The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1919-02-06
POWERS
PLEDGED
SECRECY
Of PAcTs
BY AMOS PIScHoT.

States iB onfciaily, II unWittlngiys ON
!. record in support of the Allied secret
tseaties which would destroy all pos
dbIiity OF just and lasting peace, IL
carried out
This contretempts resulted when
Secretary Lansing made statement
in August. 1917, IN response TO the
public clamor for an official cuarifica-
tion of Americas war aims. because
The aims of the United States have
not changed since we entered the war.
We are substantially in accord with
Great Britain and France and nothing
has occurred TO change our attitude"
Lansing. it is practically certain.
could not have been cognizant Of the
secret treaties when he made this pro-
nouncemeni. II he were, II would have
meant that be was sympathetic with
the whole program OF imperialist an
nexations contained IN the Anglo
Franco -Russo-ItaIizn treaty OF 1915.
or with the other secret diplomatic IN
derstandings which may be compared
to q glorihed Rivers and HArbors bill.
giving to each nation which opposed
Germany exactly what II wants.
II the United States government bad
been familiar with the Allies secret
compsets and had then. with full
knowledge. put its seal Of approval on
them through the head OF the State
Department. II would have amounted
20 assuring the Allies that the Amer
lean. armies would fght until the
guarantees in the secret treaties were
. accomplished. And The very fact that
Prexsdenf Wilson is nov IN Paris
strenuousiy opposing fulhilment of
many of these commitments appears
10 be positive proof that Lansing's
statement, was predicated upon non
possession of the treaties
In fact, the writer was informed by
a member OF the Bureau OF Public In
formation that the President himself
had complained OF his inability 10 OBJ
tain n copy of the secret treaties.
II would appear diricui; to under
stand why the United States should
have gone 10 war without first famil-
iariring itself with all European agree
nnents relating to war aims On the
other hand. IL would seem equally
hard 10 understand why the Allied SOW
ernments allowed the United States
TO remain in isDorance. But the six
teeuth article Of the treaty OF 1915
largely explains this peculiar action on
the part Of the Allies II shows the
four signatory powers were pledged
to keep the treaty under cover. II
begins with the words: This treaty
must be kept secret" Again in the
secret telegram from Sazonon. the
Cars foreign minister to the Rus
.ian Ambassador in Paris. dated Feb
ruary 20. 1916. is revealed further
reason for secrecy. This telegram
says:
Political agreements entered into
among the Allies during the war
should remain unai;ersble and are not
subject to revision This refers to
our agreement with France and Eng
land about ConstaItinople and the
Straits. Syria and Asia Minor. and
also the London agreement with Italy.
All propositions as TO future bounda-
ries as to Central Europe are nj this
r,oment premature. but at the same
time IL is 10 be remembered that ve
are ready. TO grant TO France and Ems
land complete freedom in fixing the
Limitations OF the western German
boundaries with Germany and Aus
tria."
Another reason for past concealmept
OF the secret treaties and the existing
desire for secret sessions At Versailles
lies In the embarrassment that would
result from disclosure OF the fifteenth
article o. the London pact as follows:
France. England and Russia obii-
cate themselves TO support Italy in her
desire for no-admitsance OF the holy
see TO any kind OF diplomatic steps for
the purpose Of the conclusion OF peace
or the regulation OF dues,ions' arising
from the present war"
In view of such an understanding.
Il Is obvious tha. for the United States
or any power no; q party TO the secret
treaties. TO have knowledge Of them.
and thus be In a position TO debate.
what the Allies had already decided
upon as unaiterablc. would be exceed
ingly embarrassing. II would seem.
therefore. that so long as these ''unal.
terable agreements" exist, they make
the peace discussions at Paris merely
Z hollow form. Liberal leaders argue
that they should be cleared away at
the instance OF popular demand and
that the delegates should be At liberty
10 negotiate n peoples treaty, based
upon present necessities rather than
past secret diplomatic sessions.
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