New-York tribune., 1920-10-20
Advocated Leagues Adoption Enforce His Decisions Root Char

Of his own ideas. Very likely he has
committed himself by arguments and
statements made in one way or another
during the negotiations, so that he
himself cannot very we'll change. He
ls naturally intolerant of those who do
not agree with him. 1t is almost i'm
possible for him to avoid thinking Of
them as insects or bruteo, as ignorant
or malicious.
Yet, the correction of negotiators'
mistakes by Independent reviewing au-
thority is a necessity established by
universal international experience.
"This is one of the difficulties Incl
dent to the direct negotiation of
treaty by President. Being the nego-
tlator, he cannot review his own work
impartially, and it is very difficult for
him to avoid considering changes pro-
posed by others as something personal
to himself.
Fortunately, Mr.. Harding will labor
under no such disadvantage.
IF the objections to provisions in
the league covenant were frivolous and
without any substantial basis one
might question the sincerity of the
o5bjectors. No such view, however, can
be maintained for moment. The prin-
cipal objection urged against the pro-
visions of the covenant is the objec-
tion to Article X. 1t is this article
which Mr.. Wilson declares to be the
heart of the league, and for that rea-
son it is the chief subject of contro-
versy. 1t is this article above all others
that Mr.. Cox will be bound to insist
upon if he be elected, and it is this
article above all others which Mr. Har-
ding will be bound to reject if he be
elected.
Guaranty of Territory
"Let us examine it. 1t is an under
taking not by the league but by the
members of the league, not merely to
respect but to preserve as against ex-
ternal aggression the territorial integ
rity and existing political independence
of all members of the league. That is
what the United States will undertake
to do if it ratifies the league covenant
with this provision unchanged. I'm
questlonably that is an agreement to
go to war in case external aggression
against any member of the league be
of such a character that war is neces-
sary to repel it, such, for instance, as
the invasion Of Poland by the Russians,
and, apparently, the invasion of
Ukrainia by the Poles. The agreement
is guaranty of territory and independ-
ence to be supported by war if neces-
sary.
"President Wilson's own utterances
leave no doubt upon that. When the
Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions met the President to discuss the
Snn rlar
would be the obligation of the United
States in case of external aggression
against some power and it is
perfectly obvious and accepted that it
cannot be repelled except by force of
arms?' And the President replied that
Article X would impose AN absolutely
compelling moral obligation upon the
that q moral obligation is superior
to a legal obligation, and has greater
binding force The proceedings of
this meeting were recorded by a stem
ographer, and the record shows these
statements.
"In plenary session Of the peace
conference May 81, 1919, to consider
the treaty with Austria, which in
corporated the league covenant, the
SSepFGsentatives Sepphis ntisetoa Of Rumana nI9 and
provisions regarding their treatment
of racial and religious minoritics
within their territory, and Mr.. Wilson
in an able and impressive speech
urged that they ought to be satisfied
with these limitations, because their
territory and independence were guar
anteed by the military force of the
great powers. There were two stem
ographic records Of that proceeding.
One was the official record in French,
a translation of which has been widely
published in books and periodicals
and was printed in the Congressional
Record nearly year ago, apparently
without any question as to it's authen-
tlcity. The other was somewhat diff
ferent version, produced during the
present month by an American stem
ographer who took down what was
said, and given out at the White
House III answer to speech by SEN
ator Spencer. quoting the translation
of the official version.
"There has been much discussion
upon the differences between the two
reports. Whatever the differences
may be, there is no difference what
ever between them in respect of the
proposition which l am now making;
that the President urged these small
nowers TO accept limitations upon
their sovereignty because they were