The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-03-03
TreatyNeeds
Reservation:
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
tCopyright by The Intcll!gencer)

Washington. March .. - Senator
Brandegee's reservation 10 thc four
power treaty will bc aGop;cG. II con-
tatns President Harding'S exact words
IN the address made TO the senate on
submitting the pact. To vote down the
reservation may be construed as an
affirmation OF the argument that the
four power treaty Is an alliance and
obligateS America TO go 10 war.
This Is the situation as the debate on
.he rour-power treaty begins Ratifca-
t'on with the Brandegee reservation
seems assured. Without IL. there is
danger OF defeat for the treaty.
The views OF the most OF Ser .tors
who advocate the Erandegce' reserva-
;iou havo been given 20 this correspond
eat. To understand the reasons which
actuate them, II Is necessary 10 study
the exact text OF the treaty as well as
the reservation which reads as follows:
The United States understands that
uAder tho statement In the preamble,
Or under the terms OF this treaty. there
Is no commitment 20 armed force, 10
alliance. no obligation 10 join in an
defence
First the senator's who favor Il make
L clear that they do not for moment
question Mr.. Harding's Interpretation ~
;he treaty but they want hts iatCrpreta-
tiou made \ part OF the ratifying rcsolu-
ton itself so tha: the rest OF the world
and future generations will not mis-
understand, ~ present the interpreta-
,ion Is merely an executive statement
and the senate has not yet uttered It's
understanding OF the treaty.
II the Brandegee reservation Is adopt
ed by the senate. included In the in
strument OF ratification and exchanged
with the other powers who signed the
treaty and they do not protest that their
understanding IS different then the
other nations never could claim that
the United States was under any OBJ
l!Eatioa TO join in any defense" OF their
rights In relations 10 their insular pos
sessions and !nsular dominions in the
region OF the Pacific ocean"
Clarifying observation.
Senators who take this viewpoint sha.
che treaty without reservations means
what President Harding says It does
there can be no valid objection to lett
ing the treaty say so by means Of a
clarifying reservation. Tho preamble OF
the treaty declares that one OF the pur-
poses for which the treaty Is made IS
The maintenance OF their rights ~
relatIon to their inSular possessions" IN
the Pacific ocean. Article two says
that ~ tho said rights are threatened
by the aggressive action Of any other
power. the contracting parties sha'
communicate with one another 10 arrive
at an understanding as 10 the most
efficient measures TO DO taken. Jointly
or separately. 70 meet tho eHigencies
Of the particular situation
Now !t Is tho view OF MAN. senator's
that when aggressive action occurs
the conference OF powers does not b.
any means meet merely 10 decide
whether they shall take any measures.
They communicate only in order to
arrive at an understanding as 20 tho
most efficient means 70 be taken"
On tho words most efficient means"
me whole thing turns. There's the rub.
The senators who feel deeply abou, this
subject point ouc that a Veiled obliga-
cion Is In that phrase for II the aggres-
sive action Is taken by a naval attack
when an island in the Pacific belong
ing to the British or Japanese empires
Is encroached upon. then the most es-
recient- n not the only effective mea-
sure TO meet that eNigency would be
Jointly 70 send a navy a repel the naval
attack.
want America rree.
White the aggression continues the
United States would DC obligated 10 do
something 20 help those whose rights
were threatened That's the opif.ion
or most senator's Could America agree
10 talk crly while rights were being
threatened? Many senator's would like
America 10 free 70 use their good offices
in such controversies without Involving
caval or military force and they are un-
wiling to have the treaty leave the Inn
preston that tho United States is OBJ
ilSatsd 10 go much further. They want
America 20 De free 20 join N the naval
measures II sho likes and refrain just
as the circumstances OF the case and
Tho judgement OF the American people
may dictate. But they do not want
foreign governments 10 have the OPP
portunity 70 mako OUT 4 case saying
the United States has made = scrap oi
paper out o. sacred treaty. They
want the United States 10 I've able 70
say tha, at no tir-c did she bind ttsei'
TO join In any defense"
Notwithstanding the views or those
who urge the Braadegee reservation
,nere Gre sorresenators who favor the
wording OF the present treaty because
they want an alliance and because they
think America should join in the com
mon defense OF TIC Pacific. They inter
pret the treaty as meaning exactly that
In view OF this difference OF opinion
among American senators. tho advo
Gates OF the Brandegsc reservation sa!
American should say once and for al
now and not IN the future what sht
understands by the treaty