New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-19
The Essentials

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The reservations, counting the pre-
amble as one, number fifteen, and
nave a formidable look, but they can
i pc condensed to two-perhaps could
be compressed into one.
II The reservations, if all duplica-
lions and repetitions are omitted,
are merely notice to the world and
ITO our partners in the proposed
league of peace of two shings.
zone relates to matters of law and
Hthe other to matters Of policy, and
Neither is contradictory of the cove
,,saant or destructive of it's purposes.
& First, notice is given that docu.
Sment called the Constitution of the
i United States exists and that any
faction Of American public officers
funder the league agreement must
be subject to its limitations.
1t is international custom, sur
vival from old days of absolu ism,
for nations in their relations to
assume that the executive of nation
! is the sole voice Of it's will. This
. IS not true of the United States.
Here the executive is not sovereign,
but merely one of the agents of the
sovereign for specified purposes.
Our government being one of
three branches, it happens that two
of them, not merely one, have au-
thor;ty with respect to foreign rela-
tons. The conduct of the President
having been such as to spread q
contrary belief, it is desirable, if
suspicion of faith breaking is not to
arise in the future, that the am
higuity be removed.
So one prime object of the reser-
vations is to inform the world that
rot the President alone, but the
President and the Congress acting
together, must pass on our obliga-
lions and in the end determine what
this country holds it must do to
meet them. The unified govern
ments of Europe at times may find
It inconvenient to deal with our
disunified one. But it cannot be
helped. There is the American Con-
stitution. 1t cannot be amended by
treaty. Treaties must be in accord
with it, not it with treaties.
The second notice given relates,
AS said above, to policy. 1t is to
The effect that this country does not
interpret the covenant as binding
this country to abandon the Monroe
Doctrine or such liberty of national
action as it has hitherto enjoyed. It
may be the covenant does not de-.
stroy the Monroe Doctrine and ma
tional independence. But there is
doubt, and candor demands that this
country declare its understanding.
open covenants Of peace openly
arrived at"
The reservations thus being in es-
sentials simple, they may be boiled
down without sacrifice Of principle.
1t is not necessary to say the same
thing over and over again Once
is enough. If votes for the ratifi-
cation are to be gained by avoiding
forms which are cavilled at, then
other forms which arrive at the
same end are just as good.
Take the preamble for example.
Consent to our reservations can be
either taciteor expressed. If our
European friends prefer tacit
acceptance to express acceptance
there is no reason for pushing a
tishbone down their thoats. Notice
by publication is as effective al a
notice whose receipt the servedon
formally acknowledges.
The vitals Of the reservation
policy are first, ratification; second.
reservation as an integral part of the
ratifying act; third, declaration that
the Constitution is binding on our
officers of government and that our
national independence is not i'm
pared. If these things are in good
faith conceded, then otherwise the
Administration Senators NAV be met
IN the most liberal spirit.