The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-29
DEFENSE TREATY.
HANDED SENATE.
President Wilson Explains
Terms and Purposes of
Document.
OWES DEBT TO FRANCE
Object of Special Treaty Is to
Provide Immediate Assist
ance in CAGE of Attack.


Wilson today submitted to the SEN
ate the text of the Franco British
American pact, and in an accom-
panying message urged It's early rat
ification for the reason that Amer
ica's debt to France has not yet been
fully repaid" ....
Referring to the assistance rem
dered America by France in the days
of the Revolution, the president de-
clared that nothing can repay such
a debt"
at is one of the fine reversals of
history" he added, that the other
nation should be the very power
Il from whom France fought to set us
4 free"
In submitting the pact the presi-
dent explained that its object to
provide for immediate military as
sistance to France by the United
States in case of any unproNoked
kmavement of aggression against her
by Germany without waiting for the
1 advice of the council of the league
of nations that such action be taken.
/ 1t is to be an arrangement, not in
dependent of the league of nations,
l but under It,"
At the suggestion of Chairman
Lodge the treaty was referred to the
foreign relations committee, without
objection or discussion.
/ The Franco American treaty is al
| most identical with one signed be-
tween Great Britain and France. One
difference between the texts as made
public by the French foreign office
to which attention has been called is
that the United States pledges itself
1 to 60 Immediately" to the assist
ance of France, while Great Britain
consents" to assist that country.
The treaty message is as follows:
Text Of Treaty.
1 Gentlemen of the Senate: I take
pleasure in laying before you a
treaty with the republic of France.
the object of which is to secure
that republic the immediate aid of
the United States of America in
case of any unprovoked movement
of aggression against her on, the
part of Germany.
/ earnestly hope that this treaty
will meet with your cordial approval
and will receive an early ratifco ton
at your hands. along with the treaty
a0fsApealces with Germany. Row that
you have had an opportunity to III
examine the great document ! pre-
II SeuteQ 10 you Two WEEKS hEO, IL
seems opportune TO lay before you
this treaty which is meant to be in
effect part OF 1t. +s
No Fear Of Aggression.
1t was signed on the same day
with the treaty of peace and Is in
tended as temporary supplement 1
4 to it. 1t is believed that the treaty
of peace with Germany itself pro-
| vides adequate protection to France
against aggression from her recent
@y1 hn eft hut 40
Immediately ahead of us contain
many fncalculable possibilities. The
covenant of the league OF nations
provides for military action for the
protection of its members only upon 1
advice of the council of the league
advice given, it Is to be presumed,
\ only upon deliberation and acted
\ upon by each of the governments of
4 the member states only If its own
l Judgment justifies such action.
The object of the special treaty
with France which now submit to
you Is to provide for immediate
military assistance to France by the
United States in case of any un-
provoked movement OF aggression
against her by Germany without
waiting for the advice of the coun-
Gil of the league of nations that
such action be taken. 1t is to be
an arrangement. not Independent OF
the league of nations, but under II.
Treaty Provisions.
1t Is, therefore, expressly pro-
vided that this treaty shall be made
the subject of consideration at the
same time with the treaty of peace
with Germany; that this special ar
rangement shall receive the ap- 4
proval of the council of the league;
and that his special provision for
the safety of France shall remain
in force only until. upon applica-
ton of one of the parties to it, the
council Of the league, acting. II
necessary, by majority vote. shall
agree that the provisions OF the
covenant Of the league afford her
sufficient protection.
7 was moved to sign this treaty
BY considerations which will, hope.
/ seem as persuasive and as ire
sistible to you as they seemed TO
ties of friendship which we have
always regarded. and shall always
regard, as peculiarly sacred. She
4 assisted us to win our freedom as
a nation. 1t is seriously to be doubted
whether we could have won It with
4 ont her gallant and timely aid. We |
have recently had the privilege of
assisting in driving enemies, who
were also enemies OF the world,
from her soil; but that does not pay
o,1r debt to her. Nothing can pay
such a debt. She now desires that
we should promise to lend our great
force to keep her safe against the
power she has had most reason to
fear. Another great nation 2volun-
teers the same promise. 1t is one
of the fine rever sails of history that
that other nation should be the very
H. nower from whom France fought to
set us free. A new day has dawned.
Old antagonsms are forgotten. The
common cause of freedom and en-
lightenment has created new COM
radeships and new perception of
what it is wise and necessary for
great nations to do to free the
world of intolerable fear: Two gov
ernments who wish to be members
of the league of nations ask leave
OF the council of the league to be
permitted to go to the assistance
of friend whose situation has been
found to be one of peculiar peril,
without awaiting the advice OF the
league to act.
It is by taking such pledges as
this that we prove ourselves faith
full to the utmost to the high obli-
cations of gratitude and tested
friendship. Such an act as this
seems to me one of the proofs that
we are a people that sees the true
heart of duty and prefers honor TO
its own separate course of peace.
JnnnnDnXU VIII SON