Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-06

which all thoughtful Americans are
utterly weary.
The President has complained that
certain critics of the covenant do not
understand the English language. Ap-
parently he is amazed and irritated con-
cerning what he publicly regards as a
pretended density. There is perhaps a
hint of PROFESSIONAL intolerance here.
Foggy English is no phenomenon. Not
even the federal constitution is free from
it. Over the Interpretation of that
fundamental charter the most terrible
civil war in history was waged. The
Supreme Court has been exploring pre-
else meaning of phrases in this venerated
document for 1872 years.
Variant readings of the league pact,
therefore, scarcely warrant melodramatic
astonishment. Passage through the
crucibe of translation in order to satisfy
the polyglot nature Of humanity on this
planet must have been at times the
reverse of purifying process.
For diplomatic purposes French is
admittedly more lucid than English. 1t
is indeed quite possible that in the
Chamber of Deputies the covenant offers
fewer obscurities than in the Senate of
the United States. 1t is the imperative
duty of this nation to clear them up if
possible.
If there is any weakness in the four
reservations recommended, these are
chiefly artistic blemishes. Keen analysts
may charge part of the Senate commit
tees additions with redundancy. The
offense is hardly venal. 1t shrinks to
insignifcance beside the virtue of in
formative clarity on matters of vital
bearing on the future of the nation and or
the stability and progress of civilization
In the first reservation Americas "un.
conditional right to withdrawal from the
league upon the notice provided for ir
Article of the treaty" is explicitly anC
emphatically asserted. Assuming thai
the language of the pact admits of the
least doubt on this subject, quibblinl
marplots, should they arise in the future
are here completely disarined.
The right of refusal to assume undel
the provisions of the much-mooteC
Article x "any obligation to preserve thu
territorial integrity or political indie
pendence of any other country or tt
interfere in controversies between othel
nations whether members of the leagu,
or not and to accept no mandate" excep
by the action of Congress happens to b,
implied in Article V of the covenant de
claring that decisions at any meeting o
the assembly or the council shall requir
the agreement of all the members of tn
league represented at the meeting"
That, so far as this country is con
cerned, the basic decision shall rest wit
Congress can legitimately be deduce
from this context.
But plain speaking removes all pos
sihility of optional constructions. Amer
J lean and European mental processes hav
: differed before. They may do so agaiI
, A frank statement of the light in whic
, this country views both Article X an
, | Article v will give to our inevitabl
: acceptance of the treaty a clean bill G
! | verbal health.
Once more the important wording c
!, Article v implies no infringement {
: sovereignty and seems to indicate ths
: our jurisdiction over domestic affairs
: unshadowed. Hamlet was unsatisfied wit
Aseems." as" exerted the strongt
} appeal as 1t does on the Senate con
| mittee, which, in its third reservation