Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-31
Ratification and Reservation.

Ratification and Reservation.
The brains and conscience of patri-
otto American craftsmanship are con
-centrating upon the task of so shap.
ing through reservations Uncle Sans
ratification of the peace treaty and
it's league of nations appendix that
his agreement shall be honorable, safe
and sane.
Every inch of the path into Euro
pean and Asiatic burdens, responsible
tiles and dangers which Uncle Sam is
to tread has been microscopically ex.
amined as to its necessity, as to its
benefit and as to its peril. Every
step to be taken by Uncle Sam away
from full protection in accordance
with traditional policies of vital
American interests has been infinitely
and jealousy inspected.
How far along this path must Uncle
Sam proceed to avoid being a "quit-
ter! At what point must he come to
a halt in order to avoid being imposed
upon as "s,lcker"f
As Charles Evans Hughes says
"There is a middle ground between
aloofness and injurious commitments.
Wisdom and expedieney approve the
Senate's rejection of textual amend
ments of the treaty. This rejection
suggests the answer to the question,
which has been raised, whether the
United States, which went into the wal
separately from the allies, should not
make separate peace, especially if
analysis of the Paris treaty discloses
that under it there is unnecessary
bruising of our national principles
and policy and needless and hurtful
incurring of world responsibilities.
While we went into the war con our
own hook" it was won only through
unified effort. We put aside false
pride and made all of our resources in
men and money and the equipment
which money supplies an integral part
of the unified army under Foch which
won the war. We took part through
our elected Representatives in the
Paris peacemaking. We participated
in concerted peacemaking, as in uni
fed war-making. We are 50 commit
ted through our authorized representa-.
tives in Paris. and through our in
stinctive honorable impulses, that We
could not without making Uncle San,
a "quitter" now conclude a separate
peace, repudiating either directly OF
indirectly the treaty we have helped
to make in ending the war which We
have helped to win.
The impulse which carried the
United States into the war with Ger
many will not be spent until the pur-
poses for which the war was fought
and for which supreme sacrifices have
been made, and which are crystallized
even though imperfectly in the treaty
of peace, have been fully attained
Congress has declared war against
Germany, and under this original i'm
pulse we shall not falter in carrying
to its logical end the present war. Oul
hesitations and reservations must NOT
repudiate any obligation arising in
evitably from the war not yet ended
with our allies or associates, against
Germany. We may, however, reserve
our free will as to the making of flu
ture wars, against other nations, ever
If these future wars are to be de
creed by world league and are de
signed to enforce peace. Our readily
conceded obligations pertain to tn,
present war and its aftermath, and d.
not without distinct and voluntary re
newal by the nation carry over int
the next war or bind future genera
tons of Americans to any fixed rela
lions to that next war, whatever it.
character and whenever it may occur
But the discussion preceding the re
lection of the idea Of a separate peac,
with Germany and of textual amend
ment of the treaty is not without prac
teal benefit. The pointed suggestion O.
this debate is that Americas war sac
rifices of traditional national policie
and of constitutional principles do no
terminate with the war under the pro
visions of the pending treaty, whicl
America will ratify. America is t,
continue to sacrifice enthusiastically Will
her four great associates in winnin,
the war divide the material "spoil
of victory"
Recognition of this condition shout,
make these four associated nation
very ready to accept and assent to an,
reservations which, without deprivin,
them of victors' "spoils," shall max
it easier for Uncle Sam (who has T.
"spoils), to join with them in
common treaty agreement. The al
lies who profit so vastly in a mate
rial sense by Uncle Sans participa
ton in war making and peace maxim
should, since he demands no share o