conferences here with league op-
ponents, attracted widest discussion
tonight because it was regarded as
enbodying plan of which, an ap-
peal is likely to be made for unity
of action by all who do not fully
approve the Paris covenant.
@Mr. Root strongly urged separa-
tion OF the league of nations from
the peace treaty and recommended
adoption by the senate of the Knox
resolution
The principal treaty reservations
proposed by Mr.. Root relate to
/, American, action under ARTICLE 10.
the territorial guarantee claimsA the
Monroe doctrine and for withdrawal
of America from the league by ITS
own action and without consent of
other nations.
Mr. Root declared the Monroe
Doctrine clause erroneous in its
description of the. doctrine and am
biguous in its meaning, while the
new provision for withdrawal leaves
doubt whether the nations could
not be kept lin the league indef-
initely against our will ...-.
!. Ratification Reservations.
The ratification reservations rec
ommendcd by the former secretary
were: .
~ In advising and consenting to
the ratification of the said treaty, the
senate reserves and excludes from
itS consent the tenth article of the
covenant for the league OF nations
as, to which the senate refuses its
consent.
'(2) The senate consents to the
ratification of the said treaty, re-
serving article 10 aforesaid with
the understanding that whenever
two years notice withdrawal from
he league Of nations shall have been
given as provided in article 10, no
claim, charge or finding that inter-
national obligations or obligations
under the covenant have not been
fulfilled will be deemed to render.
the two years notice Intellectual or
to keep the power giving the notice
IN the league after the expiration Of
the time specified in the notice.
One Clause Excepted.
"(3) 1nasmuch as in agreeing to
become a member of the league of,
nations, the United States of Amer
lea is moved by no interest or wish
to- intrude upon or interfere with
the political policy or internationa!
administration of any foreign state
and by no existing or anticipated
dangers in the affairs of the Amer
lean continents, but accedes to the
wish of the European states that it
shall join its power to theirs for the
preservation of general peace, the
senate consents to the ratification
OF the said treaty. excepting article
III. aforesaid, with the under standing
that nothing therein contained shall
be- construed to imply relinquish-
ment by the United States of Amer,
icd of its traditional attitude toward
purely American questions, or TO re-
4eaiS tie SuoilllSSlOl Oh It's pOllCy
regarding questions which it deems
tosbe purely American questions, to
the decision or recommendation of
other powers.
This reservation and these ex-
pressions of understanding" wrote
Mr.. Root. ARE in accordance with
long-established precedent in the
making of treaties. When included in
the instrument of ratification, they
will not require reopening of nsgo-
tiation. but If none OF the other Sig
natories expressly objects to the rat
ification with such limitations the
treaty stands as limited between the
United States and the other pow
ers." ,...-