The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-08
SENATE AIDS TRADE
CHAOS, SAYS lamont
Asserts Industrial Conditions
Grow Worse Because of
Treaty Delays.
eU.s. NOT HOOKED IN.PARIS'
Warns Of Starvation Abroad
and Spread of Bolshevism
on This Side. -

Thomas w. Lamont of ]. P. Morgan
a Co. issued yesterday the following
statement regarding the peace treaty
situation:
"Since my return from Paris, where
I spent Ave months in work with the
American commission TO negotiate peace.
/ have until now. in response to fire.
auent urgings, declined to comment
upon the existing situation with respect
to the treaty and to the Industrial prob,
lens that are hanging upon the ratifca-
ton OF Il.
II am a member Of the Republican
party. and have had confidence that the
Republican Senate majority. whose pa
triotism cannot be questioned, would.
after the careful investigation and con-
sideration which It was its duty to give,
vote an early ratification Of the treaty.
But in common. 1 believe, with the
country at large have become greatly
disturbed at the continued uncertainty
and delay--a delay which. in my judg-
Sent, is already responsible for having
rendered social and Industrial copdi-
lions in both Europe and America dis
tinctly worse.
THE whole world is crying for peace,
for a chance to renew its normal life
and work; and America, by continued
inaction, refuses to grant her consent
to the settlements necessary. Since 1t
became evident to the world of COM
merce that the action Of the United
States Senate might nullify the treaty
there has been an alarming fall In the
rates of foreign exchange. For this no
remedy can be had as long as the delay
Mt IA. g.
the extension of foreign credits, so nee
essary to maintain Americas export
trade. can be evolved.
Lamont Can't Understand 1t.
st is hard to conceive the attitude of
mind that insists upon such calamitous
fumbling with the most critical situation
that the world has ever seen. The only
explanation is that there is still almost
Incredible misunderstanding, both of the
treaty provisions themselves and OF the
manner in which the affairs OF the world
await Americas assent to peace.
"One point should be cleared up now
and that is the Misrepresentation exist
ing in many quarters as to President
Wilson't attitude at Paris. I hear It
repeated that he was unwilling to take
counsel with his delegation. That is un-
true. He constantly and earnestly sought
the advice of his associates. l hear
X said that in lighting for the League
OF Nations he yielded up vital points
In the main treaty. In the Shantung
settlement perhaps Japan's attitude as
40. the league was a consideration.
Aside from that, 1 know OF no clause
In the treaty that was tempered or
modified at all by Mr.. wilson's solici.
tation for the league.
President Wilson, being q human
being, undoubtedly has certain defects
but as a member of the opposite politi-
cal faith from his. and as taking "A
continuous, albeit unimportant part In
the work at Paris, / am in all fairness
bound TO say that throughout the COM
plexities and anxieties over there Pres
ident Wilson acted with moderation.
common sense and great patience he
played no politics and what is more he
showed constantly extraordinary cour-
age in fighting for the idealism that
we call American. His course there was
such that 1t should command the ad-
rtiiration of his fellow citizens regard
less of party.
Situation ms to the Treaty.
"As to the treaty itself, the situa-
ton. then. is this: America played an
enormously important part in the war.
Without her cooperation It could not
have been won. In the same way. in
making peace her allies and associates
In the war looked to her for leadership.
II was the effort of the American mis-
sion at Paris to give to the settlement
OK peace the same unselfish, Just and
generous effort that America had shown
~ the war. Working steadily upon these
principles for months at Paris the
American commission was active In ne
gotiating a treaty which commanded
the approval of our own and of the
delegations of twenty-five other Powers.
Admittedly the treaty is not a per-
feet document. By no theory Is It ever
possible. among a score of divergent in
terests, and in chaos of States con-
fused politically and half paralyzed eco
nonicaiiy, with the whole social struc-
ture tottering, with a half score of
nauonalties torn. bleeding. saddened
ana dazed by the sufferings and horrors
of war-ln no way, say, can perfec-
ton in the drafting of a human docu-
n1ent be attained under such conditions
II Compromises ought to and must be
made. They were made by all parties
10 the treaty-less as a matter of fact
~ the American delegation than by the
others, although the material interests
or our country were far less involved
than those of the other Powers. ana
though, on the theory of maintaining
an unselfish attitude, we could have been
excused for conceding at least as much
az any OF our allies. As Senator Rnor
Wen put It years ago in q speech favor
ipg international cooperation:
Every material and moral advance
in the sodality of nations, for uni
versal as distinguished from local
or domestic purposes. is achieved by
concessions restraining to a greater
or less degree the liberty of action
OF individual States for the benefit
or the community of nations and in
obedience 10 the demands Of an inter-
national public opinion.
U. s. Ideas Carried Through,
The American delegation In the main
then carried through its ideas ana was
enabled to do so because there was
openly accorded to 1t a position of ar
niter OF Justice Repeated instances
arose where the other commissiona re-
quested the American delegation 10 nre-
pare solution which In effect the Others
would indorse In advance. I point out
tthese facts to emphasize that, even with
tne compromises that were evidently es-
Eentlal TO make. to America was Rrantad
u large measure position of Guidance
and leadership. It is not true thst az
nlteo states was hooked by the other
Howers In either the main clauses of
tPe treaty or in the League of Nations
covenant.
This peace settlement then. upon