Bisbee daily review., 1919-09-25
LEAGUE COULD EXIST WITHOUT
 J. g., FRENCH
 PREMIER SAYS
Chamber of Deputies Clam |. bring for Americas Ans weg to Pact; Clemenceau Tells of Franco-American Treaty.

PARIS, Sept. 24-In an eNplana- tion to the chamber of deputies today, Premier Clemenceau, after declaring that the league of nations could exist even though rejected by the United States senate, asserted that it was precisely because the French felt that the league of nations was an insuffi- cient guarantee for some years to come that the protective treaties of alliance between France, Great Brit ain and the United States were drawn up.
 The possibility of disqualification of the peace treaty and the covenant of the league of nations by the United States senate; the consequences, in such event, to the guarantees for the whether the league could exist with out the United States as a member occupied the entire afternoons de- bate.
 The vote in the United States sen- ate yesterday, postponing considera- tion of one of the amendments, is re- garded as significant and caused sur prise in the French chamber. Louis Barthou repeatedly asked the govern, ment for explanations.
 France Protected.
 Andre Tardieu and M. Pichon. the foreign minister, replied. but the chamber was not satisfied Premier Clemenceau then declared that even in the event of the United States sen ate not voting for the league of na- tions covenant, the league could exist. The treaties constituting a protective alliance between France, Great Brit ain and the United States, he added. were not dependent upon the league They would come into force, and France would be protected.
 During the course of M. Tardieu's speech, M Barthou interrupted and demanded an immediate reply as to what situation France would be placed in should the United States not ratify. He added that it was through delicacy he had refrained from asking this question before. as he wished and hoped that the lenate would finally begin the discussion and reach its conclusions. But now this seemed hopeless, and the ques- tion must be settled immediately, as American ratification was distant eff it occurred at all"
 NT hof hn sonally was satisfied that the United States senate would ratify the treaty.
 Wants Political Security. M. Barthou countered, saying that he was far from satisfied. and citing the vote of 43 to 40 on Senator Lodges motion for postponement as "a fair warning of the ultimate fate of the pact"
 M. Pichon's reply that, legally speaking" the league could exist without America's participation, brought the retort from M. Barthou that what France wants is political guarantees, not legal guarantees. He asserted that the government must face the issue immediately.
 Premier Clemenceau said:
 "Should the United States reject the league of nations, two treaties of alliance between France and Great Britain and France and the United States still exist. Nevertheless. it was precisely because we felt that the league of nations was an insuf- ficient guarantee for some years to come that these treaties were drawn up. The league for the present has nothing to do with the Franco-British- American treaties, which constitute sufficient guarantees for France"