The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-10
Treaty Commits America
but Contains No Recip-
rOcal Pledge.
HOLDS TILL CANCELLED
France Has Veto Power in
League Under Rule of
Unanimity.
SENATE ACTION DOUBTFUL
Pledge Appears to Be Refuta-
tion of Presidents Speech
at Metropolitan.
SENATE ACTION DOUBTFUL
BY LAURENCE HILLS.
Sfa1 Correspondent Of THn Sus.

Copyright. 1913; all roAts reserved
PARIS, May 9.-The treaty with
France, under which the military
forces Of the United States can be
called on TO 60 to her assistance In
the event Of attack by Germany-de-
scribed In these dispatches on April
II as tremendous diplomatic victory
for Premier Clemenceau inasmuch as
he wrested from the author of tho
League Of Nations an alliance unpre-
cedented In American history-is
looked upon by many Of the Presi-
dents best friends here as yiolative
OF the league principle as well as con-
trary to the Presidents speeches on
the subject II the proposed treaty II
ratified these points will stand out:
First-The treaty will commit
the United States to send military
aid Immediately to France in the
event Of aggression.
Second-The term of the treaty
Is Indefinite or until cancelled by
the league.
Ihird-France by having veto
power In the League Council
through the unanimity agreement
can prevent cancellation Of the
agreement until it suits her.
Fourth-A clause will make IL
doubly clear that the aggression
must come from Germany and that
the despatch of French troops into
Germany before an attack as an
alleged defensive measure would
make Its provisions, so far as the
United States is concerned, inop-
erative. This clause is inserted to
guard against French mllitarism
OF which President Wilson Is dis
trustful.
Fifth-The alliance Is one sided
In that 1t involves no reciprocal
obligation on the part Of France
toward the United States.
Mission Not Consulted.
The reaction is now awaited nv
the Presidents friends here. The
PRESIDENT has regarded his pledge
throughout as an administration mat
ter as distinguished from the peace
treaty, the treaty itself not mention
ing 1t. Consequently he took the
ground that the American peace mis-
sion did not need to be consulted
Had the missions views been request.
ed he would have got two and DOS
sibly three votes against 1t, for these
reasons:
Flrst-That 1t represents the Wild
est departure yet from the ira
dltional American policy and
Washington's admonition to avoid
entangling alliances.
Second-That the President
having represented America as the
foremost champion Of the League
or nations ms an effective agency
for preserving peace, by this act
virtually has stultif1ed himself and
America so far as he has COM
mitted 1t by his policies here
That the alliance will evoke as
much discussion in the Senate as the
treaty Itself is the feeling of many
of the Presidents friends here. who
express great doubt as to the out.
come.
On the other hand II Is pointed ont
that Senator Lodge, by his utter
ances heretofore, almost committed
himself In favor Of Just such a plan.
and may rally Republican support.
Metropolitan speech Recalled.
While 1t is true that tho league
covenant doesn't forbid such agree
ments as the President has bound
himself TO urge many here are re-
calling his speech in the Metropolitan
Opera House September 81, when he
said: There can be no alliances or
leagues or special understandings
within the general or common family
OF nations OF the league"
This declaration is what is giving
a special nightmare to the Presidents
friends here as they look toward
America.
Premier Clemenceau plainly IS
relying on the publication Of tho
exact terms Of the treaty to alay mis-
givings in France concerning the
country's future security against
Germany: a matter that deeply COM