The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-09
DECKS CLEARED FOR ACTION.


responsibility whic htheir oath of office imposes.
The treaty been ordered reported to the Senate with
four textua amendments and four vital and specific
vatons in the ratifying resolution Furthermore it is
provided that this ratification is not to take effect or
bind the United States until the said following reserva
tons and understandings have been accepted as part
of and condition of said instrument of ratification by
at least three of the four principal allied and associated
powers towt: Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan
The textual amendments transfer the German rights
in the Shantung peninsula China instead of to Japan
eouaze Great Britans and Americas representation in
the league assembly; decline American participation in
the various commissions of the league and prohibit Great
Britain her domnons from participation in the settle
ment of any dispute which may arise between the United
States and Canada.
The reservations adopted equally definite. They
reserve to the United States the unconditional right to-
withdraw from the league of nations upon notice. relieve
the United States of any obligation, under Article X
assisting the preservation of the political independence
of the territorial integrity of other nation except by
action of Congress- to this country the sole right
to decide what domestic questions within the exc-
ve jurisdiction of this country and decline to submit
for arbitration inquiry any question which this coun
try believes to involve the Monroe doctrine.
Senator Hitchcock administration leader in the foreign
relations committee complains that the reservations are
in effect amendments the treaty He is correct in this
assumption. For they transform certain provisions OF
the treaty from vague debatable commitments to spe-
cfc concrete declarations incapable of misinterpreta-
TONS even though the text of the instrument is not
altered
The action of the committee in ordering report on
the treaty the status of the controversy over the
question of ratification. Prompt disposal of the matter
is assured if the President will agree to the qualifications
proposed further delay can only be caused by the Pres
dent maintaining the unyeding attitude and insisting
upon unconditional ratification.
The case is now ready for argument and submission
to the jury The proposed exual amendments rest upon
clear conception of right and justice President VIII
son has admitted that he did not relish the idea of Shan
ung passing under the control of Japan but was obliged
accede to it matter of expediency Therefore he
should not hesitate to help rectfy this That the
British empire should not have more votes in the league
assembly than the United States will be conceded gen.
PLoPOSol VI L~i
ons or the mother country should take part in the set
ement of any dispute which might arise between the
United States and Canada And that this country should
be averse to accepting membership upon commissions
which will have the responsibility for settling European
Disputes when under the Monroe doctrine she denies the
right of European states obtrude in disputes in the
western hemisphere is but consistent and right.
-.
stated that the peace commissioners in agree
ment and full understanding If that be the case what
possible objection there be to stating these conditions
plainly to leave not the least possible for
msnterpretaton? If the United States may withdraw
from the league upon giving the requisite notice and if
she the sole Judge of whether she has fulfilled her obi
cations why not say in terms? If obligation to
assist in preserving the territorial integrity and political
independence of European nations rests entirely with the
decision of Congress, which under Constitution is the
sole warmakng power what reason is there that this
should not be frankly stated? Likewise, if to-
decide what domestic questions and to reserve
them for exclusive jurisdiction is it in the interest
of amity and complete harmony to have the fact stated
plainly? As to the Monroe doctrine do not propose
to yield ioa of its scope authority to the league
of nations to any individual power 1t is the buwark
of safety of the American nation. Why not say much
in terms?
If President Wilson and his supporters will concur in
the proposed qualifications seems quite probable that
he curta his Western tour if he DESIRES and come
home to find the treaty ratified and lying upon his desk
ready for submission the principal allied and associated
powers for their acceptance 1t is likely that those
senators, most of Them who opposed to the entire
proposal for league of nations ready to yield their
individual predictions and vote for ratification with the
qualifications suggested by the foreign relations COM