The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-03
Democratic Spokesman Opens
Fight as Wilson Leaves.
6, 0. P. TRYING TO KILL PACT
"Crawl Around With Miro
scope Hunting for PltfalIs.0
Separate Peace Would Leave Q.
s, Out in Cold.

sulclual 70 the United States, Senator
hitchcock Of Nebraska. Democratic
leader, asserted in a senate speech to-
DAY that the majority OF the senators
never would accept any of the COM
mittee changes.
The treaty opponents, he said.
crawl on the ground with a micro
scope searching for pitfalls' in the
League OF Nations and overlooking
substantial benefits which the treaty
would bring the nation. The proposal
q senator Knox, Republican, Pa. that
me treaty be rejected and a separate
peace made with Germany was char
Acterized by the speaker as an insane
mixture OF poltroonery and folly"
Amendment Means Defeat.
by a vote OF nine to eight" said
Senator Hitchcock. the committee on
foreign relations is to bring squarely
before the senate the question of de-
feating the pending treaty. Suppose
the senate should vote in favor of the
Shantung amendment or any other?
What would happen?
Either the president would refuse
to go further with the treaty or he
nations associated with the United
States. Does anyone believe they
would accept it7 Does anyone believe
that Great Britain who has already
ratified the treaty and is also under
pledge TO Japan with regard to
Shantung. would accept the Shantung
amendment? Does anyone think that
France also under a pledge to Japan
would ratify this change? Does any
one suppose that Japan herself would
Bubmit to this humiliation before the
eyes of the world?
U. s. Left Out in Cold.
81 cannot conceive of any intelli-
gent and candid man who would as
sumo such thing as a possibility. We
would be met by an instant refusal to
accept the amendment and then
where would the United States find
itself in this international settlement?
We would find ourselves out in the
cold. Isolated from the rest OF the
world. The work of radfying the
treaty would proceed without US.
The treaty itself provides that
when three nations in addition to Ger
many have signed, il shall go into ef-
feet. II Is easy to see the enormous
benefits which Great Britain and
France will derive from this treaty.
They will not take any chances. 1t Is
.preposterous to suppose that Japan
will delay it's ratification. The result
Is beyond all question.
What then will the United States
90? Some say that congress can pass
n joint resolution declaring a state of
peace with Germany. Others say the
United states can negotiate n separate
and independent treaty. Those who
talk this way evidently have no con-
ccption of the enormous benefits
which the United States derives from
this treaty.
Would We Get Damages?
I'm article 23l. Germany Is COM
PEELED 20 accept full responsibility for
the damages caused by the war. Does
any one think II We undertook to
negotiate a separate treaty with Ger
concessions to the United States?
Germany might say she had never de-
clnred war on the United states; that
st was the United states which forced
war upon her.
Take the matter of German prop
ertv in the United states. Under this
treaty all acts Of the United States and
of the alien property custodian with
regard TO that property are validated
unless Germany can show actuai
fraud. Is any one insane enough 70
suppose that Germany will voluntarily
make that concession TO us II we lose
the hold upon her which this treaty
r,ives9 Suppose Germany points 10
the treaties OF 1893 and 1875 unoer
which we agreed to respect the prlVate
property of German nationals IN the
United States.
This treaty creates a commission
called the reparations commission,
Internationally ii will be the most
powerful international body ever Gre
ated 1t receives from Germany all
yeparations paid and distributes them
10 the various nations. Does any one
think under the circumstances the
limited States can afford not to have
a representative on the reparations
commission7
would Dc Suicidal.
''To NV mind II would be suicidal to
throw away the advantages and bene-
fits provided in this treaty. 1t would
de disastrous commercially and finan-
clally.
proposed amendment to ii Is the real
program and hope OF the majority OF
the committee on foreign relations. 1t
Is for this purpose that the treaty has
been locked up in cold storage for so
many weeks. They have felt justified
in retaining the treaty in committee.
holding useless hearings and making
killing amendments with the full
knowledge that amendments would
beat the treaty just as effectively as
refusal to ratify.
"a few. a very few. have decla red
they would vote against the treaty be-
cause OF the League Of Nations, but
n has remained for Senator Knox TO
declare boldly against our participa-
tion in the peace settlement. To say
that he has amazed the country is to
MT Il mildly He has shocked the
country. He formerly favored taking
the League Of Nations out of the
treaty. and rntifying the peace settle
rDent with Germany. Now he sudden
" changes 'front.'
where Arc They Now?
what has become OF the high pro-
fessione OF last year? Last October,
when Germany sought terms for the
arrnistice, the senators now seeking
10 kiII this treaty shouted for uncon-
dItional surrender. They demanded
terms Of peace dictated TO Germany.
They Insisted that the United states
gbo,iId 10 the last maintain the closest
ro-cDeratfon with the allied govern
ments. They said II would be a breach
Of faith II we failed 70 stand by
Poland and other nations formed as n
result Of the war.
b,s haen NEGOTIATED; Germany has
- a. n.~~.,rv has rn4gfieN q.