Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-12

the sole power To declare war o au-
thorize the employ ment of the military
or naval forces Of the United States,
shall by act or joint resolution so pro-
vide, amounts TO declaration that tho
United States will do as it pleases when
an occasion for fulfilling the obligation
arises. / can sec nothing in this but
an absolute reputation Of the obligation
sought to he imposed by Article X of
the covenant, and the whole reservation
ID thus futile for any other purpose. A
direct deletion of the whole article H.
in my opinion, preferable to an amend
ment which implies such serious dero.
cation from the treaty making power,
and one which may prove an uniortu-
nate precedent in future negotiations
with foreign nations OF course, either
the deletjon or the adoption of the res
ervation involves a resubmission to the
signatory powers
j be third reservation, to the effect
that 10 mandate shall he acoepted by
the United States under Article XII,
Part !, except by action of the Con-
gress of the United States, is, | am OF
opinion, mere interpretative resolution,
and not open to objection.
The fourth reservation is also, m my
opinion, interpretative and requires no
rcsubmission, and is otherwise unobIec-
tionable
REQUIRES KENEGoTTATroEs.
The fifth reservation, excluding the
Monroe Doctrine from the purvew OF
the treaty, is also unobjcctionable.
The sixth reservation, providing that
''thc United States withholds ITS as-
sent to Article i56, l57 and I5s. and
reserves full liberty of action with re-
spcct TO any controversy which may
arise under said articles between the
Republic of China and the Empire OF
Japan" has been the subject Of heated
debate and, as it withholds absolutely
the consent Of the United States 10 the
articles named, il cannot be adopted
without renegofiatlon with the sigma
tory powers, involving what cannot fail
TO be the occasion of serious differ
once With Japan, who cannot avoid con-
sidering this action Of the United States
as offensive, in the Light of her stipula
ton 10 return the province of shan
tung to China Within some reasonable
time
The seventh and eighth reservations
uav or NAV not require rcncgotlatlon.
They are, in my opinion, unnecessary
but unohjcctionahle, except rs they may
cause delay or confusion. The ninth
reservation is as follows: THE United
States declines 10 hc obligated to con
tribute to any cXpcncrs Of the league or
Of any commission or committee oi
conference, or any other agency organ
izcd under the league or under the
treaty. FOR the purpose of carving out
the treaty provisions, unless An sppro-
pratiOn of funds available for such ex-
pcuscs shall bc made hy the Congress
az The United States. This, of course.
Is amenahIe 10 the criticism made ct
the reservation IS to Article y. IL IL .
refusal u assume any obligation What
ever in the premises, unless the United
States hereafter shall decide TO do so by
one of its governmental departments or
agencies II IS highly objectionable il
seems to me. "a this ground aud be-
cause il i unworthy of the dignity and
&, f-rpsnact Of the United States
| do not see that the tenth. eleventh
and twelfth reservations amount to
amendments rcqui inc cnegotlatlon, II
not afirmatively dlSapprOved by the
other signatory powers
4. 5. wITHH0LDs COOPERATION.
The thirteenth reservation. referring
to very important and elaborate provl-
sions for Information lizing the labor
interests al the world declares thst the
United States wjthholds its assent. un-
less the Congress, by Act or JOINT rcso-
luton. shall hereafter make provision
for representation in the organization
established by Part XIII Articles 3S7
to 427. ncluslve1 The subject matter Of
Part XIII Is too important. novel and
complex in its provisions To be discussed
in this psper.
The rcscrvs tion In regard 70 it, how
ever. is ameuablc to the same criticism
Is tha: made on the reservation as to
Article X II Is q repudstion OF Sd OBJ
legation which, Il seef1s % me, reccSai-
tates rcncgotiauon with the high cor
tracing parties.
The fourteenth reservation refers. Of
course. II that article Of the league
which gives to the self-govc rnlng col
onies and dominions II Great Britain
one vote in the assembly of the league,
hough not II the council, although the
council is mentioned II the reservation.
II, OF course, Is a substantive amendment
to the treaty requiring rcsuhmission
OF the same This objection ought 10
defeat it, because II has been shown
over and over again that. in the coun-
Gil where all important determinations
and decisions a-c made, these separate