Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-12
THE NEW TRIPLE ALLIANCE

Z The proposed treaty by which the United States and
Great Britain pledge themselves to come to the aid Of
France in case of an unprovoked attack on the latter by
Germany, is a separate matter from the peace treaty and
the League of Nations, and will be considered and de-
available.
Senator Curtis. Of Kansas. who has overlooked few
opportunities to raise objections. says that this congress
has no power to pledge future congresses as to their &C
ton. The same objection would lie against any treaty of
any kind. An American senate more than a century ago
ratified a treaty with Great Britain whereby it was
agreed that there should be no fertilization along the
Canadian border and no war vessels on the Great Lakes.
The next and succeeding congresses need not have OBJ
served that treaty. They could have ignored it, and
planted fortresses clear to the Pacific ocean, and filled
the lakes with dreadnaughts. They did not do SO. They
observed, in good faith, the treaty that was made in
good faith. And if the United States makes a treaty
today, the congresses OF tomorrow and the day after will
observe that treaty unless, in the meantime, they should
see fit to terminate it in a regular and orderly manner.
The St. Paul Dispatch considers the proposed agree
ment one-sided. and is inclined to favor a complete of
fensive and defensive alliance Of these three great ma
tons. We rather suspect that the word Offensive
slipped into the Dispatch's editorial inadvertently, but
there is some logic in the suggestion that these three
nations bind themselves to aid each other in the event
of attack by an outside power.
This proposed triple alliance" however, is designed
to fit a particular case. Germany has been the great ag-
gressive power of the world. Because of unalterable
geographical facts, Germany could not realize her i'm
perial ambitions without first destroying France. France
was in the way. Therefore, when Germany began this
war her first step was to attempt the destruction of
France. Germany is defeated. But France, having had
two narrow escapes within half a century, was determined
to take. no further chances. While she had the oppor-
tunity she intended to make sure that all possible danger
from that quarter was removed. 1t was natural and
right that. she should do so. She preferred to attain Sc
curity through the arrangement of territory. the control
of which would be in her own hands,. The method pro-
posed was not approved by the other powers. A modi-
fication Of the plan. was proposed and accepted, but, to
the ratification of the parliamentary bodies, that even If
France should be attacked, Britain and America would
come to her rescue.
There is little probability that Germany will be in a
let US hope, the League of Nations will have become a
fixed fact and a going concern. exercising real power to
preserve the peace, and therefore rendering separate
understandings unnecessary. In the meantime, should
Germany rehabilitated, and with freshly mounting ambi-
ton. feel inclined to renew her former course, the knowl-
war with Britain and America would have a wholesome
and restraining effect. The existence of such a compact
would practically guarantee the maintenance of peace.