Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-27

Isolation BY Amendment.

The theory upon which the majority
of the Senate foreign relations com
mittee now voting to amend the peace
treaty is proceeding is that the United
States should withdraw into q posi-
ton of national isolation and have
the least possible to do with the other
nations of the world in the settlement
of affairs unsettled by the great war.
By voting that the United States should
not be represented upon about fifty
different treaty enforcing commissions
this committee majority stands for the
principle that however great was the
influence and the power of the United
States in deciding the war in Europe,
and however potent its influence in the
writing of the treaty of peace, it must
not participate in the actual work of
supervision of settlements, because it
is not itself concerned in the imme-
date issues.
This insular policy may be in con-
sonance with the ancient doctrine of
American isolation, but it does not
conform to the new conditions, some
of them very new, indeed, but unmis-
takabiy potent in their effect upon our
obligations and duties. Had the United
States strictly held to this principle
of non-interference, it would not have
had any justification for entering the
war. 1t might have technically de-
elared war against Germany on the
score OF the threat against our ship
ping and various acts of hostility and
injury from which we had suffered. But
it would not have been warranted in
sending overseas a vast army of men,
in putting afoat in European waters
a powerful feet of ships. in sacrificing
a great number of American lives, in
placing q war-cost burden of immense
weight upon the shoulders of the
American people.
Having gone into the war, not as an
academic matter, but as an active, de-
termined, crusadiag belligerent, and
having taken part in the writing Of
the treaty of peace-having, indeed,
supplied by suggestion the basis Of
the armistice terms and thus controlled
the situation in the initial stage of
peace-the United States cannot in
honor, cannot in deeency, refrain from
taking part in those matters of read
justment the success and justice of
which depend upon the fairness in
sured by participation by a neutral in
interest.
Exception of the reparations com
mission from the list of those from
which the committee would have the
United States excluded puts the case
upon low plane of direct and Pc
cuniary interest. This suggests to the
world that in the view Of q majority
Of a committee of the Senate the
United States is to have to do only
with peeuniary matters in which it is
Immediately concerned. Is the dollar
mark to be the sign Of our altruismi
All this is apart from the question
of whether the Senate can properly
amend the treaty itself. On that score
there is difference Of opinion. but
in view Of the urgent need Of prompt
ratification, and the necessity Of So
curing a definite restoration of peace
at the earliest moment, this differ
enee Is not important. Amendment
of the treaty, by the Senate, makes for
delay. regardless Of whether there is
. right to amend it or not. And de-
lay makes for confusion in the world,
for confusion at home, for loss and
suffering and possibly for the renewal
Of the horrors Of war in the not dis
taat future.