Evening journal., 1920-08-07
COX SAYS PRESENT LEA CUE OF
NATIONS COVENANT SUITS DEMOCRATS

tions Of the United states TO the
league associates"
"The first duty OF the new admin
istration clearly will be the ratih-
cation OF the Treaty. The matter
should be approached without hought
of the bitterness Of the past. The pub
lie verdict will have been rendered and
am confident that The friends Of
world peace as 10 will be promoted
by the League, Will have In numbers
the constitutional requisite 20 favor
able senatorial action. The capuous
may say that our platform reference
10 reservations is vague and iudeil-
mite. Its meaning, in brief, Is that
we shall state our Interpretation OF
the covenant as matter Of good
faith to our associates and as a pre-
caution against any misundersland-
ing in the future. The point Is, that
after the people shall have spoken.
the League will be in the hands Of
IFS friends in the Senate, and a safe
index as 20 what they Will do Is sup
piled by what reservations they have
proposed in the past. some months
ago, In a contributed article 10 the
New York Times, / expressed my own
opinion OF the situation as 1t then
was, I reproduce 10 here:
There can be no doubt hut that
some senators have been conscien-
tious in their desire TO clarity the
provisions Of the Treaty. Two things
apparently have disturbed them
First. they wanted 10 make sure that
the League was not 10 be an alliance,
and that its basic purpose was peace
I 90 .Ia.a.a NnnN
wanted the other powers signing the
/ instrument TO understand our con-
stitutional limitations beyond which
4 the treaty-making power cannot go
Dealing with these two questions In
order, 10 has always seemed 10 me
that the interpretations Of the func-
tion OF the League might have been
stated in these words:
It will OF course be understood
that in carrying out the purpose OF
the League, the government Of the
United states must al all times aci
in strict harmony with the tetrms
and intent of the United States Con
stitution which cannot In any way
be altered by the treatymakine
power. 80
"Unquestioned friends Of the league
have made other proposals. Our plat
form clearly lays no bar against any
additions that will be helpful. bui
Il speaks in a firm resolution 10 stanC
against anything that disturbs m,
vital principle. We hear 10 said iha
Interpretations are unnecessary. ThaI
may be true. but they will at least b'
reassuring 10 many OF our citizens
Who feel that In signing the treaty
there should be no mental reserva.
tions that are not expressed In plaiI
words, as a matter OF good faith 1,
our associates. Such Interpretation,
possess the further virtue Of suppy
ing a base upon whcih agreemen
can be reached. and agreement, with
out injury 30 the covenant, is nov
Of pressing importance. II was thl
desire to get things started, thaI
prompted some members Of the sen
ate TO vote for the Lodge reserva
tions. Those who conscieniiously votel
for them in the final roll calls real
lied, however, that they acted unde
duress, in that a politically bigotei
minority was exercising the arbiirar'
power of its position TO enforce dras
tic conditions. Happily the voter
OF the republic, under our system o
} government, can remedy that situa
ton, and | have the faith that the
I WILL az tile titctlun dlle IAN. lue
! | organized government will be enable
: 10 combine impulse and facility
y | making OF better world condition
: The agencies Of exchange will auto
= matically adjust themselves 10 N
A opportunities Of commercial freedom
= New life and renewed hope will tai
\ hold Of every nation. Mankind wi
= press a resOlute shoulder 10 the tas
4, Of readiustment and a new era WI
n have dawned upon the earth.
n a fOrbearing policy is not q
y proper one for the deliberate enen
( OF our constitutions lie is OF q
= kind that knows conditions abroi
= and here. The difference between al
p tocracy and democracy Is well mar
4 ed In his mind. He Is opposed
4 government in any form, ard he hat