The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-02-13
"25 January. 1920.
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llpGSi!ti u f...''!Itiof .i' NJ --'"~ t'tN 49,
70! med co..c>:2:::.a: II" co3 erenr@s
VI: a~>i :, ~ or yea. .yi'cs,.,,;c> nave
i:&a w.,h srpkesm2o of -" Repuhl:-
can party voaccv".n~ +" possibility
{ ratification Of ti1a ;re;.r of 2c2e>,
aral send -: Inc ia Sncvi:,! a,@.2>i"-
tive :" !H,"wicGgmen. Ct yoU, ic1.e"
Of The ,y:>r.:y-;cccad. ! rcj.::'n the
clipping yor were kid e:oa>a 10 IL
close.
TO the substance CT il, ! Q: >.ov;.:se.
a"hy~o. an .;o;nG =. Ike y"v,-
self. am s5lln~jy srs'a":: > ohcy a@i
ma;ntain the constitut;cl Of the
United States. But l think the form
Of :; vc,y unfortunat>. ( y lescrva-
ten or resolution s::;;;;.::> Z ;hs, "a
United States assures 70 obligation,
under such and su ! an ar, le unless
or except would, am s2?S, ci::ll cur
rels.. .o::cAip with tie ':;2tt..ol.%; VII
which we expect to be associated in
the great enterprise of maintaining
the worlds peace.
THAT association n?ust IN any case,
my dear senator. involve very serious
and far reaching implications o.
honor and duty which, anl sure we
shall never in fact be desirous of ig-
noring. 1t is the more important not
to create the impression that we are
trying to escape obligations.
''But / realize that negative critl-
cism is not all that is called for IN
so serious matter. I am happy to
be able to add, therefore, that / have
once more gone over the reservations
proposed by yourself, the copy of
which I return herewith, and am glad
to say that can accept them as they
stand.
Good Faith Not Doubted.
"I have never seen the slightest
reason to doubt the good faith of our
associates in the war, nor ever had
the slightest reason to fear that any
nation would seek to enlarge our obll-
cations under the covenant OF the
league of nations or seek to commit
us to lines of action which, under our
constitution, only the congress OF the
United States can in the last analysis
decide.
'May suggest that with regard to
the possible withdrawal q the United
States it would be wise 70 give to the
president. the right to act upon Our
resolution of congress II the matter
C withdrawal? Ir other words, it
would seem to be permissible and al
visable that any resolution giving
notice Of withdrawal should be a Joint
rather than a concurrent resolution.
| doubt whether the president can be
deprived Of his veto power under the
constitution, even with "fis own CON
sent. The use OF joint resolution
would permit the president, who is of
course charged by the constitution
with the conduct Of foreign policy, to
merely exercise voice IN saying
whether so important a step as With
drawal from the league of nations
should be accomplished by g majority
or bv two-thirds vote. The consti-
tuition itself providing that the legis-
lative body was to be consulted IN
treaty making and having prescribed
a two-thirds vote in such cases, it
seems to me that there should be no
unnecessary departure from the
methods there indicated.
81 see no objection 10 a frank
statement that the United States can
accept a mandate with regard to any
territory under Article i. part l, or
any other provision of the treaty OF
peace, only by the direct authority
and action of the congress of the
United States.
81 hope. my dear senator, that you
will never hesitate to call upon me
for any assistance that can render
in this or any other public matter.
"Cordia!ly ard sincerely yours,
"Woodrow Wilson,