The Raymer enterprise., 1919-12-18
MATE RESERVATIONS
TO PEACE TREATY


deal Of the discussion Of the League
Of Nations has been based upon very
superficial reading tor none at all,
Of that document.
II man or editor was a democrat;
he denounced the opposition With tia
sneering remark that the .'oppcsitin
was playing politics." white repuI.-
licans almost retorted In kind that
"the administration was playing pol
itics."
Unfortunately there were too
many things said and done 10 .usify
the charge.
The reservations which the Senate
finally adopted. have been praised
and denounced with the same degree
OF enthusiasm, but II seems to us
with very little attention paid to
what the reservations really reserv-
cd.
From Harvey's Weekly we take
what purports to be the text Of the
preamble and Of the fourteen res
ervations as follows:
Preamble
Resolved (two-thtrds OF the Senate
concurring therein): that the Senate
advise and consent r. the ratification
Of the Treaty Of Peace with Germany
concluded at versa!ilcs on the 2sth
day Of June. 1919. subject to the fol-
lowing reservations. understandings
and interpretations which shall be
made part OF the instrument Of rati-
fication, which ratification is not to
take effect or bind the United States
until the said reservations and nm
derstandings adopted by the Senate
have been accepted ~ an exchange
Of notes as psrt and a condition
Of said resolutions o: ratification by
at least three OF the four principal
allied and associated Powers. to-wit.
Great Britain, Frame Italy and ia
pan.
Now come tn, IA reservations;
1. The United States SO under
stands and con ,trues Article | that
In easgO7 nn.Iss Z Wf.ndfaWal from
the Leas 10 I Ns1 ,ns as provided
in said a,iI ice the niied States
shall be the sole Judge as to wether
all its internal nblIs i,strs under
said covslni.. have been fulfilled,
and notice Of withdrawal by tae
United States may be given by con-
current resolution Of the Congress
Of the United States
2. The United States ASSUMES no
obligation TO preserve the territorial
integrity or political independence
Of any otner country OF to interfere
In controversies between nations
whether members OF the League or
not-nnder the provisions of Article
10. to employ military or naval fore
es OF the United States under any ar
ticle Of the Treaty. for any purpose,
unless in any particular case the Con-
gress, which under the Constitution.
has the sole power to declare war or
authorize the employment Of the
military or naval forces OF the Unit
ed States, shall by act or joint 1850
luton SO provide.
8. No mandate shall be accepted
by the United States under Article
Q. Part I, or any other provision II
the Treaty o. Peace with Germany,
except by action OF tn. Co ,grcss OF
the United Jtates.
1. The United States reserves 10
itself exclusively the right to decide
what questions are within its domes-
tic jurisdiction and declares that all
domestic and political questions re-
lating wholly or in part to Its inter-
nal affairs. including immigration,
labor, coastwise trafiic, the tariff,
commerce, the suppression Of the
traffic In women and children, and In
opium and other dangerous drugs,
and all other domestic questions, are
hlely within the Jurisdiction Of the
ii led States and not under this
Treaty to be submitted In any way
either to arbitration or to he con-
sideration Of the council or Of the
assembly OF the League Of Nations.
or any agency thereof, or to the de-
cision or recommendation Of any
other Power.
s. The United States will not sub
init to arbitration or to inquiry by
the assembly or by the council Of the
League Of Nations. provided for in
said Treaty Of Peace, any questions
which in the Judgement Of the Unit
ed States depends upon or relates to
its long-established policy, common
ly known as the Monroe Doctrine;
said doctrine is to be interpreted by
the United States alone and ID here
by declared to be wholly outside the