East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-09-27

tions mas reported the treaty. the nnes
are sharply drawn between the imme-
diate ratification OF the treaty OF
peace with Germany. and It's amend
ment with a reassembling OF the con
ference and a reopening Of negotia-
tions that would bring great delay and
prolonged uncertainty in settling the
great issues OF the peace. No partisan
plea can be made. Party lines are al
ready broken.
Standing at q distance from the
conflict in the senate chamber. we
plead for immediate ratification with
out delay. Our land requires IL. A
state Of nervous strain. tension and
unrest exists manifestirg itself in dis
turbances. which In some cases have
no self evident connection with the
war, but which are, in fact, its after
math. The world is put in imminent
peril Of new wars by the lapse of each
day. DissensIons between us and our
former allies are being gown We
firmly believe and solemnly declare
that the states and cities in which we
dwell desire immediate peace.
The waging OF war steadied and
united the American people. Peace
viii bring prosperity. and prosperity
content. Delay in the senate postpon-
ing ratification in this uncertain period
of neither peace nor war has resulted
| in indecision and doubt, bred strife
and quickened the cupidity OF those
who sell the daily necessities of life
and the fears OF those whose daily
wage no longer fills the daily market
basket
We beseech the senate to give the
land peace and certainty by ratifiea-
ton which win not keep us longer in
the shadows of possible wars, but give
the whole world the light OF peace.
Reservations in the nature OF clarifi-
cations in the meaning OF the treaty,
not inconsistent with Its terms. win
not require the reopening OF the ne
gotiations with Germany and with our
associates in the war, which we all
ana eacl W WILL
But there is no possibility of doubt
that amendment Of the treaty, as is
now proposed by the senate commit
tee on foreign relations. would require
negotiation and reopening of all the
questions decided at Paris. Months of
delay would follow. The perils of the
present would become the deadly dan
gers of the near future. All the doubt
engendered would aid the plots for
violent revolution in this and other
lands. The issues here and elsewhere
between capital and labor. the con
spiracy Of speculator and profiteer.
would all grow and become more per-
ilous.
This cannot be. The American peo-
/ pie cannot, after victorious war. per
init its government to petition Ger
many, which has accepted the treaty,
| for its consent to changes in the trea-
amend the treaty for its own purpose
and policy, Germany would have full
right to ask for concessions. Germany
4 has agreed to make no claim in regard
! to enemy property seized in this coun-
/ try to an amount of seven hundred
1 million dollars. Our recent foe could
ask for a reopening Of this issue and
of the Lusitania claims. 1t could raise
every question open before hostilities
in regard to submarine warfare and
"a 10 in
country. All the provisions for our
trade in Germany raised by the eco
nomic clauses of the treaty, many OF
them vital to our Industries and our
farms, as in dye patents. dye supplies
and fertilizers, the working of the
reparation commission, which super
intends the trade of all with Germany,
could all be brought up by Berlin for
readiustment by our negotiators, act
ing for the United States alone and no
longer associated with other victorious
powers or supported by victorious
American army on the German border.
Peace itself, the peace of the world.
is delayed until ratification comes.
ana huy aU0uuACut pootPohSS FSe~SS'
Germany and England alone of the
principal powers have ratified The
other principals necessarily await our
action, influential and powerful as we
are today in the worlds affairs. The
ravages of war on more than score
of fighting fronts are continued by
any needless delay Let the senate
give the world peace by ratification
without amendment.
Even the amendment for which most
can be said, the provision in regard to
Shantung, will secure nothing which
cannot be gained If China, backed by
the powerful advocacy of the United
States, addresses itself to the machin-
cry for righting international wrongs
and meeting just claims created by
the league between nations. China,
after eighty years of oppressive trea-
ties and despoiled rights. by which all
the great powers have profited direct
..