New-York tribune., 1919-07-23
Reservations Are
Opposed byMcNary
Senate Is Urged to Accept
article X Intact; Change
Might " eaken Covenant

WASHINGTON, July 22.-support-
ing the league of nations in Senate
speech to-day, Senator McNary, Re-
publican, of Oregon, urged that it be
accepted without any such amendments
or reservations as would "alter the
splendid purposes Of the covenant or
weaken it so far as it affects our
duties"
The Senate, he said could, without
harm, adopt certain reservations in
the form of interpretations" but should
not endanger the covenant by making
reservations that would vitality affect
important features. Article X, he said,
must be unimpaired because it was
the pillar section" Of the league
McNary Accepts Covenant
81 am stoutly in favor" said Mr. Nc
Nary, "of tie principle embodied in
any effort to insure the permanent
peace of the world and am willing to
accept the covenant of the league Of
nations contained in the peace treaty.
The time is back of us for a discussion
of this subject in general statements
OF the subllmlty of peace or indulging
with owlish wisdom the ominous pre-
dictlons of a disgraced and destroyed
republic. The people of America desire
to know what the covenant contains of
substance and will go there to obtain
their understanding.
"Of the objections take it that
Article is the most obnoxious and
productive of the most CONTROVERSY
The statement most generally made is
that this article collides with our Con-
sttutlon and runs across the path of
our sacred traditions. Repeatedly the
argument has been advanced that
Article y casts upon this government
an absolute obligation to 20 to war
under any conditions, however bcrcft
of justice. This indictment, in my
opinion, is untenablc.
by the force of another article in
the covenant the council, in arriving at
decision, will be governed by unani-
nous vote, the power of veto standing
between this country and an unwise
remedy.
"lndlsputably this provision casts
upon this country an undertaking to 20
to war to protect an associate of the
league from invasion through external
force, but this obligation is in no
proper sense a legal one, but purely a
moral obligation, entirely dependent
upon the condition that the cause of
the war and the war itself is violative
of the moral conscience of the Amcri-
can people.
'In no sense can the executive branch
of the government. aided by the Senate,
cast any legal obligation upon this or
any future Congress to pass a declara-
ton of war upon any nation, however
unjusty offending.
Obligation Merely Moral
"The moral force in the obligation i'm
posed upon the nations of the world, in
my opinion. will do much to chill the
ambitious designs of nations that here
tofore have been the cause Of cruel wars.
and for that reason shall oppose by
my vote any eradication OF Article X
from the covenant.
1T IS the pillar section Of the assoc-
alton of nations contemplated under the
league and is the assurance of mutual
support against any external aggression.
1t speaks the voice OF freedom among
the nations and guarantees to each it,,
full share Of sovereignty. 1t makes
possible and encourages the reduction of
armaments, as no nation will disarm
unless assured that it will not be
attacked by another nation.
doubt has risen with regard to the
understanding of certain contents of
the covenant. From the opponents OF
the league comes demand for amend
ments and reservations, without proper
regard for the results that will flow
from such course. An amendment
would mean such q substantial change
in some articles of tho covenant as to
require the concurrence of the signatory
nations thereto, and probably lead tc
delay and much controversy and possible
rejection.
"However, the Senate could, withou
postponing the day of the ratification
of the treaty or requiring its rcsub
mission to the other nations, by reso
luton place its Interpretation as to tht
meaning of articles in the league sus.
ceptible to one or more meanings"