New-York tribune., 1919-06-22

fulfilled will be deemed to render
the two years notice Intellectual or
to keep the power giving the notice
IN the league after the expiration
OF the time specified in the notice.
sS3 lnasmuch as in agreeing to be-
come member of the league
OF nations the United States of
America is moved by no interest or
wish 20 intrude upon or interfere
with the political policy or inter-
national administration of any for
eign state, and by no existing or an
tlcIpated dangers in the affairs of the
American continents, but accedes to
the wish Of the European states
that it shall Join it's power to theirs
Tor the preservation of said treaty,
excepting Article x, afore said, with the
understanding that nothing contained
therein shall be construed to imply
relinquishment by the United States
OF America of it's traditional attitude
toward purely American questions,
or to require the submission of it's
Pollcy regarding questions which it
deems to be purely American ques-
tons to the decision or recommends
tion of other powers.
Precedent Long Established
This reservation and these ex-
pressions of understanding are in
accordance with long Established
precedent in the making of treaties
When included in the instrument
of ratification they will not require
a reopening Of negotiations, but if
none of the other signatories express
~ object to the ratification with such
limitations he treaty stands as lin
tied as between the United States
and the other powers.
II any doubt were entertained as
to the effect of such action, the
doubt could be readily dispelled by
calling upon the four other principal
powers represented in the council
to state whether they do in fact OBJ
lect to the entrance of the United
States into the league with the un-
derstandlngs and reservations stated
In the resolution.
AS to these limiting clauses,
wish to say something further. AS
to Article x:
"First: 1t is not an essential or
even an appropriate part of the pro-
visions for league of nations to
preserve peace. 1t is an Independent
and indefinite alliance which may
involve the parties to it in war
against powers which have in every
respect complied with the provisions
OF the league of peace: 1t was not
the provisions of which have been
reproduced almost textualy in the
league covenant. 1t stands upon it's
own footing as an independent alli-
ance for the preservation of the
status quo.
"Second: If we agree to this ar
tlcle, 1T is extremely. probable that
we shall be unable to keen our
agreement. Making war nowadays
depends upon the genuine sympathy
OF the people Of the country at the
time when the war has to be carried
on. The people of the United States
certainly will not be willing ten or
twenty years hence to send their
young men to distant parts of the
world to fight for causes in which
they may not believe or in which
they have little or no interest. If
that is the attitude of the people
when we are hereafter called upon
to wage war under Article X. no
general indefinite agreement made
years before will make them dis
posed to fight. And we shall be in
about the worst possible position, of
having made an agreement and not
keeping it.
Our people ought not to be forced
INTO such a position, and we ought
not TO make any agreement that is
liable to force them into such a
position.
The recent controversies over the
disposition of kiau-chau and of
rune illustrates very we'll the way in
whlch territorial arrangements are
likely to be made in councils Of the
great powers controlled by ex-
pediency. | would not vote to bind
our country to go into a war in years
to come in defence Of those arrange
ments
II it is necessary for the security
OF western Europe that we should
agree to go to the support, say, of
France if attacked, let us agree to do
that particular thing plainly, so tn At
every man and woman in the coun-
try will understand the honorable
obligation we are assuming. | am IN
favor of that. But let us not wrap
up such purpose in a vague univer-
sal obligation, under the impression
that it really does not mean anything
likely to happen.
"Third: 1t is reported that Switz-
crland is much disturbed over the in
vltation to join the league of nations.
and wishes to preserve her neutral
ity, because her people are partly
French, partly German and partly
Italian, and she wishes to keep out
those nationalities. In this country
Of all quarrels which may involve
the census of 1910 showed that IS
per cent (more than one -third) of
our people were Of foreign birth or
the children of foreign parents. We
can call upon these people to stand
by America in all American quar-
rels, but how can we control their
sympathies and their action if Amer
lea interferes in foreign quarrels and
takes sides in those quarrels against
the countries to which they arc at
tached by tradition and sentiment?
How can we prevent dissension and
hatred among our own inhabitants of
foreign origin when this country in
terferes on foreign grounds between
the races from which they spring?
How can we prevent bitterness and
disloyalty toward our own govern
ment on the part of those against
whose friends in their old homes we
have interviewed for no cause of our
own?
"Article X confronts us with con-
sequences very similar to those which
Washington had in mind when he ad-