The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-09-11


been much dispute as to who would
decide If the question Of the fulfill
mrnt of obligations was raised and
1t Is very generally thought that this
reservation would be settled by the
council of the league of nations. The
best that can be said about it is that
| the question of decision is Cloudcd with
doubt. On such point as this there
must be no doubt. The United States,
which has never broken an interna-
| tlonal obligation, cannot permit all its
| existing treaties to be- reviewed and its
conduct and honor questioned by other
nations. The same may be said in
regard to the fuGillment Of the obli.
| cations to the league. 1t must be made
perfectly clear that the United States
| alone is to determine as to the full
| GiIlment Of its obligations, and its right
Of withdrawal must therefore be uncon.
ditional as provided in the reserya-
| ton"
Oppones Nlandatories
"2.-The United States declines to
assume, under the provisions of Arti-
Gle 10, or under any other article. any
obligation to preserve the territorial
integrity or political Independence of
any other country or to interfere in con
troversics between other nations, mem.
bers Of the league or not or to employ
the military or naval forces of the
United States in such controversies, or
to adopt economic measures for the
protection Of any other country, for
the purpose of coercing any other
country, or for the purpose of iuterven.
ton in the internal conflicts or other
controversies which may arise in any
other country, and no mandate shall be
accepted by the United States under
Article %, Part /, Of the treaty Of
peace with Germany, except by action
Of congress Of the United States
Constitution Is Cited.
This reservation is intended to meet
the most vital objection to the league
covenants as it stands. Under no cir
cumstances must there be any legal or
moral obligation on the United States
to enter into war or send its army and
navy abroad, or without the uufettered
action of congress to impose economic
boycotts on other countries. Under the
constitution Of the United States, the
congress alone has the power to declare
war, and all bills to raise revenue or af-
tecting the revenue In any way must
originate in the house Of representa-.
tives, be passed by the senate and re.
ceive the signature Of the president,
These constitutional rights Of congress
must not be impaired by any agree.
ments such as are presented in this
treaty nor can any opportunity Of
charging the United States with bad
faith be permitted. No American sol.
diers or sailors must be sent to fight in
other lands at the bidding Of q league
of nations American lives must not be
sacrificed by the will and command Of
the American people acting through
their constitutional representatives in
congress
This reservation also covers the
Of mandates According to
the provision of the covenant OF the
league, the acceptance of a mandate by
any member is voluntary, but as 10 " no
shall have authority to refuse to ac.
cept mandate for any country the Gov
enant Of the league is silent. The de.
cision as to accepting a mandate must
rest exclusively within the control of
the congress of the United States. as the
reservation provides. and must not be
delegated, even by inference. to any per.
sonal agent or to any delegate or com.
missioner.
'3-The United States reserves to it.
self exclusively the right to decide what
questions are within its domestic iuris
dict!on and declares that all democratic
ana political questions relating to its af
fairs, Including immigration. cOastwise
traffic the tariff, commerce and all 9th.
er domestic questions are solely within
the jurisdiction Of the United States and
are not under this treaty submitted in
any way either to arbitration or to the
of the council or of the
assembly Of the league of nations or to
the decision or recommendation of any
other power
This reservation speaks for itself. 1t
is not necessary TO follow out here all
tortuous windings, which to those who
have followed them through the laby-
rlnth disclose the fact that the league
under certain conditions will have power
to pass upon and decide questions of
and tariff as we'll as the
others mentioned in the reservation. 1t
is believed by the committee that this
reservation relieves the United States
from any dangers or any obligations in
this direction
Monroe Doctrine Reservations
THE fourth and last reservation is as
follows:
'4-The United States declines to sub
NIT for arbitration or inquiry by the
assembly or the council of the league of
nations provided for in said treaty of
peace any questions which in the judg-
ment of the United States depend upon
or relate to it's long established policy,
commonly known as the Monroe doe
trine; said doctrine is to be interpreted
by the United States alone, and is here
by declared to be wholly outside the
of said League of Nations
and entirely unaffected by any provi-
sion contained in the said treaty of
peace with Germany.
The purpose Of this reservation is
clear. II is intended to preserve the
Monroe doctrine from any interference
Or Interpretation by foreign powers. As