New-York tribune., 1920-01-26

the reservations on the Lodge program
are direct amendments to the treaty
ana others alter the intent Of certain
parts TOO completely to make them
binding unless the Allies and Germany
accent the notifications.
, Inc tourth reservation, reserving to
the United States the right to define
comestlc questions, Mr. Wickersham
heid, removed from the jurisdiction
VI ehe league questions Of the highest
ln,pofoahce-q questions Of d nature
wnlcn "" IN the past have been dealt with
by International agreement"
The proposed reservation" he con-
tlnued, "constitutes material modi-
hcatlon of the provisions of the cove
nant."
Substantial' Modification Explained
Mr: Wlckersham regarded as a "sub-
stanual modification Of the cove
nant the Lodge reservation reserving
the right Of the United States to in
crease armaments without the consent
OF the council"
after citing other examples Mr..
Nlckersham continued:
heSe appear to me to be sufficient
70 demonstrate that the reservations as
proposed involve d modification in es-
sentlal particulars of provisions OF the
treaty, and ratification upon condition
OF thelr adoption, IN my opinion. would
be invalid until accented bv the other
powers to the peace treaty. do not
understand how Germany could be ex-
ccpted from the necessity of such ac-
ceptance. The treaty constitutes q
treaty of peace with Germany. 1t is Of
thc hlghcst importance that no ma
teral change should be made in it after
her signature and before that of the
other parties to it.
he league of nations is inter
woven INTO the provisions of the
treaty. There are many important pro-
visions which depend for their opera
ton upon action by the league 1t may,
therefore be a matter of Vital jmnor,
lance to Germany how the organs OF
the league shall be constituted, and a
change IN the method Of composing the
assembly or the council, and the con-
dltlons by and under which either of
those bodies shall act, are in this aspect
or prime Importance to GERMANY
Without more extended discussion, my
conclusion is that q ratification of the
treaty, including the Lodge reserva-
tons, would require resubmission of
the whole treaty to those powers which
already shall i have accepted it. includ-
ing Germany"
Powers of U. S. Representatives
Taking up the question as to what
powers the United States representa-
tives in the league council and as
sembly could exercise ii the treaty
should be ratified with the Lodge reser-
vations Mr.. Wickersham held that
those representatives:
l. Could not call upon any nation to
employ military forces in defense
n ct
with the consent of Congress-;
,. Gould only advise the league coun-
Gil and assembly that the United States
reserved the right to make its own
decisions on questions of immigration,
labor, coastwisc traffic. the tarlif. COM
mcrce, the suppression of traffic in
women and children and in opium and
other dangerous drugs;
3. Could not be nominated or ap-
pointed by the United States until
Congress passes law dealing with the
subject;
4. Must refer to Congress any regu-
lation OF or interference by the Rcpara
ton Commission With commerce be
tween the United States and Germany;
>. Must refer to Congress for APP
proval the American share of any
budget providing for the expenses OF
Concluding. Mr. Wickersham wrote:
"These are the principal matters
which would require reference back to
the Congress before the council or as
sembly could yaNc action upon them.
1t would be difficult to predict the OK
tent OF embarrassment which they
would cause to the effective operations
Of the league. Certainly they viii not
tend to make its operations more ef-
fcctive in carrying out the purposes of
the establishment OF the league, and
ii might hazard a prediction it would
be that before much time shall have
elapsed the good sense and the prac-
teal judgment Of the american people
and the American government VIII
prompt an effort by amendment to re
move many, il not all. of these restric-
tionS to the complete offectuation Of
the purpose of the league purposes
which can only be achieved by the cX-
istcncc OF mutual confidence among
its members and a common desire to
carry on; the aims and object Of its es-
tablishmcnt'