New-York tribune., 1920-10-21
Hits
Wilson Stand
On Article X
Attorney and Student of
League Attacks View of
President That Pact
Does Not Lead to War
Europe Opposed, He Says
North and South American
Nations Rejected Same
Wilson Proposal in 1916

Paul y. Gravath issued statement
yesterday. attacking Article X of the
League OF Nations covenant and Presi-
der. wilson, assertions that this
clause would not embron America in
European wars.
Nj Creva,h spent several months in
Europe early this year and made IN in
tensve investigation of conditions in
Great Britain and on the Continent.
lie talked to leading men of Europe
and is reg rded as an authority on
Europe's attitude toward the Versailles
treaty and the League of Nations.
MIR Cravath describes his own state
ment as IAN anlysis of the issue pre-
sented by President Wilson'S appeal of
October and reasons for the con-
clusion that friends Of effective inter
national cooperation to promote peace
cannot afford to perpetuatc by their
votes the doctrine of Article X as the
cornerstone of the future international
relations of the United States"
Article X Designed by Wilson
Mr.. Cravath quotes the President's $
assertion that there is nothing in the
. covenant which i'm the least interferes
with or impairs The right OF Congress
to declare war or net to declare war,
according to its own independent judg
mcnt. as our Constitution provides, -
and thcn goes on to say:
This is plain language that invites
frank comment. Considering the high
Authority from which it cmanates. it
calls for more than mere counter as
ser,ion
THE doctrine embodied in Article X
was not evolved at the peace confer
ence, but Was the Presidents own con-
ception, imposed by him upon the peace
conference against the will of most of
its members, including most, if not all,
Of the American commi ssioners. AS
Secretary Baker said in recent speech,
Our President formulated it Article
X and forced its acceptance This is
easily demonstrated by the history Of
the genesis aud dcvclopm ~ of the
now famous doctrine
"President Wilson conceived the doc
trine of Article X long before the peace
conference. lie proposed It to the
states Of North and South America in
January, 1916. more than a year be-
fore our entrance into the European
war in an address to the Pan-American
Scientific Congress- in session in Wash
ington, when he declared in effect that
he was prepared to broaden the Mon
roe Doctrine into new arrangement
providing for the states of America
uniting IN guaranteeing to each other
absolutely political independence and
territorial integrity. He concluded
his address with the following charac-
terlstlc appeal
NO man can tNin away from these
things without turning away from the
hope Of the world These are things
for which the world has hoped
and waited with rraycrful heart. God
grant that il may be granted to Amer
lea to lift this light on high for the
illumination Of the world"
Mr. Cravath points out that the South
American states failed to surrender to
the Presidents Judgment, but Wilson,
undauntcd. conceived the idea that he
could achieve his purpose to even bet
ter and larger effect through the peace
that was to end the European war.
Erropc Gets Same Proposal
"Thereforc,' says Mr. Cravath, ain
January, 1918, he announce his plan in
the Fourteen Points in language which
follows almost verbatim his proposal to
the South American republics"
at viii be observed,' adds Mr.
Cravath, that at every stage of its de
velopment the Presidents plan pro
vided for hard and fast guaranty of
territorial integrity and political indie
pendencc, those Identical words having
invariably been used
Mr.. Cravath declares that the doc
trne OF Article X was not included in
any Of the proposals for the League of
Nations submitted by other nations. 1t
was opposed by the principal nations
represented at Paris and by most if not
all, Of the American commissioners, he
says.
Mr.. Cravath asserts the French were
opposed TO the doctrine of Article X
"becausc they believed that guaranty
of the territorial integrity and political
independence of France against exter-
nal aggression would be futile as