The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-01-31
THAT'S THE CHARGE MADE BY
Mr.. AMOS PlNCHOT
STAR-CHAMBER METHOD
Evidence of the Difference of
Opinion Between Wilson
And Premiers

Washington, january 29.-Tnc
most formidable barrier athwart the
road 10 a lasting and democratic
peace is the little known series Of
secret treaties formulated b. the al
lies during the war, before Americas
intervention.
Up To this writing the American
press has practically ignored the dip
lomatic booty trap" designed 10
annihilate any genuinely liberal peace
plan based upon altruistic ideas or
present day aversion TO any nation
acquiring territory By conquest.
Not only must these secret treat
les, which are IN u alterahle conflict
with the fourteen points" lie an
rogated before democratic ideas and
methods prevail at Versailles. but,
what is more important and what is
not at all understood. they must he
abrogated by the peoples OF the ma
tions represented at the peace con
ference. Allied statesmen of Europe
pO" W lNNpEf Nu' ID ti'l. even
if they now desire TO 10 so Their
hands are tied by the secret treaties
themselves. The treaties. over the
signatures of some OF the very
statesmen row acting AT the peace
congress, stipplatc that no action by
the peace congress shall abroGate
the provisions OF the documents
themselves.
Bold Attempt to Throttle Public.
Only pressure of public opinion in
majority OF the allied demOclacies
car force the issue. In this fact is
thought 10 lie the real reason for the
bold attempt Of January - 10 thrct-
tie public opinion before il could
form, by combining all news and dis
cuSsion of the peace negotiations 10
q colorleSs, non committal daily
communique.
If the terms OF these secret treat
les are carried out by the allied gov
ernments land representatives of
Great Britain France ard Italy
have already declared their inten-
ton of doing SOL permanent peace
becomes exceedingly improbable; and
the conference at Versailles will
merely set the stage for other con
flicts, more terrible than the one re-
Gently ended.
For more than a year the liberal
press of Europe has been laundering
against the secret treaties. Far seeing
European statesmen have repeatedly
demanded official Reputation of the
secret treaties as condition nrece
dent TO the allied peace conference.
The secret treaties have been the
storm certer of hundreds Of secret
conferences in parliamentary circles
and behind closed portals of embas
sizes and foreign offices. The secret
treaties are the keystone of that dis
credited, grasping diplomacy for
which President Wilson desires TO
substitute an international spirit of
fair dealing.
Differences of Opinion.
Since Wilson arrived ir Europe
there has been growing evidence
that between him and some OF the
spokesman of the allies certain
SEEMINGLY irlecorcilable differences
have ariscr These will probably not
vanish until the public here knows
the truth and acts. The reason foI
these differences does rot lie in the
opinions OF Premier Lloyd George
Premier Clemenceau or Premier
Orlando, whatever their opinions may
happen to be. None Of these men is
at liberty TO fashion a really demo
cratic peace, for they are bound by &
set of agreements from which they
dare not depart These agreements
some ir the form of secret treatie:
duly signed and sealed, ard othel
mere "gentlemor's agreements" be
tween the various governments
dominate the situation. While the!
exist the European representative!
at Versailles are not free agents
They are mere attorneys. pledged Il
negotiate for their clients cut ant
dried schedules of anreXatiOrs an'
trade redistributions which hav'
nothing TO do with democracy
If the secret treaties stand, III
war, from Americas standpoint, viii
have beer fought in vain and YET
with the various European govern
ments committed, their agents a
Versailles can orly be free TO act
the peoples oil the allied countrie
make such demand for the repudi
atior of these reactionary agreement
that the Entente governments wi
unanimously agree TO drop ther
overheard.