Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-10

both sides.
The President, however, declines to
make concessions. His letter is stand
pat document
And it is based on what seems to be
misconception of the facts. The
treaty has already been ratified by
Great Britain. France. Italy aud Japan.
as we'll as by Germany. II is in force.
The obligations under the League Of
Nations covenant have been assumed by
Great Britain, France. Italy and Japan.
They have undertaken Ito respect and
preserve against external aggression the
territorial integrity and existing politi-
cal Independence of the members of the
league" so far as they are required to
do so under the covenant.
No reservations or interpretations
which we may make can affect their
obligations. They are willing to accept
the co operation of the United States in
the affairs of the league so far as we
are willing to go. 1t may be argued
that the Lodge reservation, which pro-
vides that we assume no obligations
under Article Y, save as Congress may
direct, will weaken the force Of that
article. and that the other nations
which have accepted the article with no
reservations will decline to respect its
provisions because we propose to limit
our obligations under it, but this is a
gratuitous assumption.
The validity of the league is not
dependent wholly on the attitude of
the United States. The difference
between the ratification of Article y
with the reservation as proposed by
Senator Lodge and the ratification as
effected by the European nations is
really little more than a difference of
method by which the decision TO use
force is TO be made. Stripped of all
verbiage, the Lodge reservation pro-
vdcs that the United States shall as
sumo no obliration to protect the terri
torial integrity of members of the league
or to use military or naval force save
as Congress shall direct.
Mr.. Wilson remarks that 'it must
not be forgotten that this article CAR
tice X constitutes a remuneration of
wrong ambition on the part of powerful
nations Wllu WnOlll we Ntlf uSNpNlultu
In the war" He seems to forget that
by ratifying it they have signed and
sealed their remuneration and he sug-
gests that unless we enter the league
with Article X.unchanged by the dot
ting of an i or the crossing of there
is danger that the rcnunciation will be
repudiated and that efforts to realize
on the wrong ambitions" will forth
with be made.
| This, we regret to say, is a gratuitous
insult to Great Britain, France and
| Italy. It Is the product of Mr.. Wilcon s
| unfortunate temperament, which has
caused deadlock in the Senate; and
unless the powers which he crticizes are
almost superhumanlv maguanimous, it
| is likely to complicate our dealings with
them in the immediate future and to
weaken the very strurturc of the League
of Nations itself,
Yet, if Mr.. Wilson Is going to insist
on the ratification Of the covenant with
out any reservations or interpretations
he might as well withdraw the treaty
at once. II he wishes to pit himself not
only against the Senate but against the
rest of the world, that Is his privilege
| But such course makes neither for
domestic harmony nor international
amity. No progress can be made with
out good faith among those working
together. And among equals there
must be a policy of give and take,
whether the equals be men or nations.
Neither man nor nation can long set
up as the dictator OF a world policy.
With all due respect both to Mr..
Wilson and TO the Senate, 1t must be
! said that there has been too much pif-
! ding over the form of words in the
league covenant.
When the document was first made
public it was regarded as a somewhat
impotent contract, but it was welcomed
as a step in the right direction. The
advocates of international arbitration,
while admitting all its weaknesses, were
frank enough to say that 1t went further
than they had thought possible when
the peace commission began it's SEES
sions. It was the formal admission
that something must be done by mutual
agreement among nations II war was 10
A. Ia....Ml..-aI FVh~ ,s.~~.,f.l.- - ~