The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-16
HARDING MADE
WILSON ADMIT
LEAGUE PERIL
White House Conference
Report Shows Moral OBJ
legation Admitted.
NIGHT RESULT IN WAR
Presidents Denial Leads to
Citations From His Talk
With Senator's.
LIGHT ON DARK SUBJECT
we Always Have to Concur
in Judgment Of Council,'
Said Covenant Parent.
LIGHT ON DARK SUBJECT

Spec:ai Despatch TO THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald bureau,
Washington, ID. G., Oct. Is.
In his speech at Indianapolis to-
night Senator Harding recalled meet
ing Of President Wilson and the SEN
ate Committee on Foreign Relations
at which the covenant OF the League
of Nations was discussed.
Senators were keen to know" said
Mr.. Harding. what we were being let
in for Senator Knox asked the Presi-
dent this question:
Suppose it is perfectly obvious
that there is an external aggression
against some Power. and suppose 1t
is perfectly obvious that it cannot be
repelled except by force of arms. would
we be under any legal obligation to
participate?'
1.-THE President answered: No. sir;
but we should be under an absolutely
compelling moral obligation
"a little later the President an
swered an inquiry ! made. with some
suggestion Of reproval: "A moral OBJ
legation is. Of course, superior to a
legal obligation. and, If j may say so.
of greater binding force
Official Report of Debate.
This debate occurred year ago. aud
following is an official transcript OF the
conversation between the President anG
Senator Harding on that occasion;
SENATOR pING---"rhe President ex-
pressed a. while ago surprise that I
raised a question as TO the value of this
compact (the League OF Nations cove
nart) because OF tho moral obligation
feature
II look upon moral obligation as
that which the conscience OF the con-
tracting party irnpe1s.
The conscience OF any nation IN Eu-
rope. for example. may be warped by It's
prejudices, racial. geographical and
otherwise. IL that be true and any
nation may put aside or exercise Its
Judgment as TO the moral obligation In
accepting any recommendation OF the
league, really what do we get out OF
this international compact in the en-
forcement OF any decree?''
THE PREsIpENT--"W'e get the centring
upon it generally OF the definite opinion OF
the world, expressed through the au-
thoritative organs OF the responsible
Governments
SENATOR HARpIN,.---'"rhat IS Burren-
dering the suggestion of q moral obliga-
tion for this Republic 70 the preJudices
or necessities Of tho Old World, Is IL
not?"
THE PREsIDENr---"I DO not understand
that we make such a surrender"
SENATOR fIARDrNG---"Would you not
understand n decree by the council TO
tion?
THE PREsJDENT--"Certainly ] would,
but we would have TO concur In that be-
fore IL had any force OF any kind"
SENATOR HARDfNG---''would It not be
quite as moral for this Republic TO de-
terrnine its moral obligations?'
THE PREsIDgNT---"Undoubte Sena-
tor: but in the meantime the world
would not have the knowledge that there
will be concerted action by all the re-
sponsible Governments OF tho world in
the protection Of tho peace OF the world
The minute you do away with that as
surance you have reached the situation
which produced the German war"
"WouId Always Have to Concur"
SENATOR HARDING--"What becomes OF
our standing among nations II the coun-
ell fixes moral obligation upon US and
we reject the Judgment OF the counciiT'
THE PREsfpENz'--"Pardon me il / re-
mind you that we always have TO con-
cur in that"
SENATOR HARpiNC--"Preciscly but tho
council states what constitutes the moral
IL we agree but II we do not
agree. then. in the eyes of the world we
have rejected its judgment as TO "a
moral obligation
THE PREs1pENT- Certainty and I
hold that we arc at liberty TO do that
II our moral judgment honestly differs
from the moral judgment of the world"
SENATOR HARDINo--'Then, let Us go
back TO the original inquiry. What per-
nanent value Is there. then. TO this COM
paotr"
THE PREsrpEHr--"The greatest per-
maneut value. Senator. We are assum-
ing that the United States will not con-
cur in the general moral Judgment OF
the world. In my opinion. she generally
will. II IL had been known that this
war was coming on, our moral judgment
would have concurred with that OF the
other Governments Of the world, and
II Germany had known that there was a
OF that sort or concurrence
she never would have dared TO do what
she did.
without such notice served on tho
Powers that may wish TO repeat the
folly that Germany commenced. there
|. no assurance to the world that there
will be peace even Tor n generation,
v hereas II they know beforehand that
fhere will be that concert Of judgment
trere is the most tremendous guaranty"
SENATOR HARpfNG--"But Mr.. Presi-
dent. nobody expressed for us our moral
-
Coatinucd on THIRD Joge.