The Washington times., 1919-02-05
URGES END OF ALL
SECRET TREATIES
BY AMOS PINCHOT.

The most formidable barrier
. Gthwart the road TO a lasting ard dem
Ocratic peace is the little known
series Of secret treaties formulated
by the allies during the war. before
Americas Intervention.
Up 70 this writing the American
press has practically ignored the ii
plOmatic "booby-trap' designed 10
annihilate any genuinely liberal
peace plan based upon a'truistic
ideas or present-day aversion TO any
nation acquiring territory by con-
quest
Not only must these secret trea-
ties. which are in unalterabls con-
flict with the fourteen points, be
sbrogated before democratic ideas
and methods prevail at Versailles,
but what Is more important and
what Is not at all understood, they
must be abrogated by the peoples OF
the nations represented at the peace
conference. Allied statesmen Of
Europe are powerless to revoke the
barrier. even IL they now desire to
do so. Their hands are tied by the
secret treaties themselves. the
treaties, over the signatures OF some
OF the very statesmen now acting at
the peace congress, stipulate shat no
action by the peace congress shall
abrogate the provisions Of the docu-
ments themselves.
Attempt Failed.
Only pressure OF public opinion in a
majority Of the allied democracies can
force the issue. In this fact is thought
- FFe eha -,.1 -,,1,. g. A. told -
tempt Of January 10 to throttle pub
lie opinion before it could form, by
combining all news and discussion Of
the peace negotiations to a colorless,
non-commitsl daily communique.
If the terms Of these secret treaties
are carried out by the allied govern
ments land representatives Of Great
Britain. France, and Italy have al
ready declared their intention of
doing sol. permanent peace becomes
exceedingly improbable; and the con-
ference Of Versailles will merely set
the stage for other conflicts, more
terrible than the one recently ended.
For more than q year the liberal
press OF Europe has been laundering
against the secret treaties Far-see-
ing European statesmen have repeat
edly demanded official repudistiOn
Of the secret treaties as a condition
precedent TO the allied peace confer
ence. The secret treaties have been
the storm enter OF hundreds OF secret
conferences in parliamentary circles
and behind closed portals OF embassies
and foreign offices. The secret treaties
are the keystone Of that discredited,
grasping diplomacy for which Presi-
dent Wilson desires to substitute an
international spirit OF fair dealing.
Leaders at Variance.
Since Wilson arrived in Europe
there has been growing evidence that
between him and some of the spokes-
men OF the allies certain seemingly
ircconciIable differences have arisen.
These win probably not vanish until
the public here knows the truth and
acts. The reason for these differences
does not lie in the opinions OF Pre-
mier Lloyd George, Premier Clemen-
ceau or Premier Orlando, whatever
their opinions may happen to be.
None Of these men is at liberty
TO fashion q really democratic peace.
for they are bound by a set OF agree
meuts, from which they dare not depart.
These agreements, some in the form of
secret treaties duly signed and sealed.
and other mere ''gentlemen's agreements"
between the various governments,
dominate the situation. While they
exist the European representatives at
Versailles are not from agents. They
are mere attorneys, pledged to nego-
tiate for their clients cut and dried
schedules OF anexations and trade re-
distributions which have nothing to
do with democracy.
II the secret treaties stand, the war,
from Americas standpoint, will have
been fought in vain and yet, with the
various European governments com
nnitted. their agents at Versailles can
only be free to act II the peoples Of
the allied countries make such a de
ruand for the reputation Of these re-
dictionary agreements that the entente
governments will unanimously agree
20 drop them overheard.
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