The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-28

(Continued from Page One.) to the assumption that the treaty would fail or the Peace Conference would have to resume operations.
 Summarized his four reservations are:
 First, that on giving notice of it's intention to withdraw from the league, a power shall cease to be member or subject to obligations of the covenant at the time specified ir the notice. but that such withdrawal shall not release that power from debt or liability heretofore incurred. Second, that questions such i'm migration or import duties, which are solely within domestic jurisdic- ton. shall not be submitted for con | s!edration or action by the league. Third, that the United States shall not relinquish it's traditional attitude toward purely American questions, which shall not be subject to jurisdic- tion of ths League, leaving this coun- try free to oppose acquisition by any non-Amerlcan country of territory in the Western Hemisphere.
 Fourth, that under Article x the United States shall assume no Obliga- | ton to undertake any military expedi- ton or employ it's armed forces on | land or sea unless such action is au- | thorIzcd by Congress.
 The resolution suggested is em- l bodied in a letter replying to one | from Senator Hale requesting | Hughes opinion on the validity of | reservations to the proposed cove nant and also asking him what reserva tions in your judgme should be made to safeguard the interests of l our country" In his letter Senator Hale asserts he wants to see some plan devised whereby the United ! States may safely enter the League of Nations"
 Tn his reply, Hughes states there is a plain need for a League of Ma tions." He added that there is also the immediate exigency to be consid- cred" and that "it Is manifest that every reasonable effort should be
 made to establish peace as promptly end to bring about a condition in which Europe can resume it's normal industrial activity.
 T see no req son why these objects cannot be attained without sacrificins he essential interests of the United States," he continues. There is a middle ground between aloofness and II injurious com mmitments."
 While regretting that "suitab ble
 steps have not been taken to formu-
 late international legal principles and
 settlement of disputes by impartial
 tribunals, Hughes declares there Is
 merit enough in the proposed plan tC
 make it desirable to secure it, if prop | CT safeguards can be obtained" He | adds that ''it is just as futile to exaS gerate it's value as it is to see nothing but it's defects" In his opinion the ! proposed covenant should be viewed
 ''as a mere beginning" but it is i'm po-tant that a false start should no be made.
 The question as to the validity ot reservations has two aspects, says 1 Hughes: First, with respect to ac-
 ton on OUT part which is essential tc
 making of reservations; and, second , as to the effect of reservations upon . 2 other parties t> the treaty.
 As to the first question, it is man.
 ifest that attempted reservations
 ~giu be intellectual unless they quickly ; the act of ratification" said Hughes adding that such reservations must
 constitute part of the instrument ot l ratification.
 If the proposed reservations art reasonable, responsibility for defeat O the treaty would lie with those wh' refuse the vote essential to the as
 sent, in the opinion of Hughes. wh'
 points out that. on the other hand, i
 tho Senate gives it's assent to thu treaty with reservations and Presiden Wilson should refuse concurrence, re sponsibility would lie with him. Pointing out that where q treaty i ma & on the part of a number of ma
 tions, they may acquiesce in partia
 ratification on tine part of one O
 more, Hughes declares. "statements t.
 safeguard our interests which clarif.
 ambiguous clauses in the covenant cal
 meet with no reasonable objection
 Nor should we assume that a
 reservation would lead to the failure
 of the treaty or compel a resumption ] of the Peace Conference, when the
 reservation leaves uninpaired the
 main provisions of the covenant and
 simply seeks to avoid any apparent
 assumption of obligation on our part | to join in a war at some tndefntN
 time in the future for a cause the
 merits of which cannot now be fore
 seen." says Hughes.
 Taking up the subject matter ot l his four reservations, he said thai