Imperial Valley press., 1919-09-23

plead for immediate ratification with
out delay. Our land requires it. a
state of nervous strain, tension and
unrest exists manifssting itself in dis,
turbanCcs, which in some cases have
no SELF evident connection with the
war, but which are. in fact. its after.
math. The world is put in imminent
peril of new wars by the lapse of each
day. Discussions between us and our
former allies are being sown. We
firmly believe and solemnly declare
that the states and cities in which we
dwell desire immediate peace.
The waSing of war steadied and
united the American people. Peace
will bring prosperity, and prosperity
content Deley in toe Senate postpon-
ing ratification in TINS uncertain period
If neither peace nor war has resulted
in INDIGESTION and doubt. bred strife and
Quickened the cupidity of those who
sell the aly necessities of life and the
fears OF those whose daily wage no
longer fills the daily market basket.
We beseech the Senate to give the
land peace and certainty by a ratfica-
ton which will not keep us longer in
the shadows Of possible wars, but give
the whole world the light of peace
Reservations in the nature of Clarifi
cations in the meaning of the treaty
not inconsistent with its terms, will
not require the reopening of the nego
tiatons with Germany and with our
II, 10 which Il
and each united to win.
But there is no possibility of doubt
that amendment of the treaty, as is
now proposed by the Senate Commit
tee on Foreign Relations. would re-
Quire negotiation and a reopening of
all the questions decided at Paris.
Months of delay would follow The
perils of the present would become the
deadly dangers of the near future. All
the doubt engendered would aid the
plots for violent revolution in this
and other lands. The issues here and
elsewhere between capital and labor
the conspiracy of speculator and prot
iteer, would all grow and become more
perilous.
This cannot be. The American peo-
pie cannot, after victorious war, per-
nit its government to petition Ger
many. which has accepted the treaty,
for it's consent to changes in the
treaty. Yet if the United States
should amend the treaty for its own
purpose and policy, Germany would
have full right to ask for concessions.
Germany has agreed to make no clai~
in regard to enemy property seized
in this country to an amount of seven
hundred million dollars. Our recent
foe could ask for reopening of this
issue and of the Lusitapia claims 1t
could raise every question open be-
fore hostilities in regard to submarine
warfare and the treatment of it's ma
tionals in this country. All the pro-
visions for our trade in Germany
raised by the economic clauses of the
treaty, many of them vital to our in
dustries and our farms. as in dye pat
ents. dye supplies and fertilizers. the
working of the Reparation Commission,
which superintends the trade OF all
Will COuiQ oil UC DlouShk
nv Berlin for readiustment by our
negotiators, acting for the United
States alone and no longer associated
with other victorious powers or sup
ported by victorious American army
o. the German border.
Peace itself, the peace of the world,
is delayed until ratification comes.
And any amendment postpones peace.
Germany and England alone of the
principal powers have ratified The
other principals necessarily await our
action, influential and powerful as we
are today in the worlds affairs. The
ravages of war ON more than a score
of fighting fronts are continued by any
needless delay. Let the Senate give
the world peace by ratification without
amendment.
Even the amendment for which most
can be said, the provision in regard to
Shantung, will secure nothing which
cannot be gained if China. backed by
the powerful advocacy of the United
States, addresses itself to the machin-
cry for righting International wrongs
and meeting Just claims created by the
league between nations. China. after
eighty years of oppressive treaties and
despoiled rights. by which all the great
powers have profted directly or in
directly. has for the first time, in this
covenant and treaty, the means and
method to secure Justice and the re-
moyal Of the oppressive economic in
reference of stronger nations whose
citizens are within her gates. pro-
tected by long succession of interna.
tional agreements. Moreover, it should
be remembered that the clause regard
ing Shangtung was made upon the
statement by Japan that she will return
the territory to China and, therefore,
upon that condition, compliance with
which promise the league can require
The peace of the present and the
righteousness of the future can be best