Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-25
Clemenceau Also Tells Deputies
British-Franco- American AL.
liances Are Sufficient Guar.
antees for France
A SPIRITED DISCUSSION
Happen IF u. s. Rejects Treaty npd
COvennpt-McRnwhiIe League \.
Vigorously Attacked agnin in SENATE

Paris, Sept. "a. (By the Associated
Press) The possibility of non-ratifica-
ton of the peace treaty and the covenant
OF the League of Nations by the United
states Senate; the consequences. in such
event, to the guarantees for the future
OF France, and the question whether the
League of Nations could exist without
the United States as a member occupied
the entire afternoons debate in the Cham
Der of Deputies.
Andre Tardieu and NJ Pichon the for
eign minister replied but the chamber
was not satisfied. Premier Clemenceau
then declared that even in the event Of
! the United States Senate not voting for
the League of Nations covenant. the
league could exist. The treaties consti-
tuting protective alliance between
France, Great Britain and the United
states he added, were not dependent upon
the league. They would come into force,
and France would be protected
NJ. Tardieu declared that he per-
sonally was satisfied that the United
States Senate would ratify the treaty.
NJ Barthou countered. saying that
he was far from satisfied and citing
the vote of 43 to 40 on Senator Lodges
motion for postponement "as fair
warning of the ultimate fate of tho
pact"
NJ. Pichon's reply that illegally
speaking" the league could exist with
out Americas participation brought
the retort from NJ, Barthou that what
| France wanted was political suaran-
tees not legal guarantees. He assert ed
that the government must face the
| issue Immediately.
Premier Clemenceau said:
Should the United States reject
| the League of Nations, two treaties
of alliance between Franco and Great
| Britain and France and ths United
States exist. Nevertheless it was pre-
cisely because we felt that the League
of Nations was an insufficient guar
| antee for some years to come that
these treaties were drawn up. The
| League of Nations for the present has
| nothing to do with the Franco Brit
| h-American treaties, which con-
| stitute sufficient guarantee for
| France.
Washington, Sept. 24--Most of the
| work on the peace treaty to-day was
carried on outside the Senate chamber.
While Senator Freinghuysen. republi.
can. of New Jersey was delivering two
hour attack on the treaty and its League
! of Nations covenant republicans were
| trying to reach an agreement respecting
the method of dealing with the amend
| n1ent by Senator Johnson, republican, Of
California for equalizing the voting power
of the United States and Great Britain
| in the league assembly.
The Johnson amendment has been faic
| aside to be taken up at an indefinite
/ date, but there were scores of rumors
concerning possible procedure, and one
persistent report was that Senator John
son might insist upon calling it UP al
| any moment. Some league advocates put
forth the claim that enough promises
| had been obtained from republicans to
| make certain its defeat, largely because
of the argument that it's adoption might
necessitate re-opening of the whole ques-
! ton of peace negotiations with Ger
many.
| Under the motion adopted by the Sen.
\ ate on Tuesday, when republicans took
actual hold of the handling of the treaty.
| a number of amendments by Senator
| Fall. republican, of New Mexico. which
| would relieve the United States from
service on foreign commissions created
| by the treaty, will be the order of busi-
ness Friday. The business, however, will
| be mainly speech making for no vote 10
| expected until next week.
When the galleries applauded at the
| conclusion of Senator Frelinghuysen's
speech Vice-Pre esident Marshall instructed
| the do6rkeepers to eject in the future
| those who disobeyed the rules of the
Senate which prohibit demonstrations by
| visitors.