The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-27
OPPONENTS NOW
VIRTUALLY ADMIT
LEAGUE WILL WIN
Republicans Are Centering
Hope Against Wilson Plan
in Qualifying Reservations
as to Boundary Guarantees.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
The News Sclmitar's Special Core.


WASHINGTON, June 27.-Scuttling
OF the German warships and the shifty
maneuvers Of the Germans In
ton with the signing of the peace
treaty have had a ~perceptible effect on
the controversy over the creation OF a
league Of nations.
Those who have imagined the. United
states could say goodbye to European
affairs with the mere signature OF a
peace treaty are beginning TO realize
the tremendous responsibilities involved
in making Germany keep her word,
Enforcement Of execution Of the peace
treaty Is giving concern. Those who
have been C%ontending from the outset
that spme machinery must be quickly
devised to keep an international con-
cert capable Of enforcing the treaty and
guaranteeing peace declare their argu-
ment for "A league Of nations to have
been INDICATED.
Out of the confusion which has de-
veloped the status Of the ~oovenant~in
the American congress several things
are very plain today.
Rallying Behind Root.
No longer is ii contended by oppo-
hents OF the league OF nations that they
can successfully postpone the establish
nent Of "A league OF powers. Extreme
n i~rreconeilable opponents like SEN
atOr Johnson of California, Republi-
can, and Reed of Missouri, Democrat,
may fight to the last ditch. but the re-
malnder Of the Republican o%pponentsl
seem to be rallying behind the sugges-
ton made by Elihu Root in his recent
letter TO Senator Lodge.
That letter was framed after con
ferences between VIII Hayes, Republi-
can national chairman, and the senate.
leaders. Knox himself is said to have
had a part in the actual drafting Of the
letter, 1t represents Republican view
point today or rather the position
which the party leaders are urging
their colleagues to assume.
What Republicans Say.
In a nutshell, Republicans win tell
you privately that, as Root indicated,
the treaty should be and will be rati-
fled. This means the league OF nations
included, But. with respect to the obi
cations and responsibilities of the
United States as a signatory to the
peace treaty and covenant, the Repub-
Heans hope to secure limitations. How
successful they will be depends to some
extent on the Willingness OF the other
powers to accept the reservations to be
made by the American senate.
Republican senators insist that the
United states can prevail upon Great
Britain and France TO eliminate article
~ OF the covenant, which would oblige
America to guarantee the boundaries of
the present war and the territorial in
tegrity OF the powers ~signatory to the
treaty and covenant. The best judges
themselves.
One Republican senator told me to-
day that he believed an expression
would be forthcoming or Officially
sought by senate resolution or other
wise inquiring II the other powers would
object TO the elimination OF articlg 10
or In lieu Of that its limitation for a
period Of five years.
Thus the senators would at last be-
come a sort Of party TO the. peace ne
gotiations, though the action would not
be inconsistent with precedent. for on
many occasions does the executive de-.
partment OF our government transmit
to a foreign country the views OF the
senate on a completed treaty in an
endeavor TO bring about ratification.
What Senate Might Do.
The senate, indeed. would want to
know what the European powers would
accept with respect to article 10 before
taking final and decisive action on the
ratifying resolution. Conoeivably, If the
european governments argue that
America can not shlrk her obligations
and that she Is in duty bound TO help
preserve the status quo In Eurone es-
pecially against the Germans, the ar.
gument over the retention OF article 10
will become very acute.
- VIZ FNihAuIs insisted, IneN might
throw the whole treaty and covenant
back into the peace conference. But
what Is most likely in such a %eontin-
gency is a simple reservation by the
United States senate that nothing In
the peace treaty or covenan shall in
any way be construed as amending the
constitution ~ the United tsat1s with
respect to the rights Of congress ID
authorize the use OF our military and
naval forces, ~
This would mean that congress would
have the right 10 say whether the
United States would contribute naval
or military force to guarantee Furonean
boundaries or the territorial interrity
OF nations in other parts OF the globe
Action by the executive branch Of the
government In suspendlng commercial
declarations and imposing an cconomIr
boycott on recalcitrant powers NIGH
In some cases be sufficient TO deter !
nation from practicing .aggresslon or
menacing the peace Of n~eighborine
No Longer Questioned.
Y the end the reservations and IlmI.
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