Evening star., 1919-08-30
Defeat or Ratification.

Casting aside all subterfuge and
amendment expedient, the purpose of
those who would defeat the treaty with
Germany is disclosed in Senator
Knox's speech in the Senate yestcr-
day. He denounces the treaty as un-
duly severe in its exactions upon Ger
many, as impossible of enforcement
and as a breeder of further warfare.
He asks it's rejection and the making
of a separate peace with Germany, in
dependently of the allied nations.
Were it not for Senator Knox's pre-
liminary statement that he yields to
none in condemnation of the lawless-
ness and cruelty of Germany in the
conduct of the war and in determina-
tion to make her pay the full penalty
for the great wrong she has inflicted
upon civilization, it would seem that
he stands for condonement and mercy
in the framing of peace. He bases his
argument upon the principle that the
, treaty is severe beyond the merits of
the case, and furthermore that it is
incapable of enforcement.
Whatever the view as to the eff
fectiveness of the treaty, or its JUS
; tice, it stands today as the act of the
allied nations, through representation
at a peace conference. 1t must be ae-
eepted on its merits or rejected, and
rejection means the prolongation of
turmoil, the encouragement Of the en-
envy and eventually his emergence
from defeat into a role of renewed bel
igerenee.
To urge that the United States, after
participating in the war, in deter
mining degree, and after participat-
ing in the peacemaking, also largely in
q determining degree, should with
draw from all participation in treaty
making with its allies is to ask the
adoption of a shameful course of utter
eelfishness.
This treaty is not ideal. It is in
large degree compromise. 1t could
not have been otherwise. Yet it stands
as probably the best that could
be written in the circumstances. 1t is
now the governing principle, awaiting
final approval. If the United States
rejects it and proceeds with sepa
rate negotiation with the enemy there
is no assurance that the other powers
will abandon these terms. And if a
treaty similar to this, or if this one,
stands as the act of peaeemaking
between them and Germany it will be
the factor of government for the
future, not any separate treaty which
the United States might negotiate.
= In other words, We cannot change
the course now by withdrawing from
The alliance of war into which We en-
tered in April, 1917, by rejecting this
treaty and writing one of our own.
If this treaty should in such circum-
stances stand as the final act Of peace
making between Germany and Eng
land, France, Italy and Japan and the
other allies it will supervene over any
compact we may make, harsh or mild
in terms.
If the issue in the Senate now is
between ratification of the treaty and
its rejection the more clearly it is
stated the better, and Senator Knox's
speech has at least the merit of so
defining it. On this issue there can
be no question of the attitude of the
people of this country. They have
seen their men go overseas to fight
shoulder to shoulder with the men of
England and France and Italy. They
have seen them fall in the fight along
side of those men of Europe. They
have recognized this fight as a fight
for principles for which the allied
countries were sacrificing their best
long before We entered it. They will
not approve a proposal that now, In
the hour Of peacemaking, the United
States abandon its allies and make
separate peace with an enemy who can
not be too harshly treated in the peace
making to meet their sense of right
eousness and justice.