Americus times-recorder., 1919-12-16

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ing ratify the treaty of peace declare in effect
that is intention to late Allies "fry in their
own grease"
There some who will perhaps accuse of be-
ing politically partisan in pessmism. We have no
fear of their criticism, but by way of answering it in
advance, print the following report adopted by the
New York Chamber of Commerce at a numerously at
tended meeting held last Thursday:
The Chamber of Commerce of the State of New
! York in with the business of the whole
nation, believes that as people confronted
in the world of morals and in the world Of trade with
crisis similar to that which we faced on April 6, 1917
We then realized suddenly that had welnigh waited
too long, and for nineteen months after that date the
question of what the results Of delinquency might
be hung in the balance.
On November II, 1918, came victory. We again
felt, had not for time surely felt, that we
had right to have pride in descent from the mon
who fashioned our constitution in 1887 and preserved
it in 1865.
Victory not only restored self respect; it also
brought duties and opportunities Our declaration that
sought of the usual spos of war, territory
no ndemntes, placed in a position of moral lead
ershp We fought not alone to preserve our sef-re-
harmony with the unselfsh motives that u.s. we
twere a people insstent in demands that post.
beum programme should be adopted by the free ma
ons of the world that would make repetition of the
horrors of 19141918 impossible The peace delegates
at Versailles undertook to meet this demand
When made the demand it is probable that few
of us fully realized what that demand involved. Il
necessarily involved sacrifice of long cherished
precedents and practices.
at he fOfa
of free nations with such power of moral and economic
suasion with such machinery for the adjudication of
international disputes would surely lessen the prob
ability of The Versailles treaty sought even
though its machinery may well to some of US as
lacking in perfection, to achieve these ends.
The Senate of the United States, faced with the
specific provisions of compact which demanded some
departure from the we'll settled practices of the Gov
ernment, hestated debated, delayed And finally, to
the grave and even alarm of the country at
large not only the treaty rejected, but compro.
mise treaty was left for discussion This has created
what have called crisis in morals and trade. AS a
consequence of this unhappy condition are losing
moral leadership; the legitimate which vic.
tory asRlred us is slipping away. The prosperity of
Americas export trade is largely dependent upon the
extension of credits to customers abroad But
pending the ratification of the treaty thus establishing
known basis for the continuance of internal trade no
adequate credit plans possibly be established The
alarm of the whole world of business this proract
ed delay evidenced by the continued and wholly un
precedented fall in the rates of exchangea fall almost
as detrimental for exporters it is for the
fortunate peoples of Europe who unable to buy from
the food and materials which they so sorely need
1t is not the duty of this body to place the respon
sibity for this condition. Rather our problem lies in
the circumstances in which find ourselves and in the
practical that ought to be taken to solve the
problem
Whatever the moral trade effect Of that fact may
be- the treaty presented cannot command the votes
necessary to its ratification but the situation thus created
is intoerable Unless the parties to the controversy
make concessions shall stand before the world
sef-ndicted governmentally incompetent.
To drop the treaty and seek direct and separate
speace with Germany would not only mperl American
business interests but would be base abandonment
of Allies and of principles. The only alter.
native is mutual concession by both the President and
the Senate
We want peace. We want it speedily; but want
an honorable peace. Many parts of Europe in des
! perate plight. peace in which wrap ourselves in
the robes of isolation and selfnteres would be dis
honorable further delay would have been in de.
csion to enter the April 6, 1917; Therefore
! be it
Resolved, That form of international coven
ant which seeks to prevent is moral necessity;
That the differences between the President and the
Senate should be composed without delay by such
ual concessions regarding reservations may be
essary in the treaty to ratification. Welding
Ring, Chairman; Alfred C. Bedford Delos w. Cooke,
Irving Bush, Darwin P Kingsley Charles Bernheimer,
Howard C. Smith, Alfred E. Marling Philip A s. Frank
lin, William H. Porter, Eugenius H. Ouerbridge (exec
utve committed. William Woodward Thomas W. La.