Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-08-09

-2AIoA4 oAA dReOA14A2A- AAOL2C4 1880
mission 10 assemble with those Sc
lecred by the other powers With the
Versailles instrument discarded. the
whole subject OF partitions and Ill
vision Of territory On new lines would
be reopened. The difficulties IN this
regard. as any fair mind appreciates.
would be greater than they were al
the peace session. and we must not
attempt 70 convince ourselves thai
they did not try The genius. patience,
and diplomacy Of statesmen at that
time. History will say that great As
was the Allied triumph IN war, no
less victory was achieved at the
peace table. The Republican pro-
posai means dishonor, world ocnfu-
permanent company with Germany.
Russia. Turkey and Mexico. Il would
entail. IN the Ultimate. more real in
jury than the war Itself. The Demo
cratic position on the question. as ex-
pressed in the platform, is:
We advocate immediate ratifi-
cation Of the Treaty without reser-
sen1iai integrity, but do not oppose
the acceptance of any reservation
making clearer or more specific the
obligations of the United States 70
the League associates
The first duty of the new admin
lstrarion clearly Will be the raIifi-
Gallon OF The Treaty. The matter
Gh aa ..
thought Of The bitterness OF the past.
The public verdict will have been
rendered. ana I am confident that the
friends of world peace as il will
oe promoted by the League. will nave
IN numbers the constitutional reani-
site 10 favorable senatorial action.
The captious may say that our plat
torU reference % reservations Is
Vague ana indefinite. It's meaning.
n brief. Is that We snail state our
Interpretation of the covenant as a
matter OF good faith 10 our ass0-
ciaies and as "A preeaution against
any misunderstanding n the future.
The point IS. that after the people
shall have spoken. he League will De
n the hands OF It's friends. IN the
SENATE. and A safe index as 10 what
they VIII 40 IS supplied by what
reservations they have proposed IN
the past Some months ago. IN a
contributed article TO the New YORK
Times, I expressed Yy own opinion
of the situation as Il then was.
reproduce II here:
There can De no doubt but tha,
some senator's nave been conscien-
uous n their desire 20 clarity the
PROVISIONS Of the Treaty Two
things apparently have disturbed
them First. they wanted 70 make
sure that The League was not 20 70
an alliance, and hat its basic pur-
pose was peace and not controversy
SeGond. they wanted the other DOW
ers signing the Instrument ~ under
stand our constitutional limitations
oeTond which the treaty max inr
power cannot 20. Dealing with these
Two questions n order. II has ALWAYS
seemed 20 ne that the Interpretation,
Of the function Of the League nigh,
have been stated n these WORDS.
In giving its assent 10 this treaty
the Senate mas n mind the facr ina,
the League NJ Nations which il I'm.
bodies was devised for the sole pur-
pose of maintaining peace ard
comfy among the nations of the
earth ana preventing the Necr1r-e1ce
Of such destructive conflicts as rha,
through which the world mas ius-
passed. The cooperation " The
nlted States with the League and
IT'S continuance As ,nernD thereof
will naturally depend upon the ad.
herence If the League 70 rhat Inn.
danentai purpose.
Such declaration Womb ~
east express the view OF the Tinted
states ana justify the course wh,cl
our nation would unouestionabIv fol
low # the basic purpose OF III.
League were al any time distorted
II would also appear to ne A si-npie,
matter 70 provide against any mis-.
understanding n the future and A.
the same time 20 meet the objection,
Of those who believe that we -nlght ~
inviting a controversy over orJr ror
stitutionai rights. by making a sena.
torai addition IN words sonnet hine
ike these:
IL VIII Of course ne understood
that N carrying ont the pur,ose n
me League. the government Of N.
United states must AT all times act i
strict harmony with the terms anr
intent Of me United States Constitu.
ton which cannot in anv wav be Al.
fered oF the treaty making power
Cnquestioned friends Vt the Ieap,,.
nave made other proposals Our Mat.
/ Iofn cIeariE laws no bar against AM
additions that will be helpful. bur il
speaks n Il firm resolution 10 s-anf
against ANYTHING that disturbs IN,
vital principle. We hear II said ma,
interpretations are unnecessarv. ira
may be true. but they will at least b
reassurinE 70 many Of our citizens
who feel that IN signing the treaty
there should be no mental -ese---a
tons that are not expressed IN plalr
WORDS as matter Of good faith Il
our associates. Such interpretation
possess the further virtue Of suppIv-
ing base upon which agreement car
De reached. and agreement. without
injury TO the covenant IS now Of
pressing importance. Il was the de-
sire TO get things started tina,
prompted some members Of the sen
ate 70 vote for the Lodge reserva
tons Those VINO conscientiouxly
voted for them in the final roll calls
realized however that they acted nm
der duress. in that a politically bigot
al minority was exercising the