The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-21
We Concur with Senator Brandegee
Of Connecticut.


of Connecticut.
After an able and persistent bu
entirely unsuccessful attempt to pene
trate the tinted haze of the President
interpretations, and to reduce to praC
tical common sense his voices in tn
air and visions on the horizon, Ser
ator BRANDEGEEi is reported by ou
neighbor the World MS addressing I
the clearer atmosphere of the ante
chamber this exceedingly pertinen
question:
"What is the use to probe into al
Intellectual apparatus like that?"
What, indeed, is the use Of It? !
single illustration from the record o
the unenlightening conference will an
swer as well as q dozen:
Senator BRANpEGEE-That was
not the question. The question was
whether it was wise to so tie up our
selves by contract to any foreign
nation as that we never could repu-
diate-I will not use the word 'repu-
diate-can never cancel our treaties
without due notice, without the con-
sent Of body not yet created.
THE President-Of course / am
assuming that body will be created
before we adopt the Franco-Ameri-
can treaty, and in that case that pro-
vision you are abiding to Is only
completion of the idea OF the treaty,
namely, as 1 have been quoted as
saying. this is an agreement on our
part to anticipate the advice of the
Council of the League, as we shall
take such and such measures to de-
fend France. Inasmuch as we are
anticipating that We are assuming
the action of the League. and there
fore 1t is with the League and it's ac-
ton that the whole matter is bound
up. and I think that the provision
you allude to therefore is consistent
and almost logically necessary.
iSenator Would Il not
be the part OF prudence for US to in
clude in the Franco-American treaty,
IL 1T should be ratified. a provision
that it shall have some time limit put
upon it--that it shah exist for not
more than ten years. say? l assume
IL the League is ever going to be eff
fective to preserve the territorial in
tegrity and political Independence Of
it's various 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 a psychology
ical Objectionable sentiment between
the two countries.
Senator BRANDEGEE-Yes. I under
stand that. But the fact that we
not help US. as unanimous action is
required by nine gentlemen, any one
of whom can prevent US.
1.-THE President-No, Senator, but
the diplomatic relations Of the differ
ent countries in that council will be
such, If may judge, that these things
may be accomplished.
senator BRANpEGEE-That is an
optimistic view to take, II you will
pardon my opinion about it.
1.-THE President-Perhapsl 1t is"
What is the use to probe into al
intellectual apparatus like that?
The President insists that his con
stitutional partner in the treaty max
ing function of the United States shall
accept and ratify without amendment
reservation or change of any sort
covenant privately arrived at by him
self and now for the first time al
open covenant so far as his privat
interpretations of its obligations ar
concerned.
He demands that the Senate shall
accept his Judgment of the compli
cated and far reaching legal question
involved against the judgment of law
yers like ELIHU Roof and PHILANDE
c. KNOX and CHARLES +. HUGHE
and WILLIAM r. BoRAH, and the lon
list of international jurisconsults an,
statesmen who differ absolutely witt
his self-determined conclusions. An,
almost in the same breath he admit
in colIoquy with Senator McCUMBE
that his own experience as a lawye
was ut very long,"
The long and short of the elaborate
discussion In the White House Is tina
President WILSON will take no advic
and consent from the United State
Senate. If he has his way the cove
nant must be covenant privatel.
arrived at by himself. His interpre
tations of its provisions and obliga
lions he is now willing to communi