The Washington times., 1920-03-13

WHY the Senate Must Stand Firm
on the Un-AmeriCan Peace Treaty

The acceptance rejection Of the treaty by the
United States depends single question: Will Mr.
Wilson accept the reservation which large majority OF
the Senate irrespective of party now deems necessary 70
Article K?
Mr.. Wilson says that any weakening Of Article cuts
the heart out Of the The league covenant drafted
by British diplomasts-an except Article X which Mr.
Wilson himself wrote His pride OF authorship In that ar
Gle so intense has forbidden Democratic Senators
to any modification of the obligations imposes
upon the United States That obligation the Senate declines
the people Of the United States and the Sen
ate Is absolutely right
What the obligation is was stated explicitly by Mr.
Wilson himself two very notable occasions In his con-
ference with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee he
stated that the words of Article K.
1.-THE members of the league undertake to respect
and preserve against external aggression the territorial
integrity and existing political Independence OF all mem
bers of the league. The council Of the league
shall advise upon the by which this obligation
fulfilled"
did impose legal obligation upon the United States to
send its army and navy to part of the world to engage
in whenever the international committee OF dplo-
atists sitting in Europe advised but did constitute
a moral obligation.
When the President was asked by Senator Brandegee
moral obligation not even stronger than legal
obligation, Mr.. Wilson admitted that 1t was.
Again. before the plenary session Of the supreme coun
Gil in Paris, May 81 President Wilson, speaking of this
much discussed Article in the covenant OF the league
fed statement of the obligations imposed the United
States by Article to the representatives of other powers
IF the world should be troubled again, II the con-
ditions which we all regard as fundamental are cha
enged the guarantees which will be given to you will
pledge that the United States will send its army and
feet across the ocean"
The men of unequaled ability and foresight who
drafted the Constitution Of the United States in 1887
devoted three days debating how treaties OF peace should
be negotiated and ratified.
It at first proposed that majority of the Senate
should be required ratfy treaties well to Laws
confirm Presidential appointments But Madison, who
has been called the Father of the Constitution urged that
wed President might at future time by power OF
patronage pure coercion of his party Senator'S wish to
make peace terms dangerous dsadvanageous to his
country unduy prolong Madison urged that in
treaty making the President being the negoiator he should
be compelled to make treaty upon terms that assuming
receive the support and approval of AT LEAST ONE
THIRD OF THE OPPOSITION PARTY well as the en-
tire support of his own party
Repeatedly in history the wisdom of this provision
has been proved notably in the Jay treaty in President
Washngons day. the Mexican treaty in President Polk
time and the Panama Canal treaty in President McKnleys
time
In the present the treaty of Versailles is gen.
orally admitted to be faurean international tragedy It
be made The league covenant is part of it, the
dangerous and unavoidable part far
cerned Its amendment rejection has long since ceased to
be party question: is purely American question
Instead of commanding the support of onethird of the
opposition party as the Constitution requires President VIII
THIRD OF HIS OWN PARTY including its ablest Demo
cratic members in the Senate They right He is wrong
During months of debate of Article in the treaty
Democratic Senator after another has, with the greatest
reluctance to the conclusion that the United States
under any circumstances accept such 1t
cannot permit under any circumstances any international
committee of diplomatsts to determine when where and
how the the army and navy and the power
of the United States shall be used to make in part
of the world.
Il