New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-13

only to the Lodge reservations. But
his objection to Article X is SO deep
seated and fundamental and involves
SO vitality those principles by which
alone any league Of nations can sur
vive that he is now in favor of strik-
ing Article X out altogether.
If Article x is so fundamentally at
variance with liberalism the clean
cut method is unquestionably to
strike it out, as Mr.. Hoover urges.
But no reservation could accomplish
this excision, and the practical ques-
ton of craftsmanship which Mr..
Harding will face if elected is how
to make the excision without delay
ing or imperilling the success Of the
league idea. Probably the member
nations would gladly accept an ex,
cision of Article X, which was en-
grated upon the British or SHUTS
plan at President Wilson's urging,
and which never had any proper
place in league of this general
character.
We ask the friends of the league
principle to read the following ex-
tracts from Mr.. Hoover's clear ar
raignment of Article X, made on
June rs last:
"Any one reading Article X will
realize that there is nothing in the
phraseology that denotes a binding
obligation. But there is an implca-
ton that apparently has generally
come to be regarded as constituting
strong moral responsibility. There
fore, the real nub of the discussion
with regard to the League Of Nations
is the question as to whether the
United States shall take any sort Of
commitment, moral or otherwise, to
guarantee the integrity of foreign
states to use its military resources
to carry out the decisions of the
league. This is fundamentally the
question upon which we are about to
fight an election.
"The issue, however, goes deeper
even than caution in a new venture
of American national life. 1t raises
great problem as to whether the
league itself is not weakened and it's
objects will not be defeated if this
obligation is continued in it's consti-
tuition at all"
Mr.. Hoover then proceeded to dis
cuss the practical effects of Article
X upon the European situation. He
suggested that the guarantees and
the use of military force are already
undermining the league in Europe"
and continued:
"The league is in being to-day with
twenty eight nation members, and if
we frankly examine its effectiveness
in Europe at this moment it will be-
come apparent that the council is
hesitating in attempts to restrain ag-
gression because of the knowledge
that in the present temper of the
world no nation, except those which
have immediate and material inter
ests at stake, will furnish a single
soldier for its assistance"
These words have a prophetic bear
ing upon the present Polish situa-
ton. They suggest clearly the double
objection to Article x that, in the
first place, it in some degree trans
forms league of peace into a mill
tary alliance; and, in the second
place, that, human motives being as
they are, it will not work.
Mr.. Hoover urged his party in this
same statement to ratify the league
covenant with reservations and the
excision of Article X. He also
strongly opposed the calling of new
world peace conference. In SO doing
he was in accord with what The
Tribune considers the overwhelming
probability Of the situation. 1t should
be possible to excise Article X and to
add the constructive judicial meas
ures fathered by Mr.. Root to the ex-
listing structure of the league with
out long delay or elaborate debate.
SO far as Article X is concerned, it
can be removed from the covenant
without leaving hole; for it was al
ways an anomalous addition, the tur-
ret of a super-state imposed upon a
council chamber.