Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-19
International obligations. It has never
failed to fulfill them and lever will.
; Article < Plain,

Article Z Plain.
Article x is in no respect of
doubtful meaning when read in the
light OF h covenant az q whole. The
council of the league can only advise
upon the means by which the obli-
cations Of that great article are to be
given effect to. Unless the United
in question, her own affirmative vote
in the council is necessary before any
advice can be given for a unanimous
vote Of the council is required. II she
Is a party, the trouble is hers any
how. And the unanimous vote Of the
council is only advice in any case.
Each government is free to reject it If
1t pleases. Nothing could have been
made more clear to the conference
our constitution to exercise it's inde-
pendent judgment in all matters of
peace and war. No attempt was made
to question or limit that right. The
United States will, indeed, undertake
under Article x to respect and pre-
serve as against external aggression
the territorial integrity and existing
political independence Of all members
Of the league and that engagement
constitutes a very grave and solemn
moral obligation. But it is a moral,
not a legal obligation, and leaves our
congress absolutely free to put its
own Interpretation upon it in all
cases that call for action. It is bind
ing in conscience only, not in law.
Backbone of Covenant.
Article x seems to me to consti-
tute the very backbone Of the whole
covenant. Without it the league
would be hardly than an influ-
entail debating society. 1t has several
times been suggested in public debate
pretations Of the sense In which the
United States accepts the engage
ments Of the covenant should be en-
bodied in the instrument of ratifca-
ton. There can be no reasonable OBJ
lection to such interpretations ac-
companying the act, Of ratification
provided. they do not form a part of
the formal ratification itself. Most Of
he interpretations which have been
to me the plain meaning of the in
strument itself. But If such interpre-
tations should constitute a part Of the
formal resolution of ratification long
delays would be the inevitable conse
quence inasmuch as all the many
governments concerned would have to
accept in effect the language of the
senate as the language of the treaty
before ratification would be com
plete. The assent of the German as
sembly at Weimar would have to be
obtained among the rest and / must
frankly say that I could only with the
greatest reluctance approach that as
sembly~for permission to read the
treaty as we understand and as those
who framed 1t quite certainly UNDER
stood it. If the United States were to
qualify the documents in any way,
moreover, I am confident from what
I know Of the many conferences of the
debates which accompanied the for
mutation Of the treaty that our ex-
ample would Immediately be followed
in many quarters, in some instances
with very serious reservations, and
that the meaning. and operative force
Of the treaty would presently be
to the other.
pardon me, Mr.. Chairman, II I
have been entirely unreserved and
plain spoken in speaking of the great
matters we all have so much at heart.
If excuse is needed I trust that the
critical situation Of affairs may serve
as my Justification. The issues that
manifestly hang upon the conclusions
Of the senate with regard to peace
and upon the time Of it's action are
SO grave and 81 clearly insusceptible
Of being thrust on M side or post
poned that I have felt it necessary in
the public interest to make this urgent
plea and to make 1t as simple and as
unreserved1v as nossih1e" " ~