The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-28
HUGHES OFFERS 4
RESERVATIONS To
VERSAILLES PACT
CONTINUED from First Page.l

Continued from First PaEe.l
seryations in your judgment should be
made 70 safeguard the interests Of our
country, In his letter. Senator Hale
asserts he wants to see some plan
devised whereby the United States may
safely enter the league OF nations"
In his reply, Mr.. Hughes states
there Is a plain need for a league of
nations He added that there is also
the immediate exigency to be consid-
cred" n that at is manifest sthat
every reasonable effort should be made
TO establish peace as promptly and to
bring about a condition in which Eu-
rope al resume its normal Industrial
activity.
II can see no reason why these OBJ
tects cannot be obtained without sac
ritcing the essential interests of the
United States" Mr.. Hughes continues.
There is a middle ground between
aloofness and injurious commitments
|. While regretting that Suitable" steps
have not been taken to formulate In
ternational legal principles and settle
ment OF disputes by impartial tribunals,
Mr.. Hughes declares there Is merit
enough in the proposed plan to make
II desirable TO secure 1t, II proper safe
guards can be obtained" He adds that
lit is just as futile to exaggerate its
value as 1t Is to see nothing but its
defects" In his opinion the proposed
covenant should be viewed "as a mere
beginning" but it is important that a
false start should not be made.
The question as to the validity Of re-
~servations has two aspects, says Mr..
Hughes. First, with respect to action
on our part which is essential to max
ing OF reservations and. second, as to
the effect OF reservations upon other
parties 10 the treaty.
"As to the first question, it Ia mani.
fest that attempted reservations will be
Intellectual unless they qualify the act
OF ratification sale Mr.. Hughes, ad-
ding that such reservations must con-
stitute part Of the instrument of rati-
fication.
II the proposed reservations are rea-
sonable, responsibility for defeat of the
treaty would lie with those who refuse
ne vote essential to the assent, in the
opinion OF Mr.. Hughes, who points out
that. on the other hand, IL the senate
gives its assent to the treaty with reser-
vations and President Wilson should re-
fuse concurrence, responsibility would
lie with him.
Pointing out that wnere a treaty Is
made on the part Of a number of ma
tons. they may acquire in a partial
ratification on the part of one or more,
Mr.. Hughes declares, statements TO
safeguard our interests which clarity
ambiguous clauses in the covenant car
meet with no reasonable objection"
Nor should we assume that a re-
~servation would lead to the failure OF
the treaty or compel a resumption OF
the peace conference, when the reserva-
ton leaves unimpaired the main pro-
visions OF the covenant and simply seeks
TO avoid any apparent assumption OF
obligation on our part to join In a war
at some indefinite time in the future
for a cause the merits OF which can
not now be foreseen,'' says Mr.. Hughes.
Taking up the subject matter of his
four reservations. MIR, Hughes said that
with regard TO article |. concerning the
right OF withdrawal from the league
there should be a clarifying statement
as a part of the ratification.
Article XIV, relating to domestic mat
tiers is also found by Mr.. Hughes to be
ambiguous.
Mr.. Hughes says he fully indorses
Elihu Roots proposed statement OF re;
~servation regarding article XXI, said
BY advocates OF the covenant to pre-
serve the Monroe doctrine, but adds
that Tin the view that alternate form
'lof statement may be helpful" he. sub
mits one OF his own The descriptive
phrase employed in the article Is mac.
curate and the meaning OF the article
Ii far from clear, according TO tht
MIR, Hughes also agrees with Mr.
Root that II would be desirable to elm
mate article 10 with its guaranty L
preserve against external aggression
the territorial integrity" OF all mem
bers OF the league,
II still think that article 10 Is .
, trouble breeder and not a peace max
err" says Mr., Hughes, adding tina
"democracies can not promise war af
ter the manner Of monarchs." and tina
, ut Is idle to attempt TO commit FREE
peoples to the making OF war In al
Unknown contingency, where such
! war may he found clearly opposed t
the dictates OF Justice"
article 10 is Objectionable bccaus,
IL is an illusory engagement" declares
I Mr.. Hughes, and we should not ente
into a guaranty which would expose u
\ to a charge OF bad faith"