The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-14
C. 0. P. PLAYING ADROIT
GAME In WASHINGTON
BIG DRIVE AGAINST PEACE
TREATY IS ON.
Curious Mix-Up Result Fight
Hinged With Hatred and
Bitterness Toward Wilson.


Washington. June i4.-(Copyright. N.
Y. Evening Post)-The big drive
against the peace treaty. league OF ma
tions and President Wilson is on. The
republican leaders. Senators Knox and
OF the republican party In the senate.
have made a move which brings mat
tiers to an earlier climax than was an
ticipated. They virtually serve notice
upon Great Britain, France and Italy
that the work of the president Of the
United States as we'll as the agree
ments entered into by the allied powers
with him are unsatisfactory, and un-
less changed. will not be ratified.
Irrespective OF the confusion which
this action has brought to the national
capital, diplomats and persons who have
been closely following the procedure OF
Premier Clemenceau, Prime Minister
Lloyd George and the delegates OF the
associated powers generally IN the lace
wondering what the entente govern
ments can do and will do. They would
commit breach OF international eti-
quette II they took cognizance Of the
Knox resolution and the republican
leaders speeches. because so far as the
European governments are concerned,
the man sitting across the table Is the
president of the United States and as
such the ambassador or plenipotentiary
ever documents are presented to him.
So far as Europe Is concerned, he is
the United States government just as
much as any ambassador in any foreign
country has been or is. And the presi-
dent according to his friends here, will
not surrender will not recede. will not
give way an inch to the republicans
who he believes have abandoned the
traditional American doctrine OF having
party politics stop at the seacoast and
have begun a desperate effort to dis
credit him irrespective OF the conse-
| quences to the prestige of the United
States.
II Moved Solely by Hatred.
In support of the contention that the
Republicans are guided solely by mo-
| tivess of hatred for the president and
| political bitterness, one finds in survey
| ing the capitol curious mixup. I'm
questionably, many senators are not
| thinking but feeling. They imagine be-
cause Mr.. Wilson's domestic admins
| tration has aroused widespread discon-
| tent, the people are ready to repudiate
| his foreign policy, too. They think be-
cause OF the Irish agitation that the
| publicans and that the Italian Ameri-
cans will likewise be sympathetic.
| The republican leaders, 1t is admitted
| even by their opponents. are playing the
| shrewdest and most adroit game that
has been played in many rsyye year IN
wasn't hastily drawn. 1t was intended
| to catch as many classes of opinion as
possible. First. 1t would corral all the
out and out opponents OF a league OIL
| nations. Second, it would draw those
who favor league but who certainly
| could have no objection to further. con-
sideration, because the Knox resolution
| recites that the people haven't had time
| enough to consider It. The prospect is
| held out of favorable judgment in the
| indefinite future if amended, a prospect
| that is equivalent to the defeat OF the
| league for If it is not set up at the
| peace table it probably never Will
amount to any more than the emsscu-
ton of London. Third, the Knox reso-
| luton speaks of oppression of the weak
| and transgression of human liberties by
| the peace treaty itself, thus inviting TO
| the side of tive republicans the many
| liberals and radicals in the. United
States and abroad who believe there are
| vital flaws in the document drawn at
| Versailles. Fourth, the Knox resolu,
ton endeavors to satisfy France and
| Great Britain by declaring in favor of
the substance of the obligations imposed
| on Germany and promising military and
| naval support in case Germany or any
other power becomes menace 10
| Europe.
Would Cause Change Of Tactics.
| If Germany refuses to sign the treaty
| and takes advantage of the delays M
terposed by the senate of the United
| States, public opinion in the United
| States would cause many republican
| senators to change their tactics lest
they be suspected of playing into the
hands of Germany. If the Germans
| sign the treaty, and the president puts
his signature to it. there will be no OPP
| portunity to separate the peace treaty
| and the league of nations as the re-
| publicans desire, but Mr.. wilson VIII
bring the document back in person and
| address the senate. The republicans
have not counted on what arguments
Mr.. Wilson might bring back from Eu-
| rope or what the effect Of his speeches
may be on American public opinion
They are, however, taking chance,
as all politicians do. in the hope that
the breaks of the game will be their
wav. that the Germans and allies will
| get in such a mixup still that the SEN
ate will have time to bring pressure to
| bear on the Paris conferees TO change
| the treaty to meet objections. so lar
as Mr.. Wilson is concerned, ne is repre-
scented as having considered the repub-
| lican criticism shortly after his return
| to Europe and to have embodied safe
| guard of the Monroe doctrine and other
| changes which at the time were be-
lieved to be sought by the republicans
| Now Senators Knox and Lodge nave
reverted to their original position or
wanting to separate the peace treaty
| and covenant and throw the creation or
! the whole league of nations machinery
| into the indefinite. future. Only the
| people of the United States by letters
| and kilograms and by speeches and
| public meetings can tell the senate to
70 ahead In its present campaign
| against the peace treaty and league OF
nations or to desist at least, till Presi-
| dent Wilson can get back to present his
side of the argument.