Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-28

It was not the business of the
president. when he brought this treaty
back from France. to join with Mr..
Lodge and other Republican leaders
in their deliberate purpose to destroy
1t. Had he initiated. suggested or as
sented to changes which would have
substantially altered its nature, 1t
would have beer a distinct breach Of
faith with his associates of the peace
council and a violation of American
pledges. Everyone acquainted with
diplomatic usages. or with the plain
requirements of honesty, understands
this. The foolish invention that the
president refused to permit the dot
ting of an "i' or the crossing Of a
1T" has been, SO often repeated that
many honest people believe In its
truths
In every speech made during his
tour. the president stated entire will
hngness to accept any n all reser-
vations not incompatible with Ameri-
cas- honor and true interests. 1t is
the plain intent of the covenant that
the Monroe doctrine is excluded, that
domestic questions are exempted,
that not one American can be sent out
of the country without formal action
by congress and that the right of
withdrawal is absolute. If there are
words which can make these mean
ings clearer, they will be welcomed.
1t is not reservations hat the presi-
dent and against, but notification.
When the president came back
brought the first tentative draft Of the
h%covenant of the League of Nations.
File gave publicity to it. It was pub
lished throughout the land. He in
vited the. friends of such a league to
submit criticisms. Former President
a offered four amendments; former
Senator Root offered six amendments.
and Nj. Hughes suggested v At
a meeting OF the committee on foreign
relations at the White House in
March, 1919. other changes were sug-
gested. These amendments were taken
back by the president to Paris and
their substance was actually incorpor-
ated in the revised draft Of the league.
DR.. Lowell president of Harvard uni
versfty, in his joint debate with Sena-
tor Lodge, invited the latter to sug-
the president might incorporate in the
draft; but he refused so to do. At no
time has he offered constructive
amendments. At nc time has he
failed to offer destructive criticism.
So intolerant was his attitude that he
would not even consider a compro-
mise proposed by former President
Ia WI t"o " party ohu III "dn
assured of the support of forty Demo
cratic senator's. Senator Lodge knew
that he controlled the senate and
that in his w time and way he could
destroy the treaty.
This is the sordid story Of it's de-
feat. No blacker crime against civil
zation has eve soiled the pages OF
u history. The last chapter was
written at Chicago.
The Republican platform not only
repudiates the League of Nations, bu,
praises, without discrimination, all OF
the Republican senators who partici.
pated in it's defeat. It's words of bene-
diction fall alike upon the ir%reconcil.
ables, the Lodge reservationists, the
mild reservationists and those who
proposed a separate peace with Ger.
many. 1t is consistent in n thins
only, the recognition Of the fact thai
the open foes OF the treaty, the secre'
foes of the treaty. and the apparen'
friends of the treaty who conspiret
with it's enemies, are equally re
sponsible for the destruction of the in
strument itself. 1t would be idle t.