The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-20
Want Reservations.

To this end certain senators want
reservations made, They are anxious
that Joint resolutions be adopted by
congress now, stating specifically what
America understands by certain items
in the peace treaty: II they ratify the
specific reservations, these will be valid
or invalid in the future, according as
the legislative and executive branches
Of congress In coming years want to
assert or defend the principle involved
in the reservations.
Joint resolutions adopted IN congress
now will not be binding upon foreign
governments except insofar as a presi-
dent or secretary OF state Of the United
States wants to Insist upon the inter-
probation formally rendered by congress
In 1919 as q basis for American policy.
Conservative thinkers here therefore
believe that amending the treaty itself
will be found difficult Of not an i'm
possible task unless the country wants
to be kept on q war basis while the
prolonged negotiations are in progress
In an effort to secure an agreement
by cable with 20 nations. II the coun-
try want to get back on a peace basis
at once, pressure for the ratification OF
| the treaty will undoubtedly bring about
an early proclamation Of peace though,
Of course, congress will still be free
to. have its say In Joint resolutions
interpreting IHo pCdC0 tTChl1s None OF
these Is expected to bring about any
nonparticipation by the United States
In a league Of nations as the extreme
opponents OF the league have vainly
hoped.
League of Nations.
But Limitation on the activities of the
American representatives in any league
Of nations and specific instructions as
to their obligations to- refer to the
American senate certain questions in
volving the making Of treaties, conven-
tiosss, or eve informal agreements are
clearly within the province Of congress.
While domestic questions are to be
the chief business, therefore. of the
be the fight between President Wilson
and the senate on the ratification Of
the treaty.
|. Sentiment does not seem to favor
any triple agreement to defend France
or for the United States to keep for
the Rhine. Very little Is said in ad-
mi%nistration quarters about either Of
those points. But tho impression is
growing that President Wilson himself
does not favor them but agreed to
submit to congress both proposals so
rs to satisfy the wish Of Premier Gle
menceau who, 1t will be remembered,
was constantly telling Mr.. Wilson that
perhaps the Republican party was more
favorable to a program defending
Franco than Mr.. Wilson himself.
Editorials in some Republican news
papers favoring an alliance between
Great Britain, France and the United
States and speeches by the late Col.
Roosevelt favoring such an agreement
ss a supplement to the peace treaty or
any league of nations made a deep inn
preston on the French premier.
It is quite possible that Mr., Wilson
agreed to submit the propositions
merely az "a courtesy to the French
premier, but that the president will
not champion them other than to state
why France would like such agree
ments.
It is considered significant that the
American mission has thus far not per-
mitted any quotation or expression to
20 forth explaining why the triple
agreement was deemed necessary or
why Il should be adopted.
Certainly If a poll Of congress were
taken today IL would be found opposed
to any alliance with any country though
In favor of a general association with
the rest Of the world in a league OF
nations.
Copyright, 1919, by the New York
Evening Post, Inc.)