Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-03-09
RESERVATIONS ALL NULLIF|ERS
President Declares in
Answer to Inquiry of
Democratic Senators
on Peace Pact - All
But Two Reserva-
tons Cleared Away
by Senate

v 1Sr30ErO Oh March c-E~eSldsI-
a flsor re-srarec for Democratic ser
a-nrs -2dav his opposition u any
peace -raary reservations which
weaken The full force Of Article II
Or otherwise materially irupal, n
provisions Of the league covenant
Without saying specially winch
qualification ne would Or would nor
accept. ne wrote N a letter u sen
ator Hitchcock the administration
oade- Lnac almost ali Of the -aser-
va-lons ne aaG heard suggested were
II effect virtual nulIihca1ons" of
ne treaty articles 10 which -hey APP
piled
! hear If -aServa-iors and mid
-eserva lions" the letter added '-Ubt
7 cannot understand the difference
between nuIIifier and a mild Uul
.ttier .
Discussing Article 10 particularly
the President wrote thu there was
no escaping me mora obligation
n This article" though there would be
no objection u explaining IN an IN
terpretaClon the constitutional meth
cas- ny which suca an obliEaLOn
/ would have u pc fulfilled The very
heart" Of The covenant ne re-terat-
&C. would oe imper1lied by weaken
ing Article IN"
The Presidents lerce-. written II
response 70 request lha- ne con-
fer wlLh senator Simmons Of North
Carolina. IT charge for the democrat
&c sloe II The Senate IN negorla u ons
t0r compromise follows IN part.
With reference =, Article 10. there
Is no escaping the moral obligations
which ars Expressed - positive
te-Tns IL ttls article Of The covenant
We won 4 moral vlcrorv over Ger
many far greater even than the mil
.. --a1-v -l--Ur-. because the opinion of
me whole world swung 10 our support
and ne supper OF the Nations asso-
cIalec WITH US.
L dlC Sd because u ou- common
profession and PROMISE thai we meant
40 establish an organization OF peace
WhIch Should make il certain -.1a- the
combined power at rec nations woLIC
check every INVASION OF -.En: and sew.
70 make peace anC Justice rne more s.
cure ~ aEordiug 4 definite --,buna, OF
opinion 20 which all much suprr.it ana
9y |hIcn every -nte--;a -iunal -eaG-usi-
nifnt -nat cannon ~ 4InIcaoiv ag-A.4d
upon Dy the people dlract.v concer-,. L
snail ne Sanctioned. This promise ana
ASSURANCE were written into me neace
I-selt ana constitute one Of the rrlusr
sacred obligations ever assumed tn an
nation or BODY OF nations = LII
thlnka1ie Thar America shoulC - ae-
example Of ignoring such snlerr1p uno--
4. engagement.
think we car dismiss the idea -ra.
Il IS necessa-v 70 stipuiate in connection
WIN Article x -he constitutional meth
oGs we should use II fulfilling our Or
legations under l. 1t was unde-gt GOD
as L matter % course a. ire con f.-e,,r.-
Il Paris that Whatever nsJiiga.lons an
government assumed under The --ea-,
would. o. course. nave n De fulfilled
ny IL usual and established cnnsr:-.I-
cnra methods IT actions
"There can De no op,er-Ion IA AZ
planning again what our constitutions
method IS and thai our Congress alone
can declare war or determine the causas
or occasions fur war. and thar Il alone
car authorize the Use Of the armed
forces Of rne United STATES on lanG Or
seq Sut 70 make sncn a declaration
would certainly ne work 1f sups-a-n-
CATION
~ an -nr-- 10 sg~ that The -ese-va-
lions that have come under NJ no-ic.
are. almost without exception no, inra--
praIations of the articles 10 which il Is
Continued or PAGE -co, 8