The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-21
Mr.. Elihu Root Supports Senator
Spencer.

Mr.. Eiihu Root supports Senator
Spencer.
Mr.. Roor's speech III Carnegie Hall
did something to clear up the issue
between President WILSON and Sen
ator SPENCER. This Incident has been
declared closed. so far as the White
House Is concerned. but by the people
1t will not be regarded as closed until
Mr.. SPENCER gets the apology that Is
due, and overdue.
To the examination and comrari-
son Of the several published versions
Of President WILSON'S unwarranted
assurances to Rumania and Serbia at
the Peace Conference on May 81, 1919.
Mr.. Roor devoted the analytic powers
Of great legal intellect. The atsen-
ton he bestowed upon this question
Of meaning was properly given, for
the significance of Article ", from the
Presidents point OF view, is involved
in his Interpretation Of the same for
the benefit Of the representatives OF
the little nations, and he himself has
declared that Article Y. Is the heart
Of the covenant, and that its under
takings would constitute on the part
Of the United States IAN absolutely
compelling moral Obligation
"Unquestionably," said Mr.. Roor Of
Article X, ''that is an agreement to
go to war in case external aggression
against any member Of the League
be Of such character that war is
necessary to repel it." Now, there
were two stenographic versions Of Mr..
WILSON'S remarks when in reply to
the protests Of Mr.. BRArIANo and Mr..
TRUMBITcH he was arguing with his
accustomed glibness that Rumania and
Serbia ought to be satisfied with alien
supervision Of some Of their domestic
affairs because their territory md
independence were guaranteed by the
military force Of the great Powers.
Mr. Roof brushes aside the pretence
OF Mr.. TUMULTy and his principal
that the version given out by the
White House Is the official version.
The official record was In French, and
from one Of the slightly varying trans
lations, printed nearly n year ago in
the Congressional Record, apparently
without any question as to its anthem
han etv
SPENCER quoted the passage which Mr..
TUMULTY, and afterward President
WILSON, denounced as a fabrication.
The other and somewhat different
version, which the White House
would be glad to see accepted as the
official version, but which is not off,
cial In any respect, was produced by
an American stenographer in Mr.. VIZ
soN's train and furnished to Mr..
TUMULTY when the issue with Senator
SPENCER became acute.
We review these circumstances
merely to introduce Mr.. ELIHU Roor's
conclusion:
There has been much discussion
upon the differences between these
two reports. Whatever the differ
ences may be there Is no difference
between them in respect OF the prop
osition which I am now making:
that the President urged these small
Powers TO accept limitations upon
their sovereignty because they were
guaranteed by tho armed force Of
the great Powers"
And again:
Upon both these reports IT is per-
fectly plain that the consideration
upon which Rumania and Serbia
were urged to consent to a limitation
OF their sovereignty was a guarantee
of that sovereignty by the United
states with the justified understand
ing that the guarantee or need be-
would be made good by sending
armies and fleets across the sea. That
guarantee was contained in Article
x. and that is what Article x.
means" u
Whatever may be thought or said
Of any other part Of Mr.. RooT's
speech. this part is the reasoned judg.
ment of a trained jurist upon con-
crete question recently and yet OF
great public interest and Importance.
1t has almost the weight Of a judicial
decision. 1t justifies Senator SPEN-
GER and those who have. supported
him. 1t sends Mr.. WILSON and Mr.
TuMULTY out Of court with an OBJ
vious duty TO perform which can
scarcely be ignored by honorable men
Postals for the Professor.
On behalf Of the Pro-League indie
I A..