The Washington herald., 1920-02-08
SENATORSHEAR
WILSON LETTER
Both Parties Appear Firm
On Eve Of New Treaty .
Fight.
coNrINunD FROM PAGE ONE.

lic.. group OF the mild reserya-
tionists met and agreed TO remain
united behind Senator Lodge. They
will on, for his consideration
several drafts OF compfomise res
ervations. but If they are rejected
by Senator Lodge. as they un-
doubtedly win be. the mild reser-
.vationists pledge themselves to
make no .oyertures to the Demo-
Gratis.
At the same time there are
thirty-eight Republicans pledged to
hold out for the Lodge reserva-
tions without any change.
Senator Lodge declined to make
any comment on the Presidents
letter.
PresIdent's Letter,
The text of the Presidents let
ter, read yesterday. by Hiphcock,
follows:
MY dear Senator Hitchcock:
81 have greatly appreciated your
thoughtful kindness In keeping me
Informed concerning the confer
ence you and some of your col
leagues have had with spokesmen
of the Republican party concerning
the possible ratification of the
treaty of peace. and send this line
! in special appreciative acknowl-
edgnment Of your letter of the
twenty-second. return the clip
! nj fr,ar LIT a. In
| close
ITO The substance Of it I. of course,
adhere. I am bound to. Like your
self, am solemnly sworn to obey
and maintain the Constitution OF, the
! United States But / think the form
of IT very unfortunate. Any reserva-
] tion or resolution stating that the
United States assumes no obligation
under such and such an article un-
less and except would, I am sure
chill our relationship with the nations
with which we expect y be associ-
ated in the great enterprise of main
tanning the worlds peace.
That association must in any case
my dear Senator, involve very seri-
Gus and far reaching implications OF
honor and duty, which, am sure, we
! oAAolA hCNCA AZ AdSN bC uCohouo VI Ae
noring. II is the more important not
to create the impression that We are
trying to escape obligations.
But realize that negative criti.
cism is not all that is called for IN
hso serious a matter. am happy tc
be able to add. therefore. that I have
once more gone over the reservation.
proposed by yourself. the copy o.
which return herewith, and am GLAD
to say I can accept them as they
stand.
II have never seen the slightest rea.
son to doubt the good faith of our as
sociates in the war. nor even had Tho
slightest reason to fear that any, ma
tion would seek to enlarge our obli'
cations under the covenant of th'
league of nations, or to commit us Il
lines of action which. under our con
stitution, only the Congress of tn,
United States can in the last analyst,
decide.
Executives Rights
May 1 suggest that with regar,
to the possible withdrawal of the Unit
ed States, IL would be wise to give tn,
President the right to act upon ou
resolution Of Congress in the matte
Of withdrawal? In other words. 4
would seem to be permissible and ad
visable that any resolution giving no
tice of withdrawal should be a joint
rather than a concurrent resolution
1 doubt whether the President can b,
deprived Of his veto power under tn,
Constitution. even with his own con
sent. The use of joint resolution woult
permit the President, who is, of course
charged by the Constitution with tn,
conduct of foreign policy. to merel,
exercise a voice in saying whether 81
important q step as withdrawal from
the league of nations should be accom-
plished by q majority or a two-third.
vote. The Constitution itself provid
ing that the legislative body was to b,
consulted in treaty making, and hay
1 ing prescribed a two-thirds vote II
such cases, 1t seems to me that thert
should be no unnecessary departur,
from the method there indicated.
II see no objection to a frank state.
ment that the United States can ac
cepts a mandate with regard to any
territory under Article XIII, Part
or any other provision of the treaty
of peace, only by direct authority snt
action Of the Congress of the United
| States.
IT hope, my dear Senator. that you
will never hesitate to call upon me
for any assistance that I can rendel
in this or any other public matter.
| Cordially and sincerely yours,
"(Signe0
| "WOopROw VIII SOM"