The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-01
THE PROPOSED TREATY WITH FRANCE

The thoroughgoing character of President Wilson's de
votion to the League of Nations is shown in startli
manner by his message to the senate transmitting tn
proposed treaty with France. The treaty itself is
remarkable document, which, we suggested when i
first published be expected to pass the senate
it stands without struggle ending in the vrtua
abdcaton by the senate of its share Of treaty-maknl
power This feature of the treaty has not attracted muc
attention outside of the ITSELF for the thai
the average citizen is stout friend of France and ha
objection whatever to reassurng her that the United
States will not fail to to her aid if she should be
attacked again by Germany But friendship for France
is not the of this proposed treaty. and every
including all senators, will agree with the presidents
expressions of gratitude and loyalty to France.
The presidents message strips away all doubt as tt
his own construction of the covenant Of the League OF
Nations He stands for international system su
peror national sovereignty There is no other reason
able Interpretation to be placed upon his proposal which
that the United States and Great Britain task leave
of the council of the league to be permitted to to
the assistance of friend" If permission must be asked
must be that the two governments concerned will not
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is established except with the leagues consent The
power make treaties is perhaps the highest attribute
of sovereignty and independence. 1t always existent
without limitation when government is free and indie
pendent, and is possessed by people or gov
eminent subordinate to another Canada cannot make
treaties hence Canada is not sovereign and independent
power.
Not only does the proposed treaty with France provide
that it shall not be valid unless approved by the cou
of the League of Nations but that cannot be termi
mated except by the council. The United States, fc
the first time since this nation founded is asked tc
enter into obligation which it would never have the
power to terminate If the majority of the council OF
the league should decide adversely the application of
the United States to be released from the treaty would
be worthless The council and not the United States
as an independent nation would determine the course
of this government and people.
The Post is not moved by antagonism to France when
it points out the remarkable character of the proposed
treaty and suggests the extreme improbability of its
ratification by the senate unless amended On the con-
tary the need of expression of to France
has been made clearer than since the Paris
conference prolonged its deliberations and evolved the
pending treaty of peace with its league covenant There
doubt throughout the world to the execution of the
peace treaty The League of Nations is cOnfessedy
experiment In of breakdown of the peace treaty
and the failure of the league France would be left with
out any that the free nations of the earth would
go to her aid against German attack.
The United States, of its notion without the
pusions and complications of treaty. should declare it's
intention to befrend France against any German attack
That much is due to France-and to Germany Let both
of those nations know exactly how America stands for
all time to come. The declaration should not be con-
tngent upon the shadowy and uncertain operation of the
proposed council of the league at Geneva but should
direct declaration of the United States of America
sovereign power This declaration solemnly made by
the president and congress- and Endorsed by the people
would take its place alongside the Monroe Doctrine as
part of the unwrtten Constitution of the United States
to remain forever 1t would not be dependent upon the
whims of any future government of France be of
doubtful construction time of execution
It would be gift to France glorious in its tremendous
orce and spontanety. 1t would be no piece of paper
but part of the bedrock upon which the United States
stands and intends to stand, free and independent
Washington Post.
&c