The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-31
No Joker
In Treaty
Secretary Hughes Had No
Desire to Put Anything
Over" On the Senate
BY DAVID LAwR1NCA.
Copyright by Tte 1ntel.Sencero

Washington. y. g.. AUG. 3o.-Secre-
new treaty with Germany doesn't per
NIT the United States I" Join the league
Of nations except by treaty TO which
the senate has given its constitutions!
consent He didn't intend the language
of the new pact to Re interpreted ia
any other way and had no desire 10 use
phrases which could in any way give
rise to what he considers an absurd
viewpoint--namely the Joining or the
league without the consent OF the sem
ate.
But there Is A divergence ~ opinion
on this subject. And the interesting
think now is 20 see whether the allies
consider tho action ot the Harding ad-
mtnistratlon as absolutely fNal or
whether thev believe the door Is s:ill
open for a future administration to
take the vacant chair In the council Of
the league.
The Othsr Viewpoint.
II is pointed out by those who differ
with Mr.. Hughes that the present ad-
nlInistratign did not Feel bound 20 con-
suit the senate when n representative
was sent officially TO the supreme coun-
ell and that II the executive carel 10 10
SO ne could send an American diplomat
to take Americas seat In the council Of
the league. The allies couldn't possibly
rntsunderstand the presence OF an Amer
lean Representative" a. the council OF the
league for the now treaty specifically
says the United States IS 10; bound by
any prov !slons Of the covenant or action
or the council unless the United States
gives II consent" The department OF
state Is authority FOR the view that thc
words "Cnitsd states" rs used IN the
new pact with Germany mean the Unit
ed States as constitutional fact which
implied ot course. that the president
and secretary OF state have certain
powers OF agreement with other nations
which don't require the assent o, con-
Rress and certain powers which necessi
tate rattncati tion by ~ senate. II IS.
therefore. possible for the president and
secretary OF state 10 concur In certain
courses OF action taken by the council
o. ~" league without asking senate
-p"cca'lor
The Possibilities
Certainly the present admin s.rst'on
has no such Intention. Ambassador
Harvey was right when M predicted
that the Harding admtnistra ton would.
nj have anything 70 do directly 0r In
directly with the league. but the sig
nihcane Fact Is tha: " an admialstra-
ton comes into power which ~ more
friendly 70 tho leagus than the !ncum-
bent authorities K may be possible for
the new treaty with Germany 20 he in.
t"rpvetsd "a permitting an American
representative 70 sit IN tho counc. or.
ciallv or uaotACIallY. and represent tho
president of the United States.
oN' -.
the world mus: decide the question. The
membership or the council IS spaclHral-
" designated % Include the United
States The council hns tAe right 10
Increase or diminish 'ts membership
hut must hav" the approval Of the AS
semhly. Shall thu seat ~ the United
States De filled by some other nation or
shall II always remain vacant "a n
standing invitation 10 tho American
government 70 send a representative n
~" council" Since tho new treaty with
Germany indicates tNlt tho T-rItcI
States might "orcelNah'y wan' 70 con
cur n son" things done nv the Iea quo
me allies would BE- DENYING America
an opportunity to get the facts frs
hand through an official or unofacial
observer II they formally cI!n.na ted
ne nam" ~ ~. 1'Hitcd States from
charter membership IN tho council Pr,
It's UP tN N. othn- nations So fara
me present administration IL concern
ID T. shows tnairce-rrcr "a 20 whether
tho sea- ~ k"0t vacant or h!lod bv
Soma other country
Administration officials ara inclined
% resent any Interpretation being plac-
81 upon the various parts or ,he new
German treaty axrept the on" they had
IN mind when no document was d-a fled
ard /; was recalled today that the last
administrator also resented any other
INTERPRETATION Of ArtiCl" Ten except tho
one u claimed they have had In mind
~ Paris. Nevertheless. Tho opponents
of Article Ten succeeded N defeating
the wh"'" treaty because th"v p"rsuar.
- ma iorit% - n" senate 20 believe
that the ron'sd article made II possible
fnr the words "I-nitcd States" 10 be
construed as m"auin'; -" cS"ru'iv" a'd
not necessarily congress