The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-08-01
MESSAGE
ON FRENCH TREATY

Wilson's message to the senate fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Senate: I take
pleasure in laying before you a trea-
ty with the republic of France, the
object of which is immediate military
assistance to France of the United
States of America in case of an un-
provoked movement of aggression
against her on the part of Germany.
I earnestly hope that this treaty will
meet with your cordial approval and
will receive an early ratification at
your hands, along with the treaty of
peace with Germany. Now that you
have had an opportunity to examine
the great document I presented to
you two weeks ago, it seems oppor-
tune to lay before you this treaty
which is meant to be in effect a part
of it.
!''It was signed on the same day
with the treaty of peace and is in
tended as a temporary supplement
to it. 1t is believed that the treaty
with Germany itself provides protec-
tion to France against aggression
from her recent enemy on the east;
but the years Immediately ahead of
US contain many ,incalculable possi-
bilities. The covenant of the League
of Nations provides for military ac-
tion for the protection Of it's men,
bers only uopn advice of the council
of the league-advice given, it is to
be presumed, only upon deliberation
and acted upon by each Of the gov
ernments of the member states only
if it's own Judgment justifes such
action. The object Of the special
treaty with France which I now sub
NIT to you is to provide for immedi-
ate assistance to France by the
United States in case. Of any unpro-
voked movement of aggression a
gainst her by Germany without
waiting for the advice of the coun-
Gil of the League Of Nations that
such action be taken. 1t is to be an
arrangement not independent of the
League of Nations, but under it.
It is, therefore, expressly provid-
ed that this treaty shall be made the
subject of consideration at the same
time with the treaty of peace with
Germany; that this special arrange
ment shall receive the approval Of
the council of the league, and that
this special provision for the safety
of France shall remain in force only
until, upon application of one of the
parties to it, the council of the lea
que, acting, if necessary, by a ma
jority vote, shall agree that the pro-
visions of the covenant of the league
afford her sufficient protection.
: by considerations which will, / hope,
seem as persuasive and as irresistible
to YOU as they seem to me. We are
bound to France by ties of friendship
which we have always regarded and
shall always regard as peculiarly sac
red. She assisted US to win our
freedom as nation. It is seriously
20 be doubted whether we could have
won it without he: gallant and time
ly aid. We have recently had the
privilege of assisting in irving enc
mics, who were also enemies of the
world, from her soil; but that does
not pay our debt to her. Nothing
can pay such a debt. She now de-
sires that We should promise to lend
our great force to keep her safe a
gainst the power she has had most
reason to fear. Another great ma
ton volunteers the same promise. 1t
Is one of the fire reversals of history
that the other nation should be the
very power from whom France
fought to set US free. \
"a new day has dawned. Old an
tagonisms are forgotten. The COM
mon cause of freedom and enlighten-
ment has created new comradeshlps
and new perception of what it is
wise and necessary for great nations
to do to free the world of intoler-
able fear. Two governments who