Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-17
TUESDAY. EVENING. JUNE II, 1919.

TUESDAY. EVENING, JUNE II, 1919.
AMENDING THE TREATY
Because Of the number of nations participating d.
rectly in framing it. because it has an immediate. bear
ing on the interests Of all the other nations. and because
Of the magnitude Of the issues involved, the treaty Of
peace with Germany formulated by the conference at
Versaillest is by far the most important treaty ever
negotiated. AS a treaty with Germany its purpose is to
bring to O close the greatest war ever waged, and to i'm
pose on the chief aggressor in that war conditions which
will render its continuance or resumption by that Of
fender impossible. But it is more than a treaty with
Germany by the nations which have been at war with
her. In substance it is a treaty Of all the civilized ma
lions of the earth. each with all the others, the chief
purpose of which is to put an end to war, to remove
from the entire world the incubus Of a military menace
and the maintenance of vast military establishments, and
10 render secure each nation. great or small, in the ex-
ercise Of its right to live its own life and work out It's
own destiny.
The treaty is not the work of superior beings from
another planet, gifted with supermundane wisdom. and
free from all the defects of humanity. Like every work
of human progress, it is the work Of human beings them
selves. each bringing to the conference something Of
wisdom, something of idealisn. and also something of
the passion, prejudice and selfishness which, in some
measure, mark every people. 1t follows that the treaty
falls far short of what such a treaty should be, far short
y i II peIIeCIlOH Which might nave Deen expected anu
demanded Of perfect men.
The question is not whether or not the treaty is per-
feet. Admittedly it is not. Any reasonably intelligent
student can pick numerous flaws in it, and can point
cut many places where it might be bettered. The ques-
ton is whether or not the treaty has sufficient merit to
make it worth while, whether or not it gives sufficient
promise of betterment in world conditions to warrant
it's acceptance by the world.
The treaty has been framed by men chosen by the
governments of all the nations which have been at war
with Germany, and the proceedings have been dominated
by representatives of the five nations greatest in power,
and therefore in responsibility, in all the world. These
negotiators have been assisted by an army Of experts in
almost every department of life. They have been as well
chosen as any similar body Of men is ever likely to be-,
an: there is every reason to believe that their work has
heea conducted On as high a plane as could be expected
i'll view Of the completely Of the interests affected. The
result is a treaty which provides for the disarming and
Stacking of the chief disturber of the worlds peace, and
a solemn compact whereby all the principal nations bind
themselves to supreme effort for the maintenance of
peace hereafter. All Of that is surely a gain.
There is talk in the United States senate of amend
ing the treaty, or accepting certain of its provisions aud
separating others, either for ultimate rejection or for
indefinite consideration. 1t must be remembered that
the senate has no power to amend the treaty. AL that
the senate can do in the matter of amendments is 10 sug-
gest them. But when the completed treaty is submitted
to the senate for action. a vote to amend will be a vote to
REJECT, and to send the document back to this or SINE
ether conference, and to reopen the whole case. In the
meantime we will continue at war and our political, COM
nlercial and industrial life will remain under the burden
OF war conditions.
There is excellent reason to believe that the presi-
dent has made a mistake in not consulting more freely
with senators-and, for that matter, Representatives as
Well-upon the subject matter Of this treaty, as we'll as
~ a great many other matters concerning which he has
preferred to keep his own counsel. That may properly
be made a political issue. but it does not go to the merit
of the treaty. But in answer to the frequent complaints
that the president has not submitted the treaty officially
to the senate it may be pointed out that there is nothing
in existence upon which the senate can act. The treaty
was submitted to the Germans, not as the last word of
the associated powers, but as a statement of principles
and the embodiment Of views upon which the Germans
were invited to offer suggestions. The understanding
was clear that changes would be made if good reason. for
them could be shown by the other party to the contract
Changes have actually been made, and the amended
document has been submitted, this time as a finality
The Germans has five days within which to accept or re-.
ject. 1t is not certain that they will accept. If they do
not there is no treaty to be acted on, and military activ-
ity will be renewed.
In the event that Germany signs the treaty it will
then be placed before the senate. Failure Of the senat
to accept the treaty as 1t stands will mean the continue.
ton Of the war until q new treaty can be negotiated. and
senator's who advocate that course will be called unon
to justify 1t before a people little inclined to tolerate the
postponsment except for reasons the most weighty.
THE EDUCATIONAL BILL
House Bill 1874. known as the educational, or admin.
istratton BILL was born OF political nscesdty. BY 4 major
- - --- liberty Of oailtn.