Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-10-05
he resolution of ratification.

by the other signatories. In its final
form, however, the resolution speci-
lied that the ratification should not
take effect until the senate reserva-
tions should have been accepted "as
part and condition of this resolu-
ton OF ratification by the allied and
associated powers" The preamble
also stipulated that failure on the part
OF these powers to object to the senate
reservations before the formal deposit
or ratification by the United States
snail be taken as a full and final ac-
ceptance of such reservations and un-
Outstanding by said powers"
Reservation No 1 covers the right
OF withdrawal from the league. When
the original constitution" of the
league was drawn up, no provision
was made for the withdrawal of mem
bers. In the revised form of article
this right Of withdrawal was granted
to any member who should have given
two years notice of such intention
provided that all its international OBJ
legations and all its obligations under
this covenant shall have been fulfilled
at the time of its withdrawal"
This, however, still left the with
drawing member at the mercy of the
league because the latter could veto
any withdrawal by declaring that the
member had not fulfilled "all it's in
ternational oblsgations"-a perilous
and sweeping phrase. 1t made a mock
cry OF the whole permission to with
draw. So the senate rendered the ar
tlcle specific by including q reserva-
tion declaring that in case of wifi
drawal, the United States shall be
the sole judge as to whether all its
international obligations and all its
obligations under the said covenant
shall have been fulfilled and notice of
withdrawal by the United States NAV
be given by concurrent resolution
OF the congress of the United States"
President Wilson told the senate
committee that the covenant provision
concerning the fulfillment of obliga-
lions was only "an argument 10 the
conscience of the nations"
If 1t were a matter for the nation
itself to judge" asked Senator Hard
ing, lis not that rather far-fetched
provision?"
TO this the president answered.
We'll, you are illustrating my re-
cent remark, Senator, that the phrase.
ology is your difficulty, not the idea
The idea is undoubtedly what | have
expressed"
But it was the phraseology. not the
idea, which he asked the senate tc
ratify. So the senate Incorporated the
reservation that the phraseology might
conform to the idea.
The proposal to assign to the United
States mandates for former German
colonies or portions of the former
Turkish Empire proved anything but
attractive to the senate. Great Britain
france and Japan has privately appor-
TONED these colonies among them
selves, Great Britain has absorbed all
the Turkish domains that promised
either oil, commerce or other profit
and only such troublous lands as Ar
menia were to be put under the pro-
lection of the United States. The SEN
ate adopted a special reservation to
article 20 of the league 1t is reser-
walton No. 3, and it provides that mo
mandate shall be accepted by the Unit
ed States under article %, part /, or
any other provision of the treaty of
peace with Germany, except by action
Oh the congress of the United States"
Although the president told the SEN
ate that domestic questions" were ex-
cluded from the jurisdiction of the
league, this exclusion was so vague
and the perils of foreign interference
in purely American affairs were so
great that the senate decided to safe
guard American sovereignty by reser-
walton No 4. This reserves to the
United States exclusively the right to
decide what questions are within its
domestic jurisdiction and declares
that all domestic and political ques-
tons relating wholly or in part to it's
internal affairs, including immigra-
ton, labor, coastwise traffic, the tariff.
the suppression of traffic
in women and children and in opium
and other dangerous drugs, and all
other domestic questions are solely
within the jurisdiction of the United
states and are not under this treaty
to be submitted in any way either to
arbitration or to the consideration of
he council or of the assembly of the
league of nations, or any agency
thereof, or to the decision or recon-
nendation of any other power"
Senate reservation No. 6-the "Shan-
Jung rvation"-touches a subject.
vital to the league, although referring
% another part of the treaty of peace.
This reservation simply and compre-
1ensively provides that "the United |
states withholds its assent to articles |
L56, 157 and 1853 and reserves full lib |
erty of action with respect to any con-
roversy which may arise under said
articles"
The articles of the peace treaty cited
n this reservation provide for the sur
render Of the Chinese province of
Shantung to Japan Because of the |
Insertion of these articles, China re-
used to sign the treaty. Secretary
lansing, General Bliss and Mr.. White, |
hree of Mr.. Wilson's fellow commits |
ioners at Versailles, protested vigor-
'usly and in writing against this act |
# treachery to China, but President |
Wilson vetoed their objections and
Japan won. He said he feared Japan |
would carry out her threat |
o bolt the league. Secretary Lansing
old the committee that he believed |
he presidents fears were unfounded. |
why did you yield on a question on
which yOu thouOhf vo,1 o,,obf not +o