Evening journal., 1919-12-26


Americas responsibility for the mud
ding Of peace are now entertained in
England. One opinion Is representa-
very we'll in the recent uttera9ee by
Lord Northcliffe's Times concerning the
Senates rejection OF the Wilson cove
uant:
"The President was accepted in
Paris as the spokesman OF America.
That Is what gave him his excep-
ti0nal position in the councils OF
the Allies and associates. The Re
publicans are now explaining that
10 was a mistake so to accept him;
that when he entered into these
obligations, and induced others 10
enter into Them. he was not the
spokesman Of America, but OF an
American party which is in a min
Ority. The explanation must be
sound, but IFS acceptance must
manlfestly embarrass all other
Powers in any similar negotiations
with America
Reduced 10 its simplest terms The ar
gument Of the London Times and those
who like the Times, are disposed 10
hold the people OF The United states at
ble resulting from the Presidents TAIL
IRE or inability 10 redeem his personal
promises is this: "Ile told US this and
That We had no means Of knowing
that nc spoke without authority. The
moral engagements into which he en-
tered in the name OF the United states
are therefore, so far as we are con-
cerned. binding on you as a responsi-
bic Government or people in any fu-
ture International negotiations"
The other, and from the American
point Of view the more nearly correct
location OF responsibility, is presented
in sharp focus by the Morning Post OF
London, when IL says:
THE President, to be quite can
did. is not in a position to deliver
his own goods. We must all
regret the illness OF the President;
but it Is idle 10 disguise the fact
that his enthusiasm for an imprac-
ticable ideal has gOt the whole
world into a terrible mess"
In a notable article In the North
American Review for January Mr.
James NJ. Beck writes with accurate
insight and in extremely moderate
language but with compelling candor Of
The disappointment and irritation
which have been caused in some quar-
iers in Europe by the Sanates rcjec-
tion OF the treaty. lie says, quoting
his own language at a luncheon in
New York So Lord Flnlay:
III the formation OF the League
Of Nations had led 20 any alienation
in sympathy between Great Britain
and IN United States 10 would have
been better that the League had
never been born, and on the other
hand. II America should refuse 10
become a member Of the League,
Just and durable peace is SSH prac-
iicabie as long as Great Britain,
France and the United States CO.
operate, not as a formal alliance
but as a genuine entente, % pre-
serve the peace OF the world. The
Angio-French-Amerran entente Is
not dead. even though The League
Of Nations be in a moribund condl-
ton"
Here is clearly stated the broad truth
underlying the whole situation about
which there Is so much misunderstand-
ing both in England and in France. No
organized supergOvernment IS requisite
20 save the world again. II need be,
from the assaults OF unscrupulOus
dynastic or economic ambition so long
as. i'm Mr.. Beck's very striking phrase
the best hope OF the warld Tor the pres
crvailon Of a just peace Ties not so
much in a League Of Nations as i'm the
spirit Of mutual cooperation between
ihe members OF the great alliance OF
tho abOve-mcntion7d Powers. This
hann rF the snsnvfH hoe annrn afrsarrrf he n
ed and not shattered by the fate that
has befallen an imprscticable and pre-
pOslerOus schcm5 OF internati0nalism
which rested, so far as President VIII
sons proposals and promises 10 Europe
were concerned. solely upon his own in
tellectual initiative and not at all upon
any authority to speak or 20 promise
IN the nam Of the American Govern
ment OF the American people.
So far as there may be any mo-
mentary alienation OF sympathy or
weakening Of the spirit OF cooperation
between the main factors In the future
preservation Of peace. the misfortune
is due 20 utterances like those we
lave from time 60. time quot-d from
foreign statesmen and newspapers. Mr.
Beck. Ike so many other patriotic and
we'll informed Americans. is tired OF
hearing from across the Atlantic that
the Senate's action on the treaty con-
sttutes a virtual Reputation" by this
nation OF promises made by President
Wilson-repudlation amounting to the
tearing up Of an agreement 70 which
the United States Government was
morally committed by its Chief EXecu-
live. With patience and great good