The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-08-08
FRENCH TREATY
SENT TO SENATE
Requires Approval of Council,
President Says in Message
Accompanying 1t.
COMES UNDER THE LEAGUE.

parting from his custom of personally
addressing the houses of Congress,
sent the following written message, to-
gether with the text of the Franco
American treaty, TO the senate and
urged that the treaty be ratified:
Gentlemen of the Senate:
take pleasure in laying before you
treaty with the Republic of France,
the object of which is to secure to that
republic the immediate aid of the
United States of America in case of
any unprovoked movement of aggres-
sion against her on the part of Ger
many 1 earnestly hope that the 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 / presented to you
two weeks ago. it seems opportude to
lay before you this treaty, which is
meant to be in effect a part of it.
1t was signed on the same day with
the treaty of peace and is intended as
a temporary supplement to it. 1t is
believed tn the treaty of peace with
Germany itself provides adequate pro-
lection to France against aggression
from her recent enemy on the east,
but the years Immediately ahead of us
contain many incaleulable possibilities.
The covenant of the league of nations
provides for military action for the
protection of its members only upon
advice of the council of the league
advice given, it is to be presumed, only
upon elaboration and acted upon by
each of the governments of the men,
Der states only if its own judgment
justifies such action. The object of
the special treaty with France, which
/ now submit to you, is to provide for
Immediate military assistance to
France by the United States in case
of any unprovoked movement of ag-
gression against her by Germany with
out waiting for the advice of the coun-
ell of the league of nations that such
action will be taken. 1t is to be an
AON iihNE'ehuNAS ~ h%AN
league of nations but under it.
1t is therefore expressly provided
that this treaty shall be made the sub
1ect of consideration at the same time
with the treaty of peace with Ger
many; that this special arrangement
shall receive the approval of the coun-
Gil of the league, and that this special
=. frfy- Nf frnT nG,
shall remain in force only until, upon
the application of one of the parties
to it, the council of the league, acting,
If necessary, by a ajority vote, shall
agree that the provisions of the cove
nant of the league afford her sufficient
protection.
1 was moved to sign this treaty by
considerations which will l hope,
seem as persuasive and as irresistible
to you as they seemed to me. We are
bound to France by ties of friendship
which we have always regarded, and
shall always regard, as peculiarly
sacred. She assisted US to win our
freedom as a nation. 1t is seriously
to be doubted whether we could have
won it without her gallant and timely
aid.
We have recently had the privilege
of assisting in driving enemies, who
were also enemies of the world from
her soil; but that does not pay our
debt to her Nothing can pay such
debt. She now desires that we should
promise to lend our great force to
keep her safe against the power she
has had most reason to fear. Another
great nation volunteers the same
promise. 1t is one of the fine rever-
sails of history that that 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 comradeships
and a new perception of what it is
wise and necessary for great nations
to do to free the world of intolerable
fear. Two governments who wish 10
be members of the league of nations
ask leave of the council of the league
to be permitted 70 go to the assistance
of a friend whose situation has been
found to be one of peculiar peril, with
out awaiting the advice of the league
TO act.
1t is by taking such pledges as this
that we prove ourselves faithful to the
utmost to the high obligations Of
gratitude and tested friendship. Such
an act as this seems to be one of the
proofs that we are people that sees
the true heart of duty and prefers
honor to its own separate course Of
peace.
WOODROW WILSON.
The White House, July 20, 1919.