Evening star., 1919-02-28
YSPRES|DENT IS
PAYING PENALTY
His Two Years Detachment
From Congress Recalled
by Lawrence.
SEES GAIN FOR LEAGUE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
President Wilson is paying the pen
atty nowadays of his voluntary or in
voluntary detachment from Congress
in the last two years.
Democrats as well as republicans are
not overenthusiastic about Mr.. Will
sons attitude of condescending frank
ness at this time in contrast to the
moments-especially last December
when they sought specific information
about foreign affairs and were quietly
ignored.
Mr.. Wilson's friends offer the ex-
planation that he was too absorbed in
the delicate and difficult tasks of for
eign policy to give him time to con-
fer with members of congress, or
that he was merely feeling his way
through trying situations and couldn't
be any more specific than he was
On the other hand, men in Congress
feel they could have been trusted with
an inside knowledge of what was GO
ing on. Now that Mr.. Wilson is an
swering questions freely and apparent
1y unbosoming himself. he is making
stance to what he could have accom-
plished heretofore by closer contact
with Congress.
Sees Swing Toward League.
There began today a swing to-
ward the league of nations idea. Men
who had opposed it now claimed to
be in favor of the principle. That is
Indeed, the opposition can
be divided into two classes-those who
dislike the league of nations because
Mr.. Wilson is championing it and
those who are against any entangle-
nient whatsoever of the United States
in European affairs.
The opposition of the latter is based
upon convictions of tradition and
ropean intrigues and quarrels the, less
they believe the American people care
about entering into a hard and fast
covenant to help Europe in every
But il they could have
been present in Paris and watched
the American delegates as they
sought at every turn to safeguard the
freedom of action of the United
States, they would have no fears now
of an excessive surrender of sover-
eighty.
Always Surrender With Treaties.
The American delegates will admit
that there is some surrender of SOW
ereisnty. but they will also argue
that nations give up sovereignty
every time they sign any treaty cir
future action in any part
OF the world or I'm any particular
problem of intercourse.
Freedom of action is the keynote
of every delegation at the peace con-
is, freedom of action
decide upon the merits of every ques-
ton raised and register their judg-
ment; freedom of action to resist any
invasion or aggression, but not free
dom of action TO attack another ma
ton or plunge a continent into war.
When Mr.. Wilson says the American
is not infringed upon he
simply means that no matter what may
be the controversy in the future, the
executive department of our government
will merely be in a position to recon-
mend to Congress a declaration of war
or a policy of aloofnesS from the con-
troversy altogether.
Situation Unchanged.
In the sense that Congress must patri-
oticaliy accept the recommendation of
the executive in such a case as a moral
obligation, the situation is no different
than it has been heretofore whenever
D President determined to embark upon
a particular line of foreign policy II
the country supported him, Congress up-
held him. Both houses have in the past
rejected treaties and even disapproyed
the use of force when popular opinion
seemed to be SO disposed.
Senator. Lodges Attitude.
Senator Lodge was ready with his
speech of criticism today. His view
point is an interesting one Perhaps
more than any other man in the Sem
ate, he has followed the foreign pol
cy of the United States through many
He is well on in
years and presses his own viewpoint
but there has been
steady pressure brought to bear by
-epublicans to bring about a recon-
,ilia tion of his attitude and that of
former President Taft.
Some of the big business men, for
Instance. see many advantages in a
eague of nations-opportuniti for a
greater commercial DEVELOPMENT
They are urging their republican
friends not to spoil q good idea mere
y by their party antipathy to any
,lare America must live in the world
litter Mr.. Wilson departs from the
presidency and the covenant of the
eague is a minimum rather than a
maximum amount of participation in
world politics. as compared with the
cal wishes of European countries so
ar as the United States is concerned.
Invitation to Taft. !
Mr.. Wilson's invitation to, former
President Taft to sit on the same
platform with him at the Metropolitan
opera House, New York. next week,
md appeal for support of the league
# nations is tangible evidence of the
Presidents recognition that he must
AVE the united backing of the coun-
rvs political leaders before the
eaEue of nations can be said to have
he Endorsement of the American peo- |
lie.
Mr.. wilson's friends are somewhat
retful about the republican opposi-
ion just now. but it is an i'll wind
hat blows no good. 1t is much bet
CT that the republicans and any one
lse who has fault TO find with the
eague of nations charter shall find it
ow and air his objections. so that
hanges can be made rather than to
SIX America to swallow it without
iscussion, and find, when the peace
realty is signed. that the United
tates is in position where she can
ndanger the peace of Europe by null
flying the treaty signed by the Paris
eace conference.
Intolerance Toward Amendment.
There will be intolerance towara'
mendment when once the treaty is,
igned. by the .plenipotentiaries So |
he discussion in Congress can oplw
elp President Wilson in giving an
pportunity to explain doubts and |
antiquities not only this week, but |
rhen he gets back to France and de- |