The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-26
nj. Ciemeneeau's singular. Mistake.

In defending the covenant of the
League of Nations before the French
Chamber of Deputies with all the zeal
which his devoted patriotism and
Strong sense of humor permitted Pre-
mier CLEMENcEAU said in the debate
on Wednesday:
SHOULD the United States reject
the League OF Nations. two treaties
of alliance between France and Great
Britain and France and the United
States exist. Nevertheless. 1t was
precisely because we felt that the
League Of Nations was an insufficient
guarantee for some years to come
that these treaties were drawn up.
The League Of Nations for the pres
ent has nothing to do with the
Franco British American. treaties,
which constitute sufficient guarantees
for France"
When NJ. CLEMENCEAU speaks of the
protective treaty of alliance with
the United States as in existence and
as n sufficient guarantee for France
even If the insufficient guarantee of
the League of Nations should fail of
ratification by Washington he I'M
doubtedly means to be understood as
referring to the Franco-American
treaty as a proposal, not as o fact.
He is well aware that this special
treaty of alliance and protection still
awaits ratification. This Is not the
singular mistake of Premier CLEMEN-
CEAU that we have in mind.
Where he is mistaken, and greatly
and strangely mistaken, is in his belief
that the general treaty, including the
covenant, might fall through, SO far
as the United States Government is
concerned, and yet leave the special
treaty Of alliance as negotiated by
him with President WILSON a valid
instrument, supposing 1t SHOULD be
ratified, and a sufficient guarantee OF
Frances safety.
Premier CLEMENcEAU has appar.
emily forgotten that the special treaty
signed on June 2S by President VIII,
SON, Secretary LANSING, NJ. PIcHoN
and himself contains in Article Ill
this impossible and fatal provision:
THE present treaty must be sub
mitted to the Council OF the League
OF Nations and must be recognized
by the Council acting If need be by
a majority. as an engagement which
~ is consistent with the covenant Of the
League. 1t will continue In force
until on the application of one Of the
parties to 1t the Council. acting II
need be by a majority, agrees that
the League itself affords sufficient
projection"
This was one of the Intervening
expedients or tricks of which Presi
dent WILSON has boosted. 1t was OBJ
viously intended by him to tie W
with his pet personal project even 81
Independent and special a compact a:
is proposed in the Franco-AmericaI
treaty of which NJ. CLEMENcEAJ
speaks In the passage quoted above
It is one OF the cases in which the
Presidents excessive slyness In his
enterprise of amateur diplomacy over
reached itself. 1t is one of the in
stances In which his arrogant pride Of
opinion and unauthorized autocracy
of method have counted for worlC
misfortune.
For 1t will be perfectly apparent t.
Premier CLEsfENCEAU the instant hi
puts his mind on the subject tina
with no League of Nations, so far al
the United States Is concerned, Their,
can be no functioning of the Council
Of that League, by a majority vote
or otherwise, as the final authority
giving validity to a special engage
ment between the United States anC
France; or, again, as the final author
ity as to whether and when that spe
cial engagement shall cease to be II
force. in other words, when 1t shall
be abrogated.
M. CLEAENcEAU is therefore sin
gularly mistaken when he declare,
that the League OF Nations has a
present nothing to do with the Franco
American treaty. 1t has a great dea
to do With the matter. AS the pro
posed special treaty stands, with AR
hcle III. artfully written into 1t b,
President WILSON, the Council of tn
League, whether we participate o
NOT has everything to do with tina
treaty. The Franco-American en-
gagement cannot become effective 70
90