Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-20


urged in statement by the president
at the outset of the conference This
was necessary he held so that a peace
basis might be reached and the other
treaties under negotiations now at
Versailles We're being delayed untn
the world learned what would happen
to the treaty with Germany. He said
he saw no reasonable objection to
senate reservations. but thought It
unwise to incorporate them in the
ratification itself.
In replying to a long series of ques-
tions by Senator Brandegee, republi-
can, Connecticut, the president was
led into an exhaustive discussion of
the co-mingling of moral and legal
obligations in treaties.
"A moral obligation" said Mr.. Will
son, lis, of course, superior to n
legal obligation, and if | may say so,
has a greater binding force. In every
moral obligation there is an element
of Judgment in a legal obligation
there is no element of judgment"
Senator Brandegee suggested there
was no important distinction because
we are obligated in any event"
II think it is of the greatest i'm
portance." replied the president be
cause the element of judgment enters
into it."
"But | am assuming" returned Mr..
Brandegee, 'if the council should ad-
wise to do a certain thing. and con-
gress refused to do it, and If every
other nations representative assembly
can do the same thing. it seems to me
like a rope of sand and not an effect
i've tribunal which would result in
promoting peace"
''The reason ! do not agree with
you" Mr. Wilson replied, "is that !
do not think such a refusal would
likely often occur. / believe it would
be only upon the gravest grounds
and in case congress is right 1 am in
differen. to foreign criticism"
Senator Harding republican, Ohio.
suggested there was no necessity of
written compact for this republic t.
fulfill its moral obligations to civiliza-
ton" to which the president rejoined:
But it steadies the whole world by
its promise beforehand that will sta1d
with other nations of similar judg-
ment to maintain right in the world"
Doesn't Discuss Rumania.
When Senator Brandegee asked the
presidents opinion on the concrete
case of the present trouble between
Rumania and Hungary, the president
said he could not answer because that
would involve passing Judgment on
foreign political question in way he
consi iered inadvisable.
Senator Rrardegee also called at
tention that many authorities on in
ternatIoEal law had differed as to the
meaning cf various provisions of the
treaty and that Charles f. Hughes,
William H. Taft and Elihu Root had
suggested reservations. but the presi-
alsss inciatsAsa thaS ses III ssi - s1t 5.lr,
fectly safe to leave the present Ian
guage TO the Interpretation of future
statesmen without fear that the Unit
ed States would suffer by their con-
struction.
When Senator Fall, republican, New
Mexico, suggested that any amend
ments to the league covenant would
not require Germany's assent as she
was not a member of the league. the
president replied he had never
thought of that feature, He dis
agreed with Senators Brandegee and
Knox, republican, Pennsylvania, who
asserted that the treaty would come
into force among all the signatories as
soon as three had ratified it.
It
committee members questioned the
president and afterward they stayed
for luncheon at the White House.
When the recess was taken there had
been no discussion whether the meet
ing was to be resumed during the
afternoon but later 1t was decided not
to do so. There was no intimation
tonight whether the committee would
seek a further conference. Tomor-
row it will resume its open hearings
at the capitol.
Fall Leaves Questions.
Senator Fall left with Mr.. Wilson
list of questions which the latter
said he would reply to at length later.
They concern the powers of the presi-
dent or congress to declare state of
peace, details of the resumption of
trade and diplomatic relations with
Germany, what disposition Is to be
made of the German colonies and the
need for American representation on
various European reconstruction CON-
missions.
The presidents declaration of q
compelling moral obligation under the
league was emphasized in a statement
issued Jointly tonight by Senators
Borah, Idaho, and Johnson, California,
republican members of the commit
tee and two of the bitterests oppo-
nents to the treaty in It's present form.
They declared the days testimony had
borne out their claim that the league
would lead to interminable foreign
complications. They also pointed out
that Senator Johnson had developed
in the days meeting that good part
of the territorial settlement resulting
from the war was yet to be deter
mined
The arrangements for publishing a
transcript OF the discussion which
grew out of suggestion from the
committee that senators be not re-
quired to keep the proceedings in con-
fidence, had Mr.. Wilson's personal
supervision. After the committee had
departed he went to the White House
basement where the newspaper coz
respondents were waiting for the last
of the stenographic report. and asked
whether everything there was going
II came down." he said to the cor
respondents, ito inquire of you gem
tlemen If the report of the conference
was handled the way you wanted"
President Wilson told the foreign |
relations committee at the outset of
his conference today that he could see
no reasonable objection" to interpre-
tations Of how the United States ac-
cepts the league Of rations provided |
such interpretations did not form a
part of the formar ratification itself.
If interpretations were part of the
formal ratification, the president con-
tended, long delays would follow as
other governments would have to