South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-19
Philanthropy

icy or action in question. her own
affirmative vote in the council is
necessary before any advise can be
given Tor "A unanimous vote OF the
council as required III she is a party
the trouble is hers. anyhow. And the
unanimous vote OF ne council is
only suvice in any case. Each gov
eminent is free 10 reject IL If IL
pleases. Nothing could have been
made more clear 70 the conference
than tho right OF our congress under
our constitution 10 exercise its indie
pendencc in all matters OF peace
and war. No attempt was made 10
question or limit that right. The
United States will. indeed, under
take under article Y TO respect and
reserve as against external agrees
sion the territorial integrity and ex-
listing political independence Of the
I eague" and that engagement con
stitutes very grave and solemn
obligation. But IL Is a moral. not a
legal obligation and leaves our con-
gress absolutely free 10 put its own
Interpretation upon IL in all cases
that call for action IL is binding in
conscience only, not in law
Article Y seems 70 me 10 consu-
tute the very backbone Of the whole
covenant. without IL the League
would hardly be more than an in
fluentisl debating society.
II has several times been sug-
gested. in public debate and in
private conference. that interpre-
tations OF the sense in which the
United States accepts the engage
ments of the covenant should be
embodied in the instrument OF rati-
ication. There can be no reason
able objection 70 such interpreta-
tons accompanying the act Of rati-
. hcatioB provided they do not form a
part OF the ratification itself Most
of the interpretations which have
been suggested 10 me embody what
seems 10 me the plain moaning OF
the instrument itself But IL such
Interpretation should constitute
part OF the formal resolution of rati-
fcation long delays would De the in
evitable consequence. inasmuch as
all the many governments concerned
would have to accept. in effect, the
I language of the senate as the Ian
/ guage of the senate before ratifica-
I don would be complete. The as
/ sent of the German assembly at
1 Weimar would have to be obtained
among the rest and | must frankly
say that I could only with the great
est reluctance approach that assem-
I bly, for permission TO read the treaty
as we understood il, and as those
who framed il quite certainly under
stood H. II the United States were
/ 10 qualify the document in any way
Moreover l am confident from what
l know Of the many conferences
and debates which accompanied the
! formulation or the treaty that our
example would Immediately be fol-
\ lowed in many quarters, in many
/ instances with very serious reserva-
/ tions and that the meaning and OPP
! erative force OF the treaty would
| presently be clouded from one end
| of its clauses to the other.
Pardon me, Mr.. Chairman, if
! have been entirely unreserved and
1 plainspoken in speaking of the great
matters we all have so much at
/ heart. If excuse is needed, l trust
/ that the critical situation OF affairs
may serve as my Justification. The
! issues that manifestiy hang up on
! the conclusion OF the senate with
regard TO peace and upon the time
4 of its action are so grave and so
/ clearly insusceptible Of being thrust
on one side or postponed that 1 have
! felt il necessary in the public in
terest 10 make this urgent plea and
TO make it as simply and as unre-
. servedly as possible"