El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-17
]. s. IS LOSER
INLEAGUE PACT
Wilson Tangles Issues to
Force Acceptance of
His Pet Obsession.
against instead Of with his natural
ally in Petrograd.

against instead Of with his natural
ally in Petrograd-
America commits herself. II the
senate approves the MiIsom-Clem-
enceau letter. far more than Eng
land did in entering the "entente
cOrdials" with France and RUSSIA
before the war. Sir Edward Grey.
then British foreign minister. re-
fused in 1911 10 20 further than TO
authorize nOn-biadinE discussions
between British and French mill
tary and naval affairs He WAS
able to appear before the house
Of commons on August > 1914, and
assure parliament that the coun-
try's hands were not tied formal
", although an obligation Of hon
or had been assumed
Britain did not know until this
speech was made what. If any en-
Eagements had been made by the for
eign office with Russia and France.
England had in reality so committed
herself to the French that she could
not back out without a breach Of
faith, but there was nothing on PAPER
in black and white to prove the fact
And the people Of neither country
knew where they stood. That was the
old secret diplomacy.
We are done with all that now.
II the United states becomes "A
against Germany. the whole world
will know on what terms and TO
what extent. The president will
explain his reasons in public and,
if the senate debates the matter
in executive session, well. every
body known just how secret such
debates are.
But the formal agreement with
France proposed in the presidents
letter is really unnecessary. If the
league OF nations agreements be taken
seriously. II is lust because France
fearing as always the menace across
the frontier, does not take them all
together at their face value. that she
asked and obtained from wilson and
Lloyd George separate distinct pledges
of help.
What does the United States give.
to what extent are our hands tied by
promises. made in the actual treaty Of
peace. a treaty that the senate can
not refuse TO ratify. whatever may be
the fate Of the separate undertaklus
to France2
We make one astounding con-
cession- In our splendid isolation,
protected by mighty seas and a
powerful fleet having less 10 fear
from aggression than any other
country. we nevertheless euuran-
tee the territorial integrity OF
every member Of the league Of na-
ealIy promise to 20 to war TO
maintain the boundaries Of Hu-
mania n that country is attacked
by Poland. We are as much com
mitted to this particular WHr,
chosen at random. rs britain.
France and Prussia were by the
treaty OF $50 10 maintain the
neutrality Of Belgium.
And not IN this hypothetical
Polish-Rumauian war only ARE we
bound 20 intervention. but I'm any
OF fifteen wars that may arise
in the BaIkaufzed weller Of small
states that makes the new map OF
Europe look like a revival Of the
eighteenth century. For instance.
the smoulderinE dispute between
JuEo-Slavia and Italy may burst
info flames in one year. three
years. five years And however
their boundary lines may be
drawn in the treaty, we promise
in article ten Of the League Of
nations agreement to attack
whichever nation sets forth TO
change its frontiers by the sword
This article ten in the league char
er seems to be by far the most inn
iortant single item I'm the treaty Of
ieace- It is really the keystone OF the
Whole edifice.f And 10 is America who
makes the great sacrifice on the altar
IF idealism in ratifyinE article ten .
very other power has a great deal TO Z
-ain by IT, Even mighty Britain is ]
lot sverse to having her Indian from I
Ter guaranteed against aggression. I
America stands alone in no need Of I
outside help under any circumstance /
o maintain her boundaries or her I
possessions Wilson. I think. when T
e agreed 10 article ten went further I
han any statesman has gone IN world I
history towards making material sac I