The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-22
A MoMENToUs CONFERENCE.


of the conference between the President and the Senate
committee foreign relations. The revelations con-
tanned in this report of profound and far-reachng
consequence which will shake the confidence of Ameri-
in other nations and probably induce the average
citizen to look with suspicion upon the arrangement made
at Paris for the leaguing of The nations.
President Wilson's acknowledgement that certain lead
ing allied powers deceived him is astounding revea-
ton His countrymen will stand solidy behind him in
resenng the action of certain allies in concealng from
him secret bargains at the very moment when
they were solemny agreeing to his proposal to make
peace openly, honorably and justly. These allies had
already made their arrangements when they agreed
and their acceptance of the fourteen points there
fore deliberately intended to msead the President and
the people of the United States.
That is the most important fact that has been disclosed
since the armistce signed 1t affects the action of
the United States hereafter not merely this treaty and
certain European nations.
This revelation does make for international con-
fdence concord peace 1t will lend color to the sin
lister ntmaton of senator at yesterdays conference
that other secret treaties in existence, made during
or after the Paris conference. The American people
also very apt to ask what the signature of certain
allies the league of nations WORTH if the principles
of the league violated in their making
In his welcoming address the President laid upon
the opinion that the leagues councils recommendation
conclusion sis only advice in any Each govern
men is free to reject it if it pleases" That quite
understandable standing by ITSELF but becomes utterly
unntegble when the reader goes further and finds the
President saying, in reply to question by Senator Knox
that if occasion should arise in which it perfectly
obvious that external aggression against power could
only be repealed by force of arms the United States
would be under absolutely compelling moral obiga-
ton" to participate
Much said about moral and legal obligations but
doubt all present would agree that they were wasted
words because any treaty obligation of the United States
is moral obligation, and as President Wilson properly
said, is of greater binding force than legal obi
CATION. Hence when the President tells senators that
The United States would be under absolutely COMPEL
ing moral obligation to 60 to if should be the
aggression he destroys entirely the other that
the league councils advice may be waved aside by any
nation as having no binding force.
Article X then the heart of the league nations alb
}outely and compelling binds the United States to 60
to to protect the territorial integrity and existing
political independence of every nation in the league
In view of the revelations concerning the double deal
ing of the allies in their relations with the United States
it may be questioned whether majority of Americans
will be willing to lend the resources of this nation
to defend all the nations of the world.
In his address to the committee the President empha
sized the Importance, in his opinion of prompt ratfca-
ton of the treaty for the sake of putting industry and
nance even keel again. This is highly important
matter which should not be delayed for single day
unless something still important warns the Ameri
people that they should be careful in what they do
Does this revelation of the allies bad faithto speak
plainly-serve such warning? If So the economic
needs of the country will perorce be held subordinate
to the necessity of keeping the United States Independent
and capable of controlling its action in dealing with
nations that have computations in deceving this gov
eminent whenever it is to their interest to do soWas
ngton Post