New-York tribune., 1920-10-29
retention of war powers after the
emergency has passed.

retention Of war powers after the
emergency has passed.
Serious as is our domestic situation.
there has been even q greater failure
or craftsmanship in our foreign policy
" hen the armistice was signed the ma
ton enjoyed an unprecedented prestige
and influence.
This prestige and influence could
readily have been conserved had false
hopes not been engendered by virtual
promises on the part of the Executive
which in the nature of things could not
have been fulfilled. 1t was not incum-
Dent upon the representative of the
united States to act as the arbiter Of
a most OF European disputes Still less
was ne commissioned by any authority
from the American people to promise the
guaranty OF our arms to maintain the
integrity of territories thus defined
1T is an extraordinary contention
that the Executive, on his mission
abroad, was in any way permitted
without the concurrence of the Senate
IN the exercise OF the treaty-making
power, TO pledge the faith of this ma
tion
I'VE may put aside the argument that
the rejection of the treaty. with the
covenant OF the League of Nations, as
the President submitted it, was in any
sense an act of bad faith. Indeed. If
the covenant. as submitted. was one
winch should not be accepted. this re-
lection was but the performance Of
duty
The issue with respect to the cove
hant oi the League of Nations was
perfectly clear one. 1t was whether the
Senate should adopt the covenant as
the President submitted it.
1t is constantly said that anoord-
ments suggested by Republicans in the
draft Of the covenant. as it was first
brought over, were accepted. Thus it
has been repeatedly stated by Mr.. Cox
that | had suggested seven amendments
and that five of these were adopted
That IS hardly q candid statement. One
would suppose that five amendments
had been made as they were proposed.
But this Is not so. Several of the
amendments We're made along the lines
suggested, but they were not maze as
proposed or IN q proper manner THIS,
the privilege OF withdrawing from the
league, instead of being accorded abb
so!utely was fettered with a condition
which apparently leaves it to the league
20 deny the privilege if in the opinion
OF the league the international obhga-
tions OF the member seeking to with
draw have not been performed.
Still moro important was the amend
Ment proposed in order to safeguard
the Monroe Doctrine. 1t was indeed
extraordinary that such an amendment
should have been necessary and that
any representative of this country
should have negotiated d com pact which
did away with our historic policy.
There can be no question that the GOV
enant IN Is original form had this ef-
feet. The President was Informed by
his legal advisers in Paris that such an
agreement would destroy the Monroe
Doctrine. /. was only when il became
clear that this country would not toler-
ate this change in its policy that an
amendment was favored by the Presi-
dent. But then the amendment was
not adopted as proposed, nor was an
adequate amendment adopted.
Article X a Troube-Maker
"Most important of ali was the
amendment proposed with respect to
Article X
AT the time to which Mr.. Cox-in his
repeated statements as 10 these amend
ments evidently refers and before the
matter became subject of partisan
controversy, | stated that Article X was
II trouble breeder and not a peace
maker. that II was unnecessary and un-
wise, and asked that the guaranty Of
Article X should be omitted This
amendment was not made, and the re-
suit is that the President brought back
the covenant with Article X and de-
manded that tho Senate accept it,
Republican leaders had lon,, desired
to promote international cooperation.
The question was essentially one of
method and whether the Presidents
covenant must be taken as he proposed
l. The issue thus sprans from his
own insistence and it has not changed
."Upon this issue, upon which the Pres
ident demanded great and solemn
referendum and which the Democratic
platform formally p esented, the Dem
ocratlc party has been beaten The