The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-08-29
JOINT TREATY MAKING.

government is getting deeper and deeper into compica-
tons which have tendency to break friendships and
stir up The Shantung provision in the peace treaty
is in point.
When the United States went to war against Germany
there thought in the minds of the average Amer
lean that this nation would be drawn into the position
of passing judgment upon Japans actions in China Eng
lands actions in Egypt and Ireland, Frances actions in
Asia Minor and so on. The question at issue seemed
clear enough Germany had enlarged the sphere of her
assault upon liberty by attacking the rights of the United
States 1t therefore the duty of the United States
to go in and help to defeat Germany which done.
The idea in the mind of Americans was that the United
States army sent to Europe exclusively to help to
defeat Germany and that, upon the accomplishment of
that task the army would be brought home, the
ment would wind up its European connections rapidly
possible, and leave Europe the adjustment of its
postwar relations
1t is proposed that this American policy of
interference in Europe shall be reversed 1t is proposed
that the United States henceforh and forever shall be
embroed in European and Asatic affairs but that by
miracle not yet made Clear the western hemisphere
to be kept free from the interference of
powers whether European or Asiatic
The proposal goes further 1t does not stop with Amer
lean interference but contemplaes the abandonment of
Americas uncontrolled judgment in managing her for
egn relations and substitutes for it the judgment of
foreign body of diplomats Thus the United States is
not only to interfere in politics. but is to inter-
fere in the and to the extent determined by
e. 10 wbic ;c oh
cate it's will.
One of the first tangible effects of this proposed partici
patton in politics is the action of the Senate
committee on the Shanung proposition. The committee
having before it provision in the peace treaty which
the American peace delegates unanimously declared to
be unconscionable and finding that the provision was in
pursuance of treaty which had been concealed
from the United States very properly decided that the
United States bound by the secret treaty. that
the United States could in honor agree to the spoa
ton of China; that the Shanung provision had rea-
ton to the duty of making firm and just peace between
the United States and Germany and hence the provision
amended
This action, if approved by the Senate that the
strongest nation in the world objects the intended
ton of Japan and will not countenance it. 1t means that
the secret diplomacy of the Paris peace conference is
exposed by nation that able to take of itself in
peace or in war; 1t that any league of nations
organized will be founded upon something else than
bargains at the expense of weak nations. 1t MEANS finally
chat the United States does wish to concern itself in
the affairs of other nations and will not be ntimdated
by autocratc greed communistc savagey from pur-
suing course of honest dealing with all nations and en-
tangng alliances with none
The mistake of attempting to tie the United States
into the treaty between other nations and Germany is
now patent. The United States refused to become an
ally of the allies during the war; but kept its own course
decided its problems handled its own politics and
pohcies and did not make any secret public treaties
agreeing to fight jointly to make joint peace There
was never any authority whatever for the making of
template an alliance during war or joint action in max
ing peace 1t merely declared that the United States would
prosecute the war to a successful conclusion
Who can now assert that the relations between Japan
and the United States have been improved by the ecor
to bring them together in league of nations? Who
can settle the Shantung question unless it settled
right? What senator bring himself to vote for Japans
aggression in China, provided for in secret treaty
which was conveaed from the President of the United
States? With the President himself denouncing the
Shantung arrangement, how the Senate do other
wise than strike it from the treaty. be the consequences
what they may? Yet the Senate must regard this as
most disagreeabe duty and by its own votion would
it have set itself up as judge between Japan and
China Being compelled to decide between right and
wrong must decide for the Washington Post
Condemnatory evidence in farmers mind of the frv-
oty of city folks is that they come all the way out from