Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-08-19
|MAY INTERPRET
TREATY AS We
UNDERESTIMATE
President Says No Objection il
Not Part Of Ratification
HE EXPLAINS ARTICLE TEN
Council Of League Can Only
"Advise" As to Action
of Body
VOTE MUST BE UNANIMOUS
Opposition of United States
Alone Could Hold Up Any
Action
VOTE MUST BE UNANIMOUS
Bu The AssootateA Press.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 19-Unde1
conditions without precedence in the
history of American treaty making
President Wilson and the Senate For-
eign Relations Committee met today
in the East Room of the White House
to talk over the treaty with Germany
and its League of Nations Covenant
Senator Lodge sat beside the Presi>
dent.
The President had set 10 o'clock az
the hour for beginning the confer-
ence, and the committee members
arrived at the White House sepa-
rately.
The President told the COMMITTEES
at the outset of the conference that
he could see no reasonable objec-
tion" to Interpretation of how United
States accepts the League of Nations,
provided such interpretations do not
form a part of the formal ratification
itself
If interpretations were part of the
formal ratification. he continued, long
delays would follow as other govern
ments would have to accept in ef~
1 feet the language of the senate as the
language of the treaty before ratifi.
| cation would be complete" Most Of
the interpretationsa3s1-- -sss7u seems to
him to suggest the plain meaning OF
the instrument ITSELF"
The much discussed article ten, the
President told the senators was not OF
doubtful Interpretation when read in
connection with the whole covenant.
The council, he said, could only sad-
wise" and as Ats action must be unan-
imous the affirmative vote of the
United States would be necessary to
any question affecting it.
Article sixteen he said provided that
where there is dispute found to be
solely within the jurisdiction of one
of the parties, under international law,
the leagues council shall so report and
make no recommendation for its set
tlemept immigration, tariff, and the
like, the President said, clearly came
under that provision.
The President told the committee
that the Leagues council would have
nothing whatever to do in deciding
whether the United States had fulfill
ed its obligations in case OF with
drawal from the league.
After greeting the committee men1-
bers, the President read his prepared
statement. Senator Lodge briefly ex-
psained that the purpose of the conn
mittee in coming to the White House
was for more information on cer-
tain points.
Two teams of stenographers. one
provided for the White House and ono
w lnc SOtiihiltCC W CAC PtS<SitA "
port the conference. The president
arranged to serve lunch to his guests
after the conference was over.
The President said the United
. States would have complete freedom
of choice as to the application OF
force in carrying out article 10 of the
league covenant.
Replying to Senator Fall, who sug-
gested that as Germany was not q
member of the League of Nations,
amendment to the league covenant
should not be submitted to her and
she would not have to give her con-
sent, the President said: II will adj
NIT that that point had not occurred
to me. No, it would not"
Explaining Article IL. under which
the league could take any action
deemed appropriate in case war
occurred or was threatened. the Presi-
dent said the action contemplated all
so would rest entirely on moral OBJ
legation.
After the President had finished
Senator Lodge said: "Mr. President.
so far as I am personally concerned
yes, and l think I represent perhaps
the majority of the committee in that
respect. We have no thought of en-
tering upon an argument as to the
Interpretation OF any points, but the
comnsittee was very desirous of get
ting information on. certain points
which seem not clear and on which
they thought information would be
of value to have in regard to the
treaty, which they. I think | may say
for myself and others, desire to has
ten in every possible way
Your reference to the necessity
of action leads me to ask one ques-
tion. If we have to restore the world
it is necessary. assume. that there
should be treaties with Austria, Hum
gary, Turkey and Bulgaria Those
treaties are all more or less connecr-
ed with the treaty with Germany.
The question l should like to ask is,
.What the prospects are of receiving
those treaties for action ?"