Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-02
The French Treaty And The Leaeue

The senate may, if it chooses, approve both the Ger.
man treaty containing the provision for the League Of
Nations, and the special French treaty just %sun,bitted. O,
it may accept the main treaty and the league, and reject
the French treaty, but it cannot with any degree Of logic
reject the league and accept the French treaty.
The French treaty is intended, and by its own terms
is stated to be, a temporary arrangement to supplement
for its working is vested in the governmental body of the
league. Hence, without the league upon which to base
it that treaty alone would be meaningless.
Objections are made to the French treaty by some
persons who are willing to adopt the general league plan
with certain reservations on the ground that 1t is a de-
parture from a traditional American policy of no alliance
with foreign nations. Further objection is made on the
ground that there is no need for it as the military power
Of Germany has been SO crushed and the surrounding
nations have shown such determination to prevent the re.
Mobilization under any circumstances, that France need
be in no fear of attack from Germany at any time.
The latter objection appears to have the greater
force. The objection to form alliances was valid when
that objection was first formulated. 1t has remained
valid during the greater part Of our history, and our re-
naming aloof from such engagements has undoubtedly
There would be very forcible objection to an alliance al
this time If the alliance were of the old type, and were
intended. as most international alliances have been, as a
means OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT as we'll as of defense. That OBJ.
lection does not lie against the present treaty as read
No nation can gain anything from it under any circum-
stances except the measure Of peace and security to which
all nations are entitled. II we approve the treaty we
merely agree to aid in defending France against unpro-
voked attack. and the nature of the attack if made or
threatened must be so clear as to be beyond all question
There can be no room for doubt that with the lessons
of this war before us without any treaty wha tever the
American nation would do gladly just what is proposed
in the treaty. If under any conceivable umst qes
Germany were to undertake another assault on France
we would Immediately go to her rescue. The effect of
the treaty is to place on record the American governments
recognition Of this need.
AS to the necessity Of such a treaty it is difficult to
imagine conditions under which the action proposed would
ever be called for. In a military sense the German power
has been crippled, and all but destroyed. The peace con.
ference In arranging the treaty has made such provision
both as to the size Of the army which Germany may main.
tain and as to the means in which that army may be re-.
crulted in the future as well as with reference to the man.
ufacture OF munitions and the preparation Of other war
supplies, that 1t REQUIRES a strong. vivid Imagination to
conceive of Germany again acting in the role Of a militar,
menace.
1t may be inquired why, II there is no real need for
such a treaty, anything Of the sort is proposed. For an
answer to that It is necessary for us to imagine ourselves
in the situation Of France which has been invaded, over
run, despoiled. and all but destroyed. People who have
passed through such an experience ARE not likely to be
willing to overlook anything which may contribute to their
future security and undoubtedly even with Germany re.
duced to military impotence the knowledge that two great
nations are ready to come to her aid whenever she 4. men.
aced again will enable the French people to sleep better
at night and to live their lives with a feeling Of greater
security.