Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-11

The entire republican membershiI
aided by ave democrats Is voting fol
certain reservations to the treaty
which is to bind the United States In a
league Of nations and Iowas two sena-
tors In response to request from the
Times Republican have explained the
reasons for their attitude. Both being
lawyers OF repute their judgment Is
worthy of consideration which they
summarize as follows:
cummins Fears Entangisments.
Editor Times Republican - / have
your letter of the S0th ultimo. 1t is not
an easy task to make a comprehensive
and at the same time an intelligent
statement Of my views upon the Ger
man treaty, and especially upon that
part known as the covenant for a
league of nations, within the limit you
suggest but am very glad to mention
some of the questions which seem to
me vital in considering the instrument
Allow me first to say that ! have
made two speeches in the senate upon
the subject, the first ono last February
at the time the president returned to
the United States with the original
draft Of what was known as n consti-
tuition for a league Of nations, and Sec
ond. made recently. was especially d.
rected to the changes which had been
made after the president returned to
Paris. enclose a copy of each of these
addresses. They will indicate my gen.
eral opinion of the proposal from the
beginning, for my first speech was one
OF the very early discussions Of an an
alytical character. AS stated in these
addresses. there are very many other
respects in which think the instru-
ment ought to be modified but the CHIEF
objections, from my standpoint. are
stated in these speeches.
There seems to be some confusion IN
the minds Of the people with regard to
the difference between an amendmnt
to the text of the treaty and a reserva-
ton embodied in the resolution of rat
ifcation. The general difference lies in
this, that an amendment to the text or
the treaty ordinarily changes 1t as be-
tween all the parties to the instrument,
whereas a reservation changes 1t only
with respect to the United States. That
is to say, a reservation states the con-
ditions under which the United states
viii! become a party. leaving the proNl-
sions and obligations untouched inSo-.
far as other nations which have slGheu
the treaty are concerned. From TINS
difference between an amendment anu
n reservation there follows distinc-
ton with reference to subsequent pro-
ceedinss on the part of the other ma
tons which have signed. In case OF
textual amendment the treaty must De
again submitted to the powers which
have signed it and their express as
sent must be indicated In some way.
In the case Of a reservation affecting
only the United States the other ma
lions will he bound IL they do not DIS,
sent affirmatively. In other words L.
reservations are adopted and we go
right on with meetings Of the councli
and assembly and nothing Is said or
done, the United States will be party
to the league upon the conditions we
have prescribed in our reservations.
It is quite true that an amendment
may be limited in it's effect to the
United States, and some Of the amend
ments proposed are Of that character
which furnishes chiefly the reason that
: have voted against some amendments
and for others. E
with this explanation OF what