Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-02
THE SENATE AND THE
TREATIES

senate 1Or discussion ana vote
the other day and every amendment
proposed by either democrat or re-
publican was voted down by large
majority. The conviction obtains
that all the treaties will be con-
firmed by the senate without
amendment, with the possible ex-
ception Of the four power Pacific
entente treaty. The news dis
patches say that Chairman Lodge
and President Harding have agreed
on a reservation to this treaty,
clarifying its meaning as regards
the use of force, though both say
that such reservation is needless
and useless as the words OF the
treaty need no explanation, being
clear enough in this respect that
they do not contemplate any "alli-
ance" or the use of "force" without
the consent of congress. The res
crvation debate reminds us strong
ly of the debate in congress over
article 10 in the League of Nations
covenant. Woodrow Wilson also
said he had no objection to a res
ervation making it clear that no
obligation rested on the government
to use force without the consent Of
congress, though such reservation
was not needed because every ma
ton signing the treaty knew abso-
lutely that such was the mandate
Of our constitution, and the words
themselves clearly bore out that
meaning, and there was no obliga-
ton either moral or legal on the
part of this government under
article 10 of the league covenant
to do more than consult with the
other members of the league as to
the best measures to take in respect
to the treatment of any member of
the league that should resort to
war in defiance of the obligations
of the covenant, in case of boycott
of such violation of their obliga-
tons should fail to induce them to
refrain from disturbing the peace
of the world. The wording OF
article Q in the four power entente
treaty and article 10 Of the league
covenant is almost identical. The
obligation in each of them is prac-
tically the same, with this excep-
ton. In the league covenant the
parties signing it are pledged to
use moral force first, in the shape
of a boycott against any nation
that violates the covenant by dis
turbing the peace Of the world
without first submitting its case to
the league for investigation and
In the event of fail
ure Of this moral pressure to bring
the desired results, then the men,
bers agree to consult together as
to what steps, if any, they should
take against the offender. In the
four power entente treaty, there is
no mention Of boycott, or moral
pressure at all against a peace dis
turbing nation. We simply agree
to the latter clause in article 10 OF
the League of Nations covenant and
agree to consult with the other ma
tions signing the treaty as to what
steps we will take either separately
or jointly to bring home to the
offender a sense Of our disapproval
of his conduct.
At the time the league covenant
was under discussion, Senator Lodge
was emphatic in his statements on
the floor of the senate that article
10 of the league covenant laid upon
this country a moral obligation to
declare war as last resort against
an offender who defied the league
after accepting its obligations. We
were inclined to admit that there
was some force in his argument at
that time. The agreement to con
suit" as to what it was best to do
to enforce the terms Of the agree
ment against a violator OF these
terms does carry with it some moral
obligation on the part Of those con-
sulting to stand by the result OF
the consultation. The same logic
applies equally to article 2 of the
present entente treaty which
pledges the United States to con-
suit with the other members of the
treaty agreement as to what steps
should be taken jointly or severally
in case some outsider invades the
territory of the signers of the
treaty, so far as that territory lies
in the islands Of the Pacific.
After holding such consultation,
if the invader was Holland or Port
ugal, let US say, and it was the
decision Of the confer