The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-09-19
THE POINTS OF AGREEMENT
(New York Tribune.)


The action of the senate committee
with respect to the covenant of the
league of nations shows how narrow
is the issue that divides the debaters.
The committees decisions make ir-
relevant many of the things said on
both sides Of the great controversy.
The two elements have argued them
selves close to agreement
1t is agreed that there is to be rati-
fication. Not member of the commit
tee is recorded as opposed to ratifica-
tion. The much-abused and caricatur-
ed Borah voted for ratification: so did
the terrible johnson and the equally
terrible Brandegee. The "pygmies" of
the senate are all ratifiers and don't
care who knows it. There is no con-
spiracy to defeat the treaty and lacer-
ate the heart of the world
Not only is there agreement as to
ratification, but agreement as to the
wisdom of explanations which shall
define more clearly than is done by
the vague language of the covenant
the obligations this country assumes.
Senator Hitchcock has indicated his
willingness to accept resolutions, II
separately passed by the senate,
which are to the same effect as the
committees reservations.
If it is proper to inform the world
as to this country's understanding OF
the covenant by solemn resolutions
why is it improper to convey the same
information in another way?
The issue thus is reduced to how
the world should be told what it is
agreed il should be told The Presi-
dent says it should be by separate
resolutions; the senate says it should
be in the instrument of ratification.
The President would give notice by
publication, as il were: the senate
majority by special delivery letter,
10 be duly receipted for. Wherein is
any great difference? If the interpret
ing resolutions of Senator Pittman
are honest, objection to the contents
of the reservations would seem fore
closed.
The prologue to the reservation
raises different question. 1t seems
superfuous to ask the other powers
expressly to agree to acceptance OF
the proposed reservations. In the
Algeciras ratification the reservations
were left to be tacitly accepted In
the South African slave trade rati-
hcation the reservations were mere
ly assented To by the foreign offices
OF other governments. The require
ment that other nations shall express
ly take notice of our reservations thus
seems suhplnsage and introduces an
unnecessary complication. The re-
quirement can be exercised without
weakening or destroying the reser-
vations.
The ratification the senate proposes
would leave untouched the affirmative
and valuable parts of the covenant II
would merely make more clear what
the president has contented is already
clear--namely, that this country as
sumcs no obligation at war with our
constitution or destroying future lib-
erty of national action. Otherwise the
covenant would stand.
As TO the amendments reported by
The committee, these. it is to me not
ed. arc not parts oC the ratifying re-
solution. They probably do not COM
mand the support of majority Of
he senate and AN he voted upon wit
out effecting either the ratification
or the reservations.
On what grounds will the President
be able to attack the four fundamen-
tai reservations agreed on by the
committee? He has admitted that
are sound in principle. He has said
'hat the language of the treaty may