East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1920-08-07


words that we remain out of it. AS
the democratic candidate, 1 favor GO
ing in. Let us analyze Senator Hard
ing's plan of making q German-Am-
erican peace. and then calling for
new relationship among nations" as
suming for the purpose of argument
only that the perfidious hand that
dealt with Germany would possess the
power or influence to draw twenty
nine nations away from plan al
ready at work and induce them to re-
trace every step and make new be-
ginning. This would entail our APP
lrointing another commission to as
issInble with those selected by the
other powers. With the Versailles in
strument discarded the whole subject
of partitions and divisions of territory
on new lines would be reopened. The
difficulties in this regard, as any fair
mind appreciates, would be greater
than they were at the peace session.
and we must not attempt to convince
Yourselves that they did not try the
genius patience and diplomacy of
statesmen at that time. History will
say that great as was the allied tri-
umph in war, no less a victory was
achieved at the peace table. The re-
publican proposal means dishonor,
| world confusion and delay. 1t would
keep us in permanent company with
lGermany, Russia. Turkey and Mexico.
lit would entail. in the ultimate, more
real injury than the war itself. The
democratic position on the question,
as expressed in the platform, is:
Immediate Ratification.
t'we advocate immediate ratifica-
tion on the treaty without reservations
which would impair its essential integ-
rity, but do not oppose the acceptance
of any reservation making clearer or
moro specific the obligations of the
United States to the League asso-
ciates."
The first duty of the new admins
tration clearly will be the ratification
of the treaty. The matter should be
approached without thought of the
bitterness of the past. The public YER
dict will have been rendered and I am
lconfident that the friends of world
peace as it will be promoted by the
league, will have in numbers the con-
Institutional requisite to favorable sena-
torial action. The captious may say
that our platform reference to reser-
lvations is vague and indefinite. Its
meaning in brief, is that we shall
lstate our Interpretation of the cove
nant as a matter of good faith to our
associates and as a precaution against
any misunderstanding in the future.
The point is, that after the people
shall have spoken, the league will be
in the hands of it's friends in the
Senate, and safe index as to what
they will do is supplied by what reser-
vations they have proposed in the past
Some months ago. in a contributed ar
ticle to the New York Times, 1 ex-
pressed my own opinion of the situa-
tion as it then was. L reproduce it
here:
Not An Alliance
There can be no doubt but that
some senators have been been conti-
Gus in their desire to clarity the pro-
visions of the Treaty. Two things ap-
iparently have disturbed them: First.
they wanted to make sure that the
League was not to be an alliance. and
that it's basic purpose was peace and
not controversy. Second, they wanted
the other powers signing the instru-
tment to understand our constitutional
Limitations beyond which the treaty
making power cannot go. Dealing
with these two questions in order, it
Interpretation of the function of the
League might have been stated in
these words::
" In giving gifts assent to this treaty
the Senate has in mind the fact that
the League of Nations which it en-
bodies was devised for the sole pur-
pose of maintaining peace and comfy
among the nations of the earth and
preventing the recurrence of such de-
structive conflicts as that through
which the world has just passed. The
cooperation of the United States with
the League and its continuance as a
member thereof. will naturally de-
pend upon the adherence of the Lea
que to that fundamental purpose"
such a declaration would at least
express the view of the United States
and justify the course which our ma
tion would unquestionably follow
were at any time distorted. 1t would
also appear to be a simpler matter |
to provide against any missunder- |
standing in the future and at the same |
time to meet the objections of those
who believe that we might be invit-
ing a controversy over our cOnstitu-
tional rights, by making a senatorial
addition in words something like these
II Will VI GOLiSt DS
that in carrying out the purpose of
the League. the government of the
United States must at all times
lct in strict harmony with the terms
md intent of the United States Con- {
which cannot in any way be Z
Uttered by the treaty-making power"
Unquestioned friends of the league I
lave made other proposals. our plat {
orm clearly lays no bar against any Il
ondition that will be helpful, but it j.
peaks in a firm resolution to stand !
gainst anything that distrubs the vi I
al principle. We hear It said that 6
are unnecessary. That a
nay be true but they will at least U
e reassuring to many of our citizens. a
mo feel that in signing the treaty, c
here should be no mental. reserva- s
ions that are not expressed in plain a
words. as a matter of good faith 20 G
ur associates Such interpretations &
osses the further virtue Of supplying p