Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-19
DScREDlTS THE U

DlSCREDTS THE CAUSE
It IL q poor cause that requires the kind Of support
that Senator johnson is giving to his movement for the
rejection Of the League Of Nations. II Mr.. johnson were
to confine himself to the facts hs could point out several
places In the League compact where changes might be
beneficial. That he could show that even in those fea-,
lures whore the covenant is most susceptible Of improve
ment the need is so great as to warrant either rejection
of the plan or delay in accepting it Ii not SO certain. But
when Mr.. Johnson. in his anxiety to discredit the League
and everything connected with it finds 1t necessary to dis
tort facts, and to state as facts things which are not facts,
it is evident that be realizes that he has a weak cause.
Specifically Mr.. johnson distorted facts in his ad-
dress at Lincoln, Nebraska, when he sought to create the
impression that the League Of Nations covenant contra
superior to II, ana that therefore the peace treaty contain
Ing the League constitution cannot legally be ratified by
the American government In accepting the compact our
government will be raufyinE a treaty, which. like every
other treaty, contains the promise Of the United States
to do certain things. But in no case Is there a word which
required the United States to do anything except in ae-
cordance with the established forms Of constitutional Law.
The powers which the president and the senate possess
with reference to this treaty are precisely the powers
which they possess with reference to every other treaty,
and 1T is impossible to suppose that Senator johnson does
not know it.
Again, in the same address, Mr.. johnson distorted
facts when he said:
The great. fundamental question which every IA
Their and mother should answer IL: Shall American
boys police the world: Shall American blood up
hold, maintain and preserve old world governments
and the territorial integrity of the nations which
have immensely increased their boundaries: ?"
Mr.. Johnsons obvious meaning is that under the
League agreement the United States will be obliged to do
more than its fair share of maintaining order throughout
the world, while all other nations are to be relieved Of
such obligation. ANY policing that is to be done must
first be recommended by the unanimous vote of the
League council, of which the United States will be a
member. And it is reasonable to suppose that when nine
mend a course Of action, the American government of that
day will be apt to consider the recommendation fair and
just, and to act on 1t.
AS to the guarantee of territory, Mr.. johnson is play
ing on a sadly frayed string. BY accepting the League
agreement the United States will pledge itself not to take
the territory Of any other nation by force, and not to as
sail the independence of any other country. It will also
promise to join with its neishbors in defending any other
nation against highway robbery. And 1t will be at liberty
to Use its own discretion as to the methods to be employed.
Still further. in the aame address. Mr.. johnson made
a direct mis-statement Of facts when he said that France,
Great Britain, Italy and Japan had amended the treaty.
DuL q OnlEed STATES "a 0enled that pTlvlleEe. Not one
of the nations named has shown any indication ~of de-
manding tho change Of a. letter in the treaty which was
agreed to at Versailles, handed to Germany, and accepted
In full by that nation. Great Britain has signed and rati-
fled the treaty just as it stands. France is about to do so.
There is no reason to suppose that Italy and Japan will
fail to do so. Prior to the completion of the treaty at the
conference it was changed in many particulars from time
to time to meet the views Of the participating members,
and the United states had its full share in securing
amendments. Among other things, In compliance to the
wishes Of the United states, the treaty was changed from
the first formal draft to- provide for the right of with
drawal; to exclude the Monroe doctrine by name from
the 3urisdiction ct the League; to provide for unanimous
vote on all important matters; and to provide that guar
dianship over . minor nation should not be forced upon
an unwilling member. These facts exist, in direct con-
tradiction of Mr.. Johnscn's statement that the United
States. of all the great powers, has been denied the priv
iege Of amendment.
H. = a&l EE#t ~