The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-27
RESERVATIONS TO
TREATY MAY SET
BAD PRECEDENT


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tContinued From first Page,D
known fact that Cen. PershIne was sent
INTO Mexico on a punitive expedition
when villa attacked Columbus. n. M.
ana authority Of congress was not
asked. y
There may be much debate about the
sendlng OF American troops to Siberia
AFTER an armistice with Germany had
been signed, or the landing of Ameri-
can marines on the Adfiatic coast, be-
cause, technically, the United States is
still In a state Of war, but there Is no
doubt that inside congress a determined
feeling TO control at all times the use
OF military and naval forces has found
expression here and there I'm the dozen
reservations tackled on to the peace
ratification.
But while aiming at specific cases
N which they think the executive power
mas not been properly used, congress
has gone TO the other extreme In re-
stricting the action Of the executive.
Absolutely nothing can be done, for ex-
ample, under the language Of one Of the
reservations to help preserve the terri
torial integrity of any country in Cen
tral 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 Mon
roe doctrine, congress insists that no
American president shall be permitted
hereafter to apply the doctrine without
consent of congress.
This Will prove troublesome to many
Republicans who have always argued
that the western hemisphere was the
exclusive domain Of the United states
and that an American president could
send our fleet and its marines anywhere
IN the North and South Atlantic without
waiting for action by congress. Now it
VIII be possible for obstructive Demo-
cats-for they will succeed to the du-
ties Of obstruction just as soon as the
Republicans get a president In the
White House-to hamstring a Repub-
lican executive and require a vote of
congress before any authorization is
granted to use the army or navy any
where in any dispute with a member
state of the league Of nations.
None OF these things were probably
Intended by the Republicans, but in
their anxiety to show their disapproval
OF tho use which Mr.. Wilson made OF
the executive power they would, II a
Roosevelt were president, deprive him,
Tor instance, of even using his own
discretion in applying the big stick to
blNhVNt fIlCI lCdIl interests dDTOdU4 Inc
reservations now proposed practically
state that In all disputes hereafter with
members of 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 doc
trine itself. Under the terms Of one
reservation 1t is stated e%mphatically
that the United States Twill not submit
TO arbitration or inquiry by the assem-
bly, or council Of the league of nations
any question which in the judgment of
the United States depends upon or re-
lates to its long established policy COM
monty known as the Monroe doctrine"
Now 1t so happens that the United
states has already signed treaties with
80 of the principal nations of the globe.
with the exception Of only Germany and
Japan, requiring the United States to
submit to a years inquiry all questions
In dispute that may arise between this
country and any of the 30. According
to the provisions of the covenant, pre-
Vious treaties become invalid only II
they are inconsistent with the language
Of the treaty itself. A nice question
for International lawyers to decide now
is whether the senate proposes to abro-
gate the 30 treaties insofar as they
might apply to the Monroe doctrine or
whether the senate means that the
United states will submit a dispute
about the Monroe doctrine to ~investi-
cation n inquiry when an individual
nation Is concerned me will deny the
same privilege to the collective body OF
nations.
For instance, the senators say they
do not want to give Great Britain the
privilege Of interpreting the Monroe
doctrine In the event of a dispute be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain. Blu under the famous Bryan
treaties OF investigation, Great Britain
is given the right to discuss with the
United states any question whatsoever
through a joint commission established
for that purpose.
While many people in the United
States may regard the Bryan treaties
as a sort Of a joke on the senate, the
British foreign office regards them as
the solemn obligation of the United
States, and would be sure to invoke
the treaties II any question arose over
the Interpretation of the Monroe doc
trine that affected Great Britain.
Really an extraordinary fight has de.
veloped between the executive and
Legislative branches Of the government
with the peace treaty as a background
for the contest. There are many in con-
gress, for instance, who believe no &C
ton whatsoever affecting the army OF
navy or the lives of American citizens
In the United states should be taken
without the specific approval of con
gress. But oftentimes American citt-
zens in foreign countries need protec.
TOMAS in Mexico, or as 1t happened
on the high seas when the McLemore
resolution proposed to warn Americana
off ocean-going vessels whilst the Ger
man submarine wrought its havoc,
In nine cases out Of ten congress de
bates and debates while immediate &C,
ton Ia needed, But on the other hanc
to permit the executive to use his di'
r~ection has resulted in abuses. Eu'
ropean governments with the parlia'
mentary system Of governments have
no such dilemma. for while they lodge
much power in their prime ministers Of
prem!ors, he Is directly responsible a.
all times to his national legislature anC
can be recalled or turned out of Office
whenever his actions do not meet witt
the approval OF a majority Of his par
lament, And in a general election thu
parliament can be changed in person
mel and an executive can be yindicatet
at the polls at any time.
nut In tho limited States none o