New-York tribune., 1919-09-08
Lamont Calls
On Senate to
Ratify Treaty
Financial Expert Advises
That Desired Changes Be
Left to First Meeting of
the League i'm October
Objections Held ''Minor''
Bolshevism and Trade Con-
siderations Urged as Rea.
sons for Prompt Action

Thomas W. Lamont, financial adviser
of the American peace delegation in
Paris, yesterday issued a statement
urging ratification of the peace treaty
by the Senate and proposed that if any
changes in the document, such as are
now being suggested by certain Sen
ators, be deemed necessary they may
be effected at the initial meeting of
the league of nations next October.
Mr.. Lamont said he believed that in
the disposition of Shantung the United
States would have to rely upon the
faith Of Japan, and if that inconceiv-
ably failed upon the league of nations.
Signs that the Bolshevism already
spreading to America would increase if
delay in ratifying the treaty continues
were seen by Mr.. Lamont His state
ment follows:
'Sincc my return from Paris, where
| spent five months in work with the
American commission to negotiate
peace, until | have now, in spite
of frequent urgings, declined to COM
ment upon the existing situation with
respect to the treaty and to the in
dustrial problems that are hanging
upon the ratification of it. l am a
member of the Republican party and
have had confidence that the Repub-
llcan Senate aiority, whose patriot
ism cannot be questioned would, after
the careful investigation and consid-
Grafton which it was it's duty to give,
vote an early ratification Of the treaty.
But in common, l believe, with the
country at large, ] have become greatly
disturbed at the continued uncertainty
and delay--a delay which, in my judg-
ment. is already responsible for having
rendered social and industrial condi-
tions in both Europe and America dis
tinctly worse.
Whole World Wants Peace
"The whole world is crying for peace,
for change to renew it's normal life
and work, and America, by continued
lnaction, refuses to grant her consent
TO the settlements necessary. Since
1T became evident to the world of COM
merce that the action of the United
States Senate might nullify the
treaty there has been an alarming fall
IN the rates OF foreign exchange For
this no remedy can be had as long as
the delay continues at Washington; no
plan for the extension of foreign
credits, SO necessary to maintain
Americas export trade, can be evolved
1t is hard to conceive the attitude Of
mind that insists upon such calamities
fumblllg with the most critical situa-
ton that the world has ever seen.
The only explanation is that there is
still almost incredible misunderstand-
ing both OF the treaty provisions
themselves and Of the manner in which
the affairs of the world await Americas
assent to peace.
"One point should be cleared up now,
and that is the misapprehension exist
ing, in many quarters as to President t.
Wilson'S attitude at Paris. | hear it
repeated that he was unwilling to take
counsel with his delegation. That is
untrue. He constantly and earnestly
sought the advice of his associates.
May Have Yielded Little
Il hear it said that in fighting for
the league of nations he yielded up
VITAL points IN the main treaty. In the
Shantung settlement perhaps Japan's
attitude as to the league was a con-
slderatlon. Aside from that I know Of
no clause IN the treaty that was tenn
pered or modified at all by Mr.. Wilson'S
SOLICITATION for the league.
"President Wilson, being human
being, undoubtedly has certain defects,
put, as member of the opposite DO
lltlcal faith from his, and as taking a
CONTINUOUS, albeit unimportant. part in
the work at Paris, | am in all fairness
bound to say that throughout the COM
pleXltles and anxieties over there Pres
ldent Wilson acted with moderation.
common sense and great patience: he
played on politics and, what is more
he showed constantly extraordinary
courage In fighting for the idealism
that we call American. His course
the admiration of his fellow citizens
regardless of party.
"As to the treaty itself, the situation
then, Is this: America played an
enormously important part in the war
Without her cooperation it could not
have been won. In the same way. in
making peace her allies and associates
in the war looked to her for leadership
1t was the effort of the Ameri mis-
sion at Paris to gi"e to the settlement
of peace the same unselfish, Just and
generous effort that America had shown
in the war. Working steadily upon
these principles for months at Paris
the American commission was active in
negotiating a treaty which commanded
the approval of our own and of the
delegation of twenty-five other powers
Admittedly Not Perfect
admittedly, the treaty is not per-
feet document. BY no theory is it ever
possible among a score of divergent
interests and in chaos of states con-
fused politically and half -paralyzed
economically, with the whole social
structure tottering, with half-score
of nationalities torn, bleeding, sad
dened and dazed by the sufferings and
horrors of warm no way, l say, can
perfection in the drafting of human
document be attained under such con-
ditions. Compromises ought to and
must be made. They were made by all
parties to the treaty--less. as matter
of fact, by the American delegation
than by the others, although the ma
terial interests of our country were fa1
less involved than those of the other
powers and though, on the theory of
maintaining an unselhsh attitude, we
could have been excused for concedine
at least as much as any of our allies
AS Senator Knox we'll put it years ago
in speech favoring international co.
operation;
Every material and moral advance
in the solidarity of nations, for univer-
Gal iii inc icb Il