The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20

in this circumstance to act in that way
or not
Senator Hitchcock--In such a case IN.
council would only act unanimously ana
our representative on the council on
course would have to concur in any
advice given.
The Presldent--Certainly. we would
always in such case advise ourselves
Senator Williams-But II In such casa
Mr.. President. we concluded that tn
case provided for and prescribed had
arisen and that the extraneous attack
existed and that II fell within the terms
of the treaty. then we would be unt-ua
II we did not keep our word?
The notwithstanding.
Senator Borah--In other words then
that raises the question whether the d.
cision should come from the Congress OF
the United States or from one individual
who sits In the council.
Senator williams--No. II does not. n
merely provides that when the council
acts In accordance with the prescribed
terms and when we see that It has acted,
then Congress will, as a matter OF faith.
keeping. act itself. and IL Congress does
not Congress will do a dishonorabls
thing.
Senator Borah--Precisely So 30 that
the matter gets back to the point where
one individual has bound Congress.
Senator Hitchcock hope my oues-
tion to the President will not be inter.
preted In that way. My question to the
President was whether the matter would
even come before this country as the ad-
vice of the council until the American
representatives had concurred with the
other eight members of the council, and
after he had concurred II would then be
Up TO Congress TO decide.
The President-You are quite right.
Senator, and let me suggest that find
nothing was more clearly in the con-
sciousness of the. men who were discuss
ing these very important matters than
that most of the nations concerned had
popular governments. They were all the
time aware of the fact that II would de-
pend upon the approving or disappearing
state of opinion OF their countries how
their representatives in the council
would vote in matters of this sort. and
II is Uncomfortable to me that unless the
opinion of the United States, the moral
and practical judgments of the people
of the United States approved, the rep
resentative of the United States on the
council should vote any such advice a.
| would lead us into war.
Proposed Treaty with France.
Senator Borah--Mr President. does
the special alliance treaty with France
which has been submitted to us rest upon
any other basis as to legal and moral
obligation than that of Article y. and
Article H.. which you have just de-
scrlbed?
The President-No. sir.
Senator Borah-That is also as you
understand it, simply our moral obliga-
ton which We enter into with France?
The President-Yes.
Senator Johnson-May I take the ex-
ample that was Just suggested concern
ing the Balkan States and a possible
attack upon the new territories of Italy?
Assuming that that Is a case Of external
aggression by the Balkan State concern
ing the new territory that Italy has
acquired by the peace treaty. upon US
rests a compelling moral obligation to
do our part in preventing that. does
there not?
The Presldent-Yes.
Senator Johnson-And that compelling
moral obligation would require US to
use such means as would seem appro-
pirate. either economic or moral? Is
that not correct?
The President-Deemed appropriate by
whom? That is really the point
Senator Johnson-Of course deemed
appropriate for the purpose OF prevent.
ing and frustrating the aggression.
The President-Deemed by us appro-
PIRATE? -.
Senator Johnson--I assume OF neces-
sity 1t would have to be deemed by us
70 bind us as a compelling moral obli-
cation to prevent the aggression IN the
case named
The President-Yes
Senator Bordh-I wish to ask SONS
questions In regard to the secret treaty.
do not feel as free about those matters
as ! do about the league. because there
are certain things that I recognize may
not be entirely open for public consdera~
ton but, nevertheless, in so far as We
can, should like 10 know when the first
knowledge came to this Government
with reference to the secret treaties be-
tween japan, Great Britain. italy and
France concerning the German posses.
sions in Shantung?
| The President-I thought that Secre-
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