Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-27

ton when Villa attacked Column
bus. n. NJ, and authority of con-
gress was not asked. There may
be much debate about the sending
OF American troops to Siberia
after an armistice with Germany
has been signed. OF the landing of
American marines on the AdriatiC
coast, because technically the
United States is still in a state of
war, but there is no doubt that in
side congress a determined feel
ing to control at all times the use
OF military and naval forces has
found expression here and there in
the dozen reservations tackled on
to the peace treaty as a condition.
Of the seuate's ratification
Limits Monroe Doctrine.
But while aiming at specific
cases, in which they think the
executive power has not been
properly used, congress has gone
to the other extreme in restricting
the action Of the executive. Abso-
lutely nothing can be done, for
example. under the language of one
of the reservations, to help pre-
save the territorial integrity Of
> any country in Central or South
America-all OF which countries
will be members of the league
without the consent OF congress,
even though to be sure the Monroe
doctrine is a traditional policy of
the United States. So that while
insisting that no foreign nation
should interpret the Monroe doc
trine, the congress insists that no
American president shall be per-
mitted hereafter to apply the doc
trine without consent of congress.
May Prove Troublesome.
This will prove troublesome to
many Republicans who have al
ways argued that the western hem
tsphere was the exclusive domain
of the United States and that an
NAmerican president could send our
feet and its marines anywhere Ia
the north and south Atlantic with
out waiting for action by congress.
Now it will be possible for obstruc
tive Democrats-for they will sue
coed to the duties of obstruction
just as soon as the Republicans get
a president in the White house-to
hanstring a Republican executive
and require a vote of congress be-
fore any authorization is granted to
use the army and navy anywhere in
any dispute with a member state OF
the League of Nations.
viii Hamper Future Action.
None Of these things were prob
amly intended by the Republicans
but il their anxiety to show their
disapproval OF the use which Mr..
Wilson made of the executive
power, they would if a Roosevelt
were president, deprive him, for in
stance, Of even using his own dis
erection in applying the big stick to I
protect American interests abroad. |
The reservations now proposed |
practically state that in all dis !
putes hereafter with mem bers CT |
the League OF Nations, the chief /
executive of the United States has
virtually no power and must get
the consent and approval of both
houses of congress.
Similarly an interesting situation /
has arisen with respect to the /,
Monroe doctrine itself. Under the |
terms of one reservation it is stat /
ed emphaticaIly that the United |
States will not submit to arbitra- |
ton or inquiry by the assembly or |
council of the League of Nations |
any question which in the judg- |
ment Of the United States depends !
uRon or relates to its long-estab- |
s>Gshed policy commonly known as
the Monroe doctrine"
VIII AbrOgate 30 Treatiesl
Now it so happens that the Unit |
ed STATES has already signed treat |
les with so OF the principal nations !
of the globe. with the exception !
only of Germany and Japan, re-
quiring the United States TO sub |
NIT to a years inquirv all ques- |
tons in dispute that may arise be- /
tween this country and any of the !
80. According to the provisions OF |
the covenant, previous treaties be- |
come invalid only il they are in
consistent with the language of the |
treaty itself A nice question for /
international lawyers to decide now
is whether the senate proposes to /
abrogate the so treaties in so far
as they might apply to TIE Monroe
doctrine. or whether The senate /
Nneans that the United States will
SShmtt a dispute about the Monroe
doctrine TO investigation and in
Quiry when an individual nation is
concerned and will deny the same
pa ~ AtCBS u tue COllCEllFC UOuN Vi
nations. For instance. the senators
say they do not WanE to give Grea.
Britain the privilege of interpret
ing the Monroe doctrine in the
event of a dispute between the
United States and Great Britain.
But under tie famous Bryan treat
.es OF investigation Great Britain
IS given the right to discuss with
the United States any question
whatsoever through a joint COM
mission established for that pur-
pose. While many people in the
United States may regard the Bry-
an treaties aB a sort Of joke on
the senate, the British foreign Of
fee regards them as the solemn !
obligation OF che United States, and
would be sure to invoke the treat
les if any question arose over the
Interpretation of the Monroe doc
trine that affected Great Britain.
Is Extraordinary Fight.
Really an extraordinary fight has
developed between the executive
and legislative branches of the gov
eminent. with the peace treaty as
a background for the contest
There are many in congress. for
instance. who believe no action
whatsoever affecting the army or
navy or the lives of American cit
liens OF the United States should