The sun., 1919-05-08
TREATY TERMS
SATISFACTORY,
CAPITAL VIEW
Suppression of German Mil
itary and Full Reparation
Regarded as Secure.
LEAGUE Is INTERWOVEN
Impression Given That Cove
nant May Be Dropped With
out Killing Document.
LEAGUE Is INTERWOVEN
Special DesputcA TO TIE Sus.

WASHINGTON, May The terms
of the treaty Of peace as given out
here in an official summary by the
State Department meet with general
approval SO far as they remove the
German military power and portion
out the legitimate fruits of the VIC
tory. The terms are viewed as stern.
uncompromising and relentless in
many respects. 1t Is regarded as a
peace dictated with obvious disregard
of whether the enemy will relish II,
and it is explained that Germany must
take 1t or leave 1t for other terms
still more relentless and severe.
From the time the summary began
TO reach here in early editions of the
afternoon papers the first general i'm
preston WIS one OF distinct satisfac-
ton. The initial impression In official
circles and among the comparatively
few Senators and Representatives
here was one Of thankfulness that the
Germans were at last being told by
their conquerors the price they would
have to pay.
The attitude which the representa-
tives Of the American people later will
assume toward theAentangling rami-
ffcations Of the treaty will not be de-
fined until the document has been
studied and analyzed. The impress
sion Is that the important features Of
the treaty, especially those shackling
and Furnishing Germany, can be main
tained intact and that It will be
clearly possible for the United States
50 far as itself is concerned to eimi-
nate unnecessary complications such
as details of the League OF Nations
without in any serious way jeopardiz-
ing the work Of the Peace Conference
The big feature that stood out here
after the summary had been read was
the following:
The treaty is in such form that
amendments to make 1t At Ameri
can needs and the American con-
stitutional form of government
would not materially alter the stu
alton respecting the European ma
tions and Germany.
League Not q vital Feature.
The League of Nations covenant is
cited as the first section OF the treaty
and is interviewer in some Of the /
other sections. But 1t was at once
noted here that the League covenant
does not figure in any Of the really vital
features in which the United States
has any interest. For example, all the
important work Of carrying out the
treaty is left to commissions having
to do with reparations. military, finan-
cial and economic clauses. 1t is
noted too that such important Euro
pean matters as the disposition of the
former German colonies. values paid
in reparation, disposition Of the Ger
man fleet, are left for the associated
Powers to decide without reference to
the League plan.
The Leagues functions admittedly
are Of such a character that the
United States is not constrained to
maintain a direct interest in them, es-
pecially as Europe may be we'll able
to handle these and other similar
problems with its own league or in
its own way without help from
America
Senators. including some OF those who |
have consistently opposed the League Of
Nations plan. declined to comment on
the treaty tonight, insisting that they
desired time to carefully study the sum-
mary. In many cases no comment will
be forthcoming for publication until the |
text Of the treaty itself Is received.
Germany Second Glass Power.
Opinions expressed privately were in |
some cases decidedly antagonistic TO the |
general idea OF keeping the United States |
entangled in European affairs, and the |
impre sson in other quarters was that |
the treaty tied the United States up |
to European entanglements more tightly |
than the league plan itself
Senator Kenyon Uowa), Republican, |
said:
The treaty reduces Germany to
a second class Power, and has re-
moved militarism from the face OF
the earth
Senators Lodge (Mass), Borah !,
Hdaho), and johnson (CaL), Republi- |
cans, declined to comment on the treaty, /
saying they preferred TO wait until the |
fall text had been received. This was |
the attitude also OF Senator Hitchcock |
(Neb), Democrat, retiring chairman |