South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-09


the president wrote that there was
no escaping the moral obligations
which are expressed in positive
terms of this article" though there
could be no objection to explaining
in an Interpretation the Coustitu-
tional methods by which such an
obligation would have 10 be fulfill
ed. The very heart" Of the Gov
enant. he reiterated would be i'm
perilled by weakening article ten
Presidents Letter.
The presidents letter, written in
response to a request that ne con
fer with Sen. simmons OF North
Carolina, in charge for the demo-
cratic side in the senate in current
motions for a compromise follows
in full:
My Dear Mr.. Hitchcock:
Il understand that one or two of
your colleagues do me the honor OF
desiring 10 know what my views are
with reference TO article ten of the
league of nations and the effect
upon the league Of the adoption of
certain proposed reservations TO that
article. | welcome the opportunity
TO throw any light can upon the
subject which has become so singu-
'arly beclOuded by misapprehensiOns
and misinterpretatiOns OF every
kind.
Moral Obligation.
There is no escaping the moral
obligations which are expressed i'm
positive terms in this article OF the
COYenenant. We won a moral vic
tory over Germany far greater even
than the military victory won on the
field OF battle, because the opinion
of the whole world swung 20 our
support OF the nations associated
with US i'm the great struggle. II
did so because of our common pro
fession and promise that we meant
to establish an organization OF
peace which would make il GER
tain that the combined power OF
free nations would check every in-
vasion of right and serve 20 mako
peace and Justice the more secure
b. afording "a definite tribunal of
opinion to which all must submit
and by which every international rec
ad iustnent that cannot be amicabiy
agreed upon by the people directly
concerned shall be sanctioned This
promise and assurance were writ
ten into the preiimiUaries of the
armistice and into the preliminaries
of peace itself and constitute one
of the most sacred obligations ever
assumed by any nation or body of
nations II Is unJhinkaol that
America should set the example OF
ignoring such solemn moral en-
gageuCnr.
obligated to World.
"TOr myself 7 feel that 7 could
not look the soldiers Of our gallant
armies in the face again If 7 did not
do everything in my power 10 zee
move every obstacle that lies iu the
way Of the adoption Of this particl-
lar article Of the covenant because
We made these pledges TO them as
well 1s 10 the rest OF the world and
il was 20 This cause they deemed
themselves devoted I'm the spirit 0i
rauhful 90 them II did not do ms
utmost tu fulfill the high purnos.
for wh.Cl they fought
'I ,nirf. Uy dear senator. -tt cam
dismiss from our minds the l4ra
that it IS necessary TO stip llate I'D
connection with article ten tae cDl-
~tilutioual methods We slDlId l-e
iu fulfilling our oDliEatl0ue under i-.
We gain nothing b- such s-Dl.a-
tions and secure nothing Wl..I i-
not already secured It was under
etDBu a. matter OH
conference in Paris that h4-e'.r
obligations anE government assumed
or whatever duties il undertook -r-
der the treaty would Cf course have
TO be fuiuued 1y its usual and e~-
tablished constitutional methods or
action once or twice in meetings
| Of the conference when tle treaty
was under consideration. RESERVE a.
tons were made 20 that effect uE
| tho representative or tndiFidua.
powers. and those reservation
were invariably received in tne wa,
in which men who have met tor -ue-
/ mess and not for talk always re-
ceive acts Of scrupulous sIperosa-
/ tion-listcncd 10 with indifferent si-
lInce. as such men listen to what Is
"a matter Cf course and was not nee
/ essarv 90 say
No Objection 60 Explanation.
There can be- uo objections 20
explaining gain what oIr cous-----
tiora. method IS and that au- cOl-
/ 1rc~s alone can declare H-- or Qe-
/ terL.u- Lle caLse or occasions -or
/ war and tLlt it alone can authorize
/ the use ~ -ue armed forces ot t.e
/ United States ou land or au tae sea-.
/ E-t go make such a-. -.ar-t-al