Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-14
League stands vindica,cd

| was not necessary for Senator Borah Oh
Senator Reed to remind the country and
the world that in tho negotiation of the
new quadruple treaty for the promotion of
peace in the Pacific, the conference on limi-
tatton of ornaments recognized the broad
principle of Article X OF the league of ma
ions covenant. Not even the disavowal of
senator Lodge, To whom was accorded the
distinction of announcing the text OF the
treaty, on the subject Of fixed guarantees
removed the fact that the Washington con-
terence proceeded along exactly the same
lines as did tho Paris peace conference in
safeguarding the territorial rights of ma
tons.
For purely political reasons tho Harding
administration has repudiated the sugges-
ton that America has put it's hand and seal
10 an international convention applying the
paramount principle OF the league covenant
but that reputation will not stand 1t will
deceive no one who has thoughtfully con-
sidered the two compacts, and it ought not
to deceive any one.
The manly and candid thing for the
President and his Secretary OF State to do
in the present situation would be to issue
Dlain-spokcn declaration to the effect that
Great Britain, France, Japan and the United
States have united in treaty to respect the
rights each of the other in the Pacific. and
to maintain existing conditions in that quar-
lei Of tho globe, just as the league of ma
tions covenant bound the members of the
league TO respect the rights of all members
and TO maintain conditions in Europe exist
ing at the time tho league was formed.
1t might be added, in truth that the
league covenant provided for the exercise
of all available resources on the part OF
members to maintain the rights of each
other, whereas the Pacific treaty merely
provides for conference OF signatories to
determine, in case OF international differ
cnces, what shall be done about it, There
is more than mere technical distinction be-
tween the two measures on that point. but
unless the signatories feel themselves bound
i'll honor, if not by written stipulation. to
enforce the purposes OF the treaty then
it is scrap of papcr"-a perfectly futile
instrument.
Senator Lodge. in his original exposition
OF the treaty, took particular pains to in
form the country that the measure con-
tanned no provision for the use of force
to carry out any of the terms of the agree
ment then adding that mo military or
naval sanction turks anywhere in the back
ground under cover of these plain and
direct terms"
Even so, the moral force" is there. the
same moral force that President Wilson
urged in behalf OF the league covenant, and
ii it is not to be invoked, the treaty might
as we'll 20 to the scrap basket now In
his defense of the treaty Senator Pondextcr
could only observe that it changes nothing
Senator Borah's rcply was that in that event
there was no occasion for new entente
Il reply that definitely stated the case
AT the moment there is no organized on
position to the treaty y few individual
Senators have announced their nurposc IN
fight il. but party lines are not drawn That
the Republican majority will go along may
be assumed and Democratic Senators who
supported the league can scarcely find fault
with measure that so generously vindi-
Gates their stand.