New-York tribune., 1920-06-26
Hoover Would
| Omit ArticleX.
Ratify Treaty
;aeh a Course, He Advises
Republicans, Will Compel
democrats to ID e { e n d
Purely Military Provisions
royenant Is Held Vital
Immediate Revision Urged
TO Meet Merits of Dis
sension i'm United States

,,.ee treaty, is the course which Her
:. Hoover advises Republican leaders
.,ke. in an interview published yes
..-d,y By "The New York Evening
aas Such a position. adopted by the
,.oubliean party in the coming cam
..;yn would, Mr.. Hoover believes,
row upon the Democrats the onus
defending the purely military pro-
,,,iors Of the covenant and demon
rate 10 the world that the Republican
xny is not opposed to the principle
!, League of Nations, but only to
lose provisions Of the existing cove
an. which threaten AM erican freedom
4 thought and action.
sThere is nothing in the phraseology
Article X that denotes a binding
,ligstion," Mr.. Hoover says. "But
ssrs is an implication that apparently
As generally come to be regarded as
snssituting a strong neral response
5l.y. Therefore, the real nub of the
asension with regard to the League
4 Nations is the question as to
ssther the United States shall take
" sort OF commitment, moral or
,tsrwise, to guarantee the integrity
foreign states and to use its mill
sry resources to carry out the de-
isions of the league. This is funda-
rsntally the question upon which we
N about to fight an election. The
sue however, goes deeper even than
luton in a new venture of American
's.ional life. 1t raises a great problem
TO whether the league itself is not
s.skened and its objects will not be
.ieated if this obligation is continued
, its constitution at all.
Time for Revision
it appears to me to be time to
sse the question as to whether this
me clause refer to the guarantees
I'd the use of military force-that has
easght about the dissension in the
l;ted States is rot also undermining
u league IN Europe. | put it to the
lends Of the league in all countries,
IS net experience and discussion
own that the time has arrived to re-
asider this part OF the league foun-
..ion!"
The power of the9league to enforce
ace, Mr.. Hoover continues. would be
zen more potent without the explicit
afsat Of military force, through its
'anite organization OF the moral and
snemic power of the contributing
slIons. Its foremost duty, he con-
asfs, IS IN reduction Of armaments.
rue treaty, he adds, cannot be
npped. Europe has regretted, but
nas not been waiting upon. the
sEldsd mind of the United States.
&c treaty, as distinguished from the
ssue, is in large part already ex-
ased; the new states have been set
and their boundaries settled and
teTted, except on the Russian front
u at two or three isolated points.
Aase American statesmen who con-
I've that Europe will meet our dis
aslons by abandoning the treaty
q summoning 4 new world peace
sisTenee are entirely ignorant of
: European situation.
therefore my suggestions are, first,
IT 1t IS worth consideration by the
ssent members of the league
'asther immediate revision OF the
IT'S mentioned should not be under
zen In order that i, may be actually
greater strength for the great good
can accomplish; second, such re-
aan will meet the merits of dissen-
On IN the United States; third.
isther it be to-day or ten years
nee, we will, if we want peace, ratify
e Treaty Of Versailles in some form
Exclude the Guarantees
Ia the face of these conditions can
4 the Republican party strengthen
own position by adopting the def
As constructive policy of ratifca-
% subject to the minor reservations
"a a wider vision OF strengthening
league by excluding the guaran-
= and their military enforcement
d making membership in the league
adl'ionai upon disarmament within
gwen period? Such policies will
wet American ndependence-fre
from every possible ENHANCEMENT
l'sps the use of our moral and
sasmle strength to enforce peace.
Vii leave our Democratic friends
isrg upon the ground of advocacy
- practical military alliance, upon
ssa their safety devices only fur
q endanger the real value Of the
igre'