Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-14
IL Would. he Reputation.


No thoughtful citizen, with an interest
IN bis eountry's government and con-
Germ for his countrys future, can read the
comments made by our feilow-cltizen,
George Gray, on the proposed reserva-
t,ons TO the League of Nations Covenant,
sslthout recognizing the force OF his con-
tention that some of these reservations,
especially two of them, # adhered TO,
would he an art of Reputation hat
such action would leave our country,
looked to by all the other nations OF the
world 10 take the lead in the movement
for war reconstruction and permanent
World $ Peace, but 4 participant IN name
only. That IT would place the United
States IN the position OF being willing to
,ccept only the possible honors Of the
onnection, but STORMY refusing TO ac-
,ept any OF the serious obligations
Verv clear is Judge Gray's contention
hat by tho reservation to Article =, by
rbich the United States would refuse To
assume any obligation to preserve the
.rritorial integrity or political indie
oendencc of any other country, or to do
INV other thing ID connection with the
Enforcement of the provisions Of Article
Y. 1t would be absolutely rcpudiated and
rejected nv the Senate. In this con
nection he sets forth, with great force
and clarity. fact that many citizens have
been unacQuainted with that the treaty
C1rrya1 ND no
power" That il is the sovereign and
national entity Of the United States
which enters into contractural relations
with other nations, through the medium
Of the rcaty-making power And that
the important character and extent Of
the legislative power vested in Congress
DO rot make il or the House Of Repre-
sentatives a participant m the treaty
making power, or otherwise affect its re-
lations 10 that power, except 50 far Is il is
called uron TO fulfill the obligations which
the sovereignty Of the United States has
imposed upon itself by treaty"
Here is sn exposition of the treaty I
making functions of our government, |
under the Constitution, which should re- /
ceive serious consideration. as thus far /
this situation has been ignored in the /
general discussion At least il has not /
been set forth in such clear and con
vInc.ng manner as now presented by /
Judge Gray. There can be nothing IN any
treaty. after preparation IN the manner
set forth by the Constitution. by the
President OF the United States by and
with the consent Of the Senate, with
wh5ch the Congress can have any subse-
quent concern save that Of cordial CO
operation in carrying II INTO effect Nor
is there any Overriding N the powers Of
Congress IN such situation
Equally emphatic is Judge Grays OBJ
lection to the ninth reservation. by which
the United States would decline TO obli-
gate itself to contribute TO the expenses
Of any league or any commission or COM
mittee Of conference unless an app1o-
priation of funds available for such pur-
poses shalt be made by the Congress Of
the United States Judge Gray holds
that this reservation also amounts to
virtual reputation as IT would make com
pliance dependent upon one of the coun-
Try governmental agencies 1T is high
" objectionable, il seems TO me. he
says. ''on the ground and because it is
unworthy Of the dignity and the self
-espect Of the United States
It Is difficult to conceive how even
PARTISAN jealousy, partisan prejudice. or
lartlsan interest can support these nuih-
wing reservations which would place
'ur country III the humillating position Of
accepting the Treaty merely se matter .
4 form. but declining 10 assume any re- l
possibility II respect Of It's effective OBJ
lgations. Better would it be TO have no I
Treaty at tins time. than 70 have one !
which would be 50 meanlngls IS so far as =
ur country is concerned, By reason Of q
or destructive reservations q
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