Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-04
THE FALL AMENDMENTS

a pALCG OF proposed amendments Ito tbs peace
treaty framed by Senator Fall have met the fate In the
senate which 1t was generally expected they would meet
1T has been understood for some time that there was no
prospect Of the adoption Of these amendments. and the
only feature which was in doubt was the size Of the vote
by which they would be defeated. The vote, running
shout 30 to IS, varying a little according to the character
OF the amendment. disposes Of the amendments with pro.
nsuneed emphasis. but 1t docs not clear away the doubts
which have existed as to the tate Of the treaty itself.
The resolution advising ratification, whatever it's
forr' must receive 81 Of the senate's IS votes. Among
those who voted against the amendments are several who.
it Is said, viii vote to have the subject matter In come of
these amendments covered in the reservations. And it
Is declared that Of those who voted for the amendments
there are some who, ii Ill amendments and reservations
are defeated. or if so-caaled mild" reservations are
adopted. will then vote to rahfy Both sides are quite
emphatic in their claims. but to the outsider it appears
that the issue is tn doubt
AZ to the amendments themselves. most of them pro-
vide that the Cnitsd States shall not participate in the
work Of any Of the several commissions which have been
provided for to supervise the carrying out of territorial
and other arrangements under the terms of the treaty.
There has been little public discussion of these proposed
amendments. ana the reasons for their submission are not
entirely clear. The main reason advanced is. of course,
the desire that the United states shall not be entaneled
in European politics.
Under the circunstanoes this reason does not appea:
to be a wsishty one. Before the beginning of the grea:
war the United States was about as free from European
entanElements Is It is possible for any nation to be. And
during more than two years Of that war we remained en-
trey Aiook. But without any Interference on our mart.
conditions were forced upon us which made our entry into
the war inevitable. We had RETAINED from interference in
the two Balkan wars aud the settlements which followed
them. We Eatd not . word when Serbia was assaulted.
We remained dumb while Belgium was ravished. And ye,
We were Drawn into the war.
The war In which we fought was our war. The !,
tlornents which follow it are our settlements. We have
had = hand In making them, az it was proper and neces-
sary that vs should. And It seems reasonable and sensi-
BILE that We should participate IN the work Of supervising
the carving ont Of tho terms Of settlement which have
been decided on. 80 a. to make sure, as far a. possible,
that tho settlements themselves shall not be the occadop
|of more war.
We are not particularly interested in the disposition
OF the aaar bAstn or In whether . certain area In atlesia
shall be German ar Polish. But these things are part Of
tho settlement There were conditions there which had
70 be dealt with and ", q parties to the war. were bound
TO put forth our bsst effort to see that the settlements
mads wsfs w. aud just The decisions having been
made. - eannet Diay the polroon ana the Stacker and
wash our hands of he whoss affair. The arrangement Of
[thess mattsss ers = znuch; our Job q It u Europs,s.
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