Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-07-23
OREGON REPUBLICAN
DECLARES ARTICLE
TEN PILLAR SECTION
Denies That United States Is
Bound to Go to War by Its
Provisions.


day Senator McNary, republican. Ore
gon, urged that it be accepted without
any such amendments as would "alter
the splendid purposes of the covenant
or weaken it SO far as it affects our
duties.
"The senate said the speaker,
''could without harm adopt certain res
ervations in the form of interpreta-
tons. but should not endanger the cove
nant by making reservations that would
vitally affect important features. ArtI-
Gle ten,' he said. must be unimpaired
because it was the Pillar section of the
league.
Il am stoutly in favor" said Mr.. Nc
Nary, 'of the principles embodied in any
effort to ensure the permanent peace of
the world, and / am willing to accept the
covenant of the league of nations con-
tanned in the peace treaty.
The time is back of us for a discus
sion of this subject in general state
ments of the sublimity of peace. or in
dulging with owlish wisdom the ominous
predictions of disgraced and destroyed
republic. The people of America desire
to know what the covenant contains of
substance and will go far TO obtain their
understanding.
Objection Is UntenabIe.
''0f the objections / take it that ar
ticle ten is the most obnoxious and pro-
ductive Of the most controversy. The
statement most generally made is that
this article eoilides with our constitu-
ton and runs across the path of our sa-
cred traditions. Repeatedly the argu-
mont buc haan ndyanpui rhaf arfi ri.
ten casts upon this government an alb
solute obligation to go to war under any
conditions however bereft of justice.
This Indictment, in my opinion, is un-
tenable.
by the force Of another article in
the covenant the council. iii arriving at
decision will be governed by unani-
nous vote, the power of veto standing
between this country and an unwise
remedy
"IndispuMbly this provision casts upon
this country an undertaking TO go to war
to protect an associate of the league from
invasion thru external force. but this obli-
CATION is in no proper sense legal one,
bur purely a moral obligation, entirely
dependent upon the conditions that the
cause of the war and the war itself is
violative of the moral conscience of the
American people.
Moral Force Imposed.
In no sense can the executive branch
of the government aided by the senate,
cast any legal obligations upon this or any
future congress to pass declaration Of
war upon any nation however unjustly
offending
The moral force in the obligation i'm
posed upon the nations of the world, in
my opinion. will do much to chill the am
bilious designs Of nations that hereto
fore have been the cause of cruel wars,
and for that reason l shall oppose by my
vote any eradication of article ten from
the covenant.
1T is the pillar section Of the associa-
ton Of nations contemplated under the
league and is the assurance of mutual
support against any external aggression.
1t speaks the voice of freedom among the
nations and guarantees to each its full
share of sovereignty. 1t makes possible
and encourages the reduction of arma-
ments. as no nation will disarm unless
assured that it will not be attacked by
another nation.
Must Consider Results.
doubt has risen with regard to the
understanding of certain contents of the
covenant. From the opponents of the
league comes Il demand for amendments
and reservations. without proper regard
for the results that will flow from such
Il course. An amendment would mean
such a substantial change in some article
of the covenant as to require the con-
currence of the signatory nations thereto.
and probably lead TO delay and much con-
troyersy and possible rejection.
However, the senate could. without
postponing the day of the ratification
r hn rp-SJfhtulS g
sion to the other nations. by resolution
place its Interpretation as to the mean
ing of articles in the league susceptible
to one or more meanings.
Those opposed argue that the langu-
age does not place important matters
OF domestic concern. like immigration
and tariff, out Of the jurisdiction of the
council or of the assembly. They pro-
pose reservations exemptlng the consid-
Grafton of these matters from the
league.
Says Action Unnecessary.
This action / think unnecessary. for
the reason that the highest tribunal in
our land has decided that by the rules
of international law subjects of this
kind are absolutely and exclusively
within the jurisdiction of this country
inherent as right of sovereignty and
therefore impossible of alienation BY
treaty.
Sharing the belief that our supreme
court has correctly stated the rule OF
international law as applied to a nation
in internal affairs, l can find no serious
complaint with a policy that shall an.
mex resolution to the treaty re-
defining an established doctrine of the
law of nations. This action of the sen.
ate in my opinion would not be m
n sn oh .,f to- c,,h.
stance requiring ratification.
.'rhe constitution of the lea1uc is moi