The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-20

Washington, Nov. 2O.-The fate of
the treaty of peace with Germany and
the League of Nations, so far as the
United States is concerned, today again
is in the hands of President Wilson.
Failure yesterday and last hight of all
efforts to have the treaty ratified in
some form by the senate brought the
situation just where it was six months
ago. when the pact was submitted to
the upper house of congress and
technically peace is no nearer than it
was on Armistice day more than a
year ago.
Altho not changing technically the
existing status of relations between the
United States and Germany, the SEN
ate'S failure TO ratify the peace treaty
at its special session is expected by
administration officials and diplomats
to have an indirect result of some i'm
portance on the steps now being taken
to restore the world to a peace basis.
One of the first consequences, ac-
cording to the view taken here, is
likely to be the Fastening of the nego-
tiations in Paris including promulga-
tion of the process verbale which will
restore full commercial and diplo-
matte relations between Germany and
the powers which have ratified the
treaty.
The new congress will meet on De-
dent supporters of the treaty believe
it would be possible to take it up again
at the outset of the session The
Christmas recess was expected TO IN
tervene before much could be accom-
plished. with the result that clear
field for treaty consideration would
not be opened before January at the
earliest.
New Trade Relations.
Once the other great powers have
gone ahead with their establishment
of full trade and diplomatic relations
with Germany, officials say, new ar
rangements will have to be made by
the United States to fit into the COM
merciaI scheme thus created. whateSeR
trade the United States has with the
central powers.
At present the war arrangement by
which Spain is taking care of Ameri-
can interests in Germany continues in
force and that is not expected to be
disturbed. The rationing of supplies
of various sorts to Germany must be-
gin under the treaty terms, however
and the powerful reparations commits
sion will be sent up to determine all
the details of Germany's commercial
intercourse with other nations.
On this commission the United
States will have no representation, tho
it is hoped to work out a plan by
which this country can keep in close
touch with the body's work in order
to protect American interests. The
administration officials were not pre-
pared today to predict just what form
this unofficial connection would take
nor to outline just what could be ac-
complished by such a connection. The
state department is emphatic in its
stand that no American consulS can
be sent into Germany until peace has
been definitely established between
the United States and that country and
they declare only an imperfect trade
relation can be built up Without the
consular officers who are in charge
of the legal end of international trade.
The president has considered the
possibility of negotiating a new treaty
in the event of the rejection of the
present treaty. administration officials
said, but he virtually has rejected that
alternative as impracticable, and now
probably will take up with the prin-
cipal signatOries what compromise
reservations would be acceptable to
them.
Senator Hitchcock said he expected
the president, upon the convening of
congress December /, to withdraw the
treaty and later resubmit it. possibly
with suggestions for acceptable res
ervations. Administration leaders in
the senate also are known to be con-
sidering negotiations of compromises
De- IT