Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-27
IF THE TREATY FAILS

II the peace treaty fails to be approved In q form
which viii not render its reconsideration by the powers
which have already signed It necessary in order to make
It uniform as among all the ssnatories. there may be
some easy and simple way out Of the dilemma which
VIII BE- created. but IL there is. we have seen none sus-
gested ..
Germany and three Of our allies have agreed on q
particular treaty. containing certain specific provisions
We demand that certain OF the essential provisions be
changed. Among the questions first to arise will be
svhether & not Germany, having already agreed to GER
tatn tarnns Of peace With three nationA h willing to agree
o. o<her terms With the fourth. Tho shantung amend
mAnt just Opposed OF h is original form will afford
IN Illustration a, tho complications which might arise
Germany has agreed With the other nations that she
ru reat1nqnish hn rights in shantung to 1apau. Had
xbe senate committee amendment prevailed. Germany
to accept It must agree With Us that she would rehn-
uutsa those rights IN favor Of China. Germany has done
some queer things with treatiesi but even Germany might
be expected to ba1k ct that. She might very well say:
I'VE cannot perform the impossible. We win do what
you wish US to do with Shantuns, but we cannot do tHo
directly opposite things. Tell us what you want, and We
win do it." A similar situation would arise wherever
.our amendments or reservations controvert what Ger
many has already signed
Again, there would be q complication in relation
TO every case where we prescribe a special condition az
fecting the United States We are making peace with
Germany. Is Germany willing to make peace with ue
On tho special terms which we propose? The ahrna-
tive answer Of Germany would be necessary In each case
before there could be any treaty or any real peace. JUST
how willing. how prompt, or how dilatory might we ex-
pect Germany to be-? The terms OF the pending treaty
wore exacted from Germany by force, with ten million
men standing ready to strike IL she refused. Those men
have returned to their homes, all but a little police guard.
Britain. and France. and Italy are not likely to reassean-
bic their armies and reassemble their nayies to compel
nsw terms from Germany. Are we?
Granting Gernany's willingness to make peace with
as on our own new terms, are the other nations willing
that she should do SO? They have something at stake.
They have sacrificed more than we, and they are at least
a. much concerned as We in the form that the peace
terms sha1l take. The French parliament, for instance,
has Just authorized the ratification by its executive de-
partment OF a treaty creating q League Of Nations whose
members are admitted on a basis Of equality. Has the
French administration the power to authorize the ad-
mission Of one nation as q special partner without liz.
bnity9 It would seem that the case must go again ia
the French chamber and the French senate, and through
thenn TO the French people. In other words, does not
the material modification Of the hes4y by our senate re-
spsn the whole subject in every nation witch is a party
- fhe treaty7 II moi. why not? And II 80, is 1t not clear
inst material notifications arc permissible only in the
purpose Of improving something which lacks perfection
bu4 suly 70 remedy defects that are clearly and certain.
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