The sun., 1919-10-23
SECRET TREATIES.
An Additional Reason why America
Should Keep Out.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir. It
Is often asserted that the adoption Of
the League will prevent secret treaties.
Nothing can be further from the truth.
/, The only League provision is as follows: {:
ARTICLE XVIII. Every treaty or inter-
| national engagement entered into here
after by any member of the League
i shall be forthwith registered with the
4 secretariat, and shall as soop as possi-
! BILE be published by 1t. No such treaty
| or International engagement shall be
J binding until so registered
| This article only applies to future
| treaties, although number OF secret
treaties are said to be now In existence.
One or two have been published. nota-
bly, that as to the eastern shore OF the
Adriatic and that as to Shantung. The
| United States has been keenly interested
In each Of these and may be still more
80 in the others. II, as Is runored, they
create spheres of influence and control
not only in Europe but in Asia, Africa
and the Pacific.
| Modern high diplomacy views all the
kingdoms of the world as to be given to
it's worshippers. It still respects the
good old fashioned plan that they should
keep who have the power and they
should get who can. az the League cove
nant were In earnest against secret trea-
ties II would order the immediate publi-
| ca zion of all treaties that have not been
published. Instead of this 1t gives these
secret treaties a distinct though yelled
recognition, and America is asked to
Join In this by signing a provision CAR
| ticle xxI) that nothing In the covenant
"shall affect the validity of international
engagements
| such as treaties OF arbitration and
regional understandings like the Mon
roe Doctrine for securing the mainte-
| nance of peace"
Thus any regional understanding by
the great Powers throughout the world is
expressly guarded by this article which
was pretended and supposed to refer
only TO the Monroe Doctrine until that
scholar and diplomat. David Jayne Hill,
pointed out Its far reaching scope.
i II our representatives at the Peace
Conference did not know to what inter-
national engagements this phrase re-
ferred then the other great Powers were
putting 1t over them. but II they did
know then they and the Allies are put
ting 1t over us by concealing the true
meaning of the paper that we are asked
to sign in order that we may unwilling
ly -atify these secret understandings.
The article first quoted Is ineffective
even as to future treaties, which are to
be published only ''as soon as possible y
Diplomatic considerations will govern
the League council of the Big Five and
will determine what Is automatically
possible" The word is used In a dip
lomatic sense and is capable OF Pick
wickian meaning Of what is conven.
iently possible as conditioned by circum.
stances.
But note the mildness Of the clause. II
might have provided that future trea.
ties should be void unless promptly reg.
istered and published. 1t does no sucf
, thing and says only that the treaty shall
not be binding until registered so thai
a secret understanding may be made
valid at any time by registering 1t.
Until registration 1t is not binding
but that is sol now. The most valit
treaty is not binding. for our Presiden
! has Justly said that 1t constitutes only 6
, moral obligation. These gentlemen.
agreements of the great Powers by which
they agree to divide the world are no
legally binding on any one Of the ma
tions, who will. however. regard thes,
treaties as all the more sacred because
they are not legally binding. But th'
covenant says that upon registration
they will become binding although tn,
League Council and Secretariat may still
hold the treaty In its secret archives
until 1t Is possible to publish It to tn
world
} These Articles XVIII. and XXI. for tn
. registration of treaties and the recogni
tion of regional understanding" wer
proclaimed to be for the benefit OF tn
United States. It looks as II the Leagu
might ask the one solvent Power to bacl
the Allies in regional understandings 70
, spoliation OF the world. II so. let Amer
lea keep out. Let her refuse to meddl
in the intrigues of Europe. Let her re
ject this treaty and League. declare peac
3 for herself as she declared war and thel
, manage her own affairs, as OF old. darin
= any nation to interfere with her terri
, tory, with her commerce or with tn
Monroe Doctrine, that protects the other
wise defenceless States OF the westerl
continent RICHARD WAYNE PARKER
. NEWARK, October %.