Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-10

the obligations to the league. L,
must be made perfectly clear tha'
the United States alone is to De
termine as to the fulfllment of its
obligations, and it's right of with
drawal must therefore be uncondl-
| tional, as provided in the reservation.
"'2. The United States declines tic
assume, under the provisions OF Ar
ticle x, or under any other artlcle'
! any obligation to preserve the terri
! torial integrity or political indepen-
| dence of any other country or to in
| terefere in controversies between
| other nations, members of the league
or not, or to employ the military or
naval forces of the United States In
| such controversies, or to adopt eco
nomic measures. for the protection OF
any other country, whether member
of the league or not, against exter-
nal aggression or for the purpose OF
coercing any other country, or for NE
purpose of Intervention in the I'M
ternal conflicts or other controversies
which may arise in any other country
and no mandate shall be accepted by
the United States under article ~
part ], Of the treaty of peace with
Germany, except by action OF the
Congress of the United States
Meets Vital Objection.
This reservation is intended to
meet the most vital objection to the
league covenant as it stands. Under
no circumstances must there be any
legal or moral obligation upon the
United States to enter into war or TO
send it's Army and Navy abroad or
without the unfettered action OF Con-
gress to impose economic boycotts on
other countries. Under the Constltu-
ton of the United States the Con-
l., Il ar
war, and all bills to raise revenue
or affecting the revenue in any way
must originate in the House of Rep
resentatives. be passed by the Senate
and receive the signature OF the Fres-
ident These constitutional rights o.
Congress must not be impaired by any
agreements such as are presented IN
| this treaty, nor can any opportunity
of charging the United States win
| bad faith he permitted No Amerlcau
soldiers or sailors must be sent &c
! fight in other lands at the bidding OF
a league of nations. American llVes
must. not be sacrificed except by the
will and command of the American
| people acting through their constltu-
tional representatives in Congress-.
| 'tThis reservation also covers the
subject of mandates. According &c
| the provisions of the covenant OF tne
league the acceptance of a mandate
i -
iwho shall have authority to refuse OF
J to accept a mandate for any country
: the covenant of the league is silent
The decision as to accepting a man
i date must rest exclusively Wlthln the
control of the Congress of the unlteo
States, as the reservation provides, and
must not be delegated, even by infer
ence, to any personal agent or TO any
delegate or commissioner.
Right to Decide Questions.
"'3. The United States reserves to
itself exclusively the right to decide
what questions are within its domes-
tic jurisdiction, and declares that all
domestic and political questions re-
lating to it's affairs, including immi-
grafton, coastwise traffic. the tariff
Commerce and all other domestic
questions, are solely within the juris-
diction of the United States and are
not under this treaty submitted in
any way either to arbitration or to
the consideration of the council or OF
the assembly of the league of ma
mendation of any other power.
This reservation speaks for itself
It is not necessary to follow out here
all tortuous windings. which. to those
who have followed them through the
labyrinth, disclose the fact that the
league under certain conditions will
have power to pass upon and decide
questions of immigration and tariff, as
well as the others mentioned in the
reservation. 1t is believed by the
committee that this reservation re-
iieves the United States from any
dangers or any obligations in this
direction.
THE fourth and last reservation is
as follows:
"a. The United States declines to
submit for arbitration or inquiry by
the assembly or the council of the
league of nations provided for in said
treaty of peace any questions which
in the judgment of the United States
depend Upon or relate to it's long-eS-
tablished policy. commonly known as
the Monroe doctrine; said doctrine is
to be interpreted by the United States
alone. and is hereby declared to be
wholly outside the jurisdiction of said
fected by any provision contained in
the said treaty of peace with Ger
many
1.-THE purpose of this reservation is
clear. 1t is intended to preserve the
Monroe doctrine from any interfer-
ence or Interpretation by foreign pow
ers. AS the Monroe doctrine has pro-
tected the United States, so, it is be-
lieved by the committee. will this
reservation protect the Monroe doc
trine from the destruction with which
covenant of the league and leave it,
where it has always been. within the
sole and complete control of the
United States.
Covenant Called Alliance.