The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-20

abroad followed at that point, after
which Senator Fail suggested that res
ervations to the league covenant could
be met, so far as Germany was con-
eerned by her decision later on as to
whether she would join the league.
The President; II differ with you there,
| senator. One of the reasons for putting
the league in the treaty was that Ger
many was not going to be admitted to
the league Immediately. and we felt that
| 1t was very necessary that we should get
| her acknowledgements eptance of the
| league as an international authority,
partly because we were excluding her, so
that she would thereafter have no ground
] for questioning such authority as the
| league might exercise under its cove
nants."
| Senator Fall: Germany is out of the
! league. Any amendment proposed by
! the other members of the league prior to
her coming into the league would not be
submitted to her, would it, she not being
member"
The President: II will admit that that
point had not occurred to me. No, she
would not"
RELATIONSHIP EXISTS
Senator Hitchcock: did 1 understand
| your first reply to Senator Fall to be that
Germany under this treaty already had
relationship to the league by reason of
| it's international character, and it's par
| ticipation in number of questions that
Germany was interested in?"
! The President: Yes"
Senator Harding: IF there is nothing
| more than a moral obligation on the
part of any member of the league, what
avails Articles 10 and r."
The Presidsnt; why, senator, 1t is
surprising that that question should be
asked. If we undertake an obligation we
are bound in the most solemn way to
carry it out There is a national good
conscience in such a matter. l should
think that was one of the most serious
things that could possibly happen.
my understanding when l speak OF
regal obligation, I mean one that spe-
officially binds you to do a particular
thing under certain sanctions. That is
legal obligation. Now moral obliga-
ton is, of course, superior to a legal
obligation and if I may say so, has
greater binding force. In every moral OBJ
legation there is an element of judge
ment; in a legal obligation there is no
element of judgment"
The President thought a moral oblga-
ton. because of the element of judg-
ment, less likely to involve the country
in armed participation in trifling mat
ters.
The senators got into a discussion over
whether Congress would decide wh5-
course the United States would take. Sem
ator Hitchcock suggesting that after the
American representatives on the council
had concurred in the councils recon-
mendation sit would then be up 70
Congress to decide"
The President: you are quite right
1t is inconceivable to me that, unless
the opinion of the United States, the
moral and practical judgments of the
people of the United States approved, the
representatives of the United States on
the council should vote any such advice
as would lead us into war"
Replying to Senator Rorah the PresI-
dent said the defensive treaty with
France rested on the same basis as
Articles 10 and 11-moral obligations
BOUND BY TREATIES
Senator Borah asked if Great Britain
and France insisted upon maintaining
at the peace conference the secret treaties
with Japan regarding Shantung.
The President: IT will put it in this
way: They felt that they were bound
by them. But when they involved gen
eral interests such as they realized
were involved they were quite willing,
and indeed I think DESTROYS. that they
should be reconsidered with the con-
sent. so far as they were concerned,
of the Other parties.
Senator Moses asked whether a
secret agreement with reference t,
Avlona was produced at Versailles.
| The President replied that he had
heard of it. but never had seen it.
| Senator Swanson: would it be
proper to tell US of your understand
ing with Japan as to the return of
Shantung?"
The President: "I have published
he Of TO n in ~
Senator" CIere the President re-
peated IT'D
To a query as to what sovereignty
Japan retained in Shantung. the Presi-
dent replied:
"She has not retained sovereignty
over anything. I mean she has prom
ised not to- Senator Rorah has asked
whether this understanding was oral
or otherwise. This was technical y
oral but literally written and formu
ted and the formulation agreed
upon"
Senator Johnson: when, Mr. Presi-
dent. is the return to be made?"
CANNOT ANSWER QUESTION
The President. THAT was left I'M
decided. but we were assured al tue
time that it would be as soon as pos
sible"
Senator Johnson did not the
JAPANESE ueCllne TO Tx any I'd Ue :!
The President: "They did at that
time but 1 think it is fair to them
to say thye could not at that time say
when it would be-"
Senator Johnson asked whether the
economic privileges retained would not
give Japan "a fair mastery" over the
province.
| The President replied that while he did
not feel qualified to judge. he would
regard that tad xyiau -
| Senator Knox: "Mr. President the eco
nomic privileges that they originally ac-
CURED in Korea, and subsequently in
inner and outer Mongolia, and in north
ern and southern Manchuria have almost
| developed into a complete sovereignty
over those countries, have they not?"
THE President: "In the absence of the
league of nations they have"
| Senator Knox: You think the league OF
nations would have prevented that?"
| The President: II am confident II
would"
Senator New: Mr.. President does not
this indefinite promise of Japan's sug-
gest the somewhat analogous case o!
! EEgland's occupation of Malta She
has occupied Malta for something like a
century, I believe, under a very similar
promise"
The President: ct hope you will pardon
me if do not answer that question"
| Senator Fall asked who would defend
| the mandate territories against externa
aggression under the league, and the
President replied that primarily the duty
| would rest with the mandatory power
Replying to another question regarding
| the form of Japans promises to return
Sha ntung, the President said:
They are evident in a process verba
! of the so-called council of four"