Evening journal., 1919-08-22
We Concur With Senator
Brandeqee of Connecticut
tFrom The Ne " York sum

After an able and persistent but en-
tlrely unsuccessful attempt to pene-
trate the tinted haze Of the Presidents
interpretations, and TO reduce TO prao-
teal common sense his voices IN the
air and visions on the horizon, sena-
tor Brandegee is reported by our neigh
Dor, the World, as addressing to the
clearer atmosphere Of the anto-oham-
Der this exceedingly pertinent ques-
lions
what is the use 10 probe into ar
intellectual apparatus like thatY'
What. indeed. Is the use OF lt9 =
single illustration from The record Of
the notwithstanding conference viii an
swer as well rs dozen;
"SenalOr Brandegee-'rhat was
not the question. The question was
whether 10 was wise 10 so tie up
ourselves 0y contract TO any for
elgn nation as that we never could
repudlalc-l will not use the word
repudlale'- never cancel our
treaties without due notice. with
out the consent Of body not yet
created.
"The Presldent-Of course 7 am
assuming that body viii be created
before we adopt The Franco-Amerl-
can treaty. and In that case that
provision you are 0lludng to Is
only a completion Of the idea of
the treaty, namely as / have been
quoted as saying, This Is an agree
menl on our part 10 anticipate the
advice Of The Council Of the League,
ms we shall take such and such
measures 10 defend France. lnas-
much as we are anticipating that
we are assuming the action Of the
League. and therefore Il Is with the
League and It's action that the
whole matter Is bound up, and
think that The provision you allude
10 therefore Is consistent and al
most logically necessary.
Senator Brandegee Would It not
be the part OF prudence for us to
include In the Franco-Amerlean
treaty. n 10 should be ratified a
provision that il shall have some
time limit put upon THAT II shall
exist for not more than ten years.
say? / assume n the League Is
ever going 10 be effective 10 pre-
serve the territorial integrity and
political independence OF lis Varl-
Gus members It win be so In The
course Of ten years, and there IS
no objection TO having some time
limit on the treaty.
"The President only phychnlog
ical objection the sentiment De
tween the two countries.
senator Brandegee-Hes, ] under
stand that But the fact that we
have to vote 10 loose ourselves does
not 10 help us. as unanimous action
is required by nine gentlemen any
one Of whom can prevent us.
THE President-No, Senator but
the diplomatic relations OF the al
ferent countries in that council will
be such, if may judge, that these
things may be accomplished.
"SenatOr Brandegee-That Is an
optimistic view TO take, II You VIII
pardon my opinion about II.
"The President-"Perhaps II Is.
What is the use to probe into an
intellectual apparatus like that?
Tho President insists that his con
stitutional partner in the treaty max
ing function OF the United States shall
accent and ratlfy without amendment
reservations or change Of any sort a
covenant privately arrived at by MIN
self and now for the first time an open
covenant so far as his private inter-
pretations Of its obligations are con
cerned.
lie demands That the Senate shall ac-
cept his Judgment OF the complicated
and far-rearhing legal questions in
volved against the judgment Of lawyers
like Elihu Root and Philader G. Knox
and Charles r Hughes and William T.
Borah and the long list Of inlerna-
iional iurisconsults and statesmen Who
dinere absolutely with his self-dter-
mined conclusions. And almost IN the
same breath ne admits in collOquy with
senator NTcCumber that his own "eX-
perience as lawyer was not very
long"
The long and short Of the elaborate
discussion in the White House IS thal
President Wilson will take no advice
and consent from the United states Sen
ate. II he has his way the covenant
must be a covenant privately arrived
al by himself His interpretations OF
its provisions and obligations he Is now
willing 10 communicate 10 any extent.
They flowed from his facile lips on
Tuesday like water from an-open bung-
hole. lie is also willing that the Sen