Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-28
HUGHES SUGGESTS NUMBER OF
RESERVATIONS IN ACCEPTING
PEACE TREATY WITH COVENANT
Sees The Necessity For A
League OF Nations And
Thinks That 1t Can Be Oh
tanned Without Sacrificing
Interests OF The United
States.

Washington, July 2S.-A number Of
reservations to the League Of Nations
covenant has been suggested by
Charles Evans Hughes of New York,
of July "a, to Senator Frederick Hale
of Maine. The opinion, as shown by
the correspondence made public here
today, was sought by the senator in
letter of July 18. The senator wrote
that he felt certain that considerably
more than one-third of the senate
would refuse to ratify the peace treaty
with the covenant as it now stands
but that he, personally did not want
opinion as to the validity Of reserva-
tions to the league covenant and as
to what those reservations should be.
League Is Needed.
There is plaineneed of a League Of
Nations" Mr.. Hughes wrote in reply,
''in order to provide for the adequate
development of International law, for
creating and maintaining organs of
national justice and the machinery of
conciliation and conference, and for
giving effect to measures Of interna-,
tional cooperation which from time
to time may be agreed upon.
II perceive no reason why these OBJ
jects cannot be obtained without sac
rificing the essential interests of the
United States. There is a middle
ground between aloofness and injur-
Gus commitments.
Il think that the prudent course is
to enter the proposed league with
reservations of a reasonable charac-
should meet ready assent, and thus to
establish a condition of amity at the
earliest possible moment.
Reservations would be Intellectual
unless they constitute a part of the
instrument of ratification.
''If the senate should adopt reser-
vations by a majority vote the let
will be made a part of the proposed
resolution of assent to the treaty and
the question will then be whether the
senate will give its consent, with these
reservations, by the requisite two
thirds VOTE, If the proposed reserva-
tions are reasonable, the responsibility
for the defeat of the treaty, If it is de-
the vote essential to the assent. 1t
the senate gives its assent to the
treaty with reservations, the concur
renee of the president will still be
necessary as ratification will not he
- his action, and f1Es
responsibility foff u rsftskl to giy4 the
ratification with the reserxations as
ouopIeu ny LIE senate as part OF tne
instrument ofsrAtff1cation, would thus
lie with the president"
In case OF rAtificationswit reserva-
tons the other parties to the treaty
would be notified he continued AS a
/ contract the treaty would bind only
those who consentto it.
Gives An Idea.
After outlining his opinions on vari-
GUS articles Of the covenant Mr..
Hughes. wrote that reservations and
interpretations might be in some such
form as the following
THE senate of:the U. S. of America
advises and consents to the ratifica-
tion of said treaty with the following
a reservations and understandings as to
it's Interpretation and effect to be
made part Of the instrument of rat-
fication.
First: That whenever two years
notice of withdrawal from the League
of Nations shall have been given, as
the power giving the notice shall
cease to be member Of the league or
subject to the obligations of the
covenant of the league, at the time
specified in the notice, notwithstand-
ing any claim charge or finding of
the non-fulfillment of any internation-
=. al obligation or of any obligation un-
OeT Sdlu Covenant, PROVIDED, however,
that such withdrawal shall not release
the power from any debt; or liability
heretofore incurred.
Second. That questions relating to
immigration, or the imposition of
duties on imports where such ques-
tions do not arise out Of any interna-
quired by said covenant to submit its
policies regarding questions which it
deems to be purely American ques-
tons to the League Of Nations or any
of its agencies, and that the United
States of America may oppose and
prevent any acquisition by any non
American power by conquest, pur-
chase or in any other manner Of any
|, territory. possession or control in the
western hemisphere.
Fourth. That the meaning of
article X Of the covenant of the
League of Nations is that the mem
bers of the league are not under any
tional engagement, are questions of
domestic policy, and these and any
other questions which, according to
International law. are solely within
the domestic Jurisdiction are not to
be submitted for the consideration or
action Of the League of Nations or Of
.any of it's agencies ysa
: Third. That the meaning of
article XXI OF the covenant Of the
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