The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-20
CUE IS FOUGHT AS PERIL TO INDEPENDENCE ROOT SAYS

has naturally become an earnest parti-
san of his own ideas. Very likely no
has committed himself by arguments
ard statements made In one way or an
other during the negotiations. so that
he himself cannot very well change. Hs
IL naturally intolerant OF those who do
rot agree with him II is almost i'm
possible for him TO avoid thinking of
them as insects or brutes, as ignorant
o. malicious.
yet the correction of nesotiator'.s
mistakes by Independent reviewing au.
thority Is a necessity established py
universal international experience
This Is one of the difficulties incident
TO the direct negotiation OF n treaty oy
President. Being the negotiator. he
cannot review his own work impair
tally. and II Is very difficult for him u
avoid considering changes proposed by
others as something personal to him
self.
FORTUNATELY Mr.. Harding will labor
under no such disadvantage.
IF the objections to provisions in the
! league covenant were frivolous and
without any substantial basis one might
question the sincerity of the DIRECTORS.
| Nc such view, however, can be main
tanned for a moment The principal OBJ
lection urged against the provisions of
the covanent is the objection to Article
x. 1t Is this article which Mr.. Wilson
declares to be the heart of the league.
and for that reason it Is the chief sub
ject of controversy. 1t is this article
above all others that Mr. Cox will DC
bound to insist upon IL he be elected. and
it is this article above all others which
Mr. Harding will be bound to reject If
lac be- elected.
Agreement to Go to War.
let us examine it. 1t is an under
| taking not by the league but by the
members of the league not merely 10
respect but to preserve as against ex-
tornal aggression the territorial intes-
rity and existing political independence
of all members Of the league. That is
what the United States will undertake
to do If 1t ratifies the league covenant
with this provision unchanged. I'M
questionably that is an agreement to go
to war in case external aggression
against any member of the league be o.
such a character that war Is necessary
to repel 1t, such. for instance. as the In
vason of Poland by the Russians, and.
apparently. the invasion of Ukrania by
the Poles. The agreement is guaranty
OF territory and independence TO be sup-
ported by war IL necessary.
president Wilson's own utterances
leave no doubt upon that. When the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
met the President to discuss the treaty
Senator Knox asked What would be
the obligation of the United States In
case Of external aggression against
some Power and 1t Is perfectly
obvious and accepted that it cannot be
repealed except by force of arms And
the President replied that Article x.
would impose an absolutely compelling
moral obligation upon the United
States The President added that
moral obligation is superior to legal
obligation and has a greater binding
force The proceedings or this meeting
were recorded by a stenographer, and
the record shows these statements.
"In plenary session of the Peace
Conference May 81, 1919. to consider the
treaty with Austria which incorporated
the league covenant the representatives
of Rumania and Serbia objected to
having their sovereignty limited in the
treaty by provisions regarding their
treatment of racial and religious
minorities within their territory, and
Mr.. Wilson in an able and impressive
speech urged that they ought to be
satisfied with these limitations, because
their territory and independence were
guaranteed by the military force OF The
great Powers.
There were two stenographic records
Of that proceeding. One was the official
record IN French, translation OF which
has been widely published In books and
periodicals, and was printed in the Con-
01restosacl Record nearly year ago, ap-
parently without any question as to its
7 n
what different version. produced during
the present month by an American
stenographer who took down what was
said. and given out at the White House
In answer to a speech by Senator
Spencer. quoting the translation of the
official version.
There has been much discussion upon
the differences between the two reporte
Whatever the differences may be there
is no difference whatever between them
in respect OF the proposition which am
now making; that the President urged
these small Powers to accept limitations
upon their sovereignty because they
were guaranteed by the armed force OF
the great Powers.
Quotes the President.
According to the official version the
GIeSiuent said:
One Of the essential conditions IA
the most equitable distribution possible
OF territories. in accordance with tho
afiinities and desires Of the populations.
Once this Is done the Allied and Asp
Gated Powers will guarantee the main
tenance OF them rs nearly MS possible
tunder) Just conditions which we shal'
Rave reached. 1t Is they who shall m
Gertake the engagement and burden
thereof. Inevitably the main RESPONSE
hility will rest upon them, since IL is
they who. by the force Of things. have
made the most considerable effort dur
ing the war. 1t must not be forgotten
that 1t Is their force which Is the final
guarantee of the peace Of the world
Under these conditions is ii unjust tina,
=. the language not of dlctators but o.
councillors and friends they now say
I'VE cannot guarantee frontiers IL we do
not believe that these frontiers satisfy
certain principles of right and that they
will not leave causes OF trouble and
conflict remaining in the world"
1.-The same reasoning applies TO the
r.inorities II is with the same idea IN
mind that the status of the minorit.es
hos been mentioned
~ you wish that the principal Al.
He'd and Associated Powers guarantee