The sun., 1919-10-29
Press Sees Danger in Senate
Preamble-May Nullify
Peace Treaty.
SEEK GRIP ON GERMANY
Right of America to Free Self
From Obligations 1t I'm
poses, Is Criticised.
BY LAURENCE HILLS.
StaF Correspondent Of The Sun.

6tdp Correspondent OF THE Sun.
Copyright. 1919; oil riohts reserved.
PARIS, Oct. 29.-From the tone of
the French press II would appear that
the extent and character of the treaty
reservations adopted by the United
States Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee has provoked great hostility
and resentment. The general trend Of
these comments is that the effect of
the reservations, If adopted, would
nullify the peace treaty which was
virtually dictated to the European
Powers by President Wilson.
The newspapers cannot see how the
Senate can nullify what the President
did at Paris, accepting the idea that
what he did here was done in the name
Of and with SOME sort of a mandate
from the American people, which
any one cognizant with the American
Constitution knows was not the case.
This idea remains at the base of all
editorial opinion; yet in official circles
1t has long been recognized that the
President made a mistake in going
ahead without consulting his treaty
making partners. and that French
diplomacy should have assured itself
during the negotiations that the form
Of covenant and treaty he was putting
had the approval of the Senate leaders
and that adoption by the Senate was
reasonably sure.
Fear Losing U. S. Participation
The fundamental distinctions between
American policy and institutions and
those of European countries cannot be
admitted publicly. This at least will be
the case until the Senate finally acts. II
then the reservations are not too severe
it is almost certain. judging from the
comment heard in official circles, that
the French would rather approve these
reservations than have the President
take the extreme course of Withdrawing
the treaty, thus preventing any Ameri-
can participations on the commissions.
Without American participation the
French are fearful that the Germans
They probably would rather see any
other course adopted than Wilson's, and
probably will let him know SO later.
What has caused the most emotion in
diplomatic quarters is the preamble to
the new reservations requiring formal
approval by three Powers.
Commenting on this Excelsior says:
"It Is evident that in subscribing to>the
American reservations the Allies would
concede to the United States the right to
disengage itself when it saw fit from the
obligations contained In Article X In
not accepting this stipulation and pre-
pairing in advance means for escaping
from 1t the United States would make
useless, not only for itself but for other
nations. it's presence in the league. The
Importance of the problem is therefore
apparent. and 1t can be foreseen that the
allied Powers would refuse to give con-
sent to the preamble IL II is submitted
for their acceptance"
Criticises Reservations.
lie Gdulois bitterly attacks the Re-
publican policy of insisting upon reser-
vations couched in such spirit OF hos
tility to the policy of the Entente, and
its belief is that their adoption would
bs equivalent to rejection of the treaty
or a rupture of the allied pact
THE League OF Nations, II says
"w ould in effect be an association domi-
mated by the United States, which would
reserve the right of freeing itself from
tho obligations which 1t imposes, while
other members would remain tightly
bound by the clauses of the covenant
America would be the only Judge OF its
military Intervention in case OF aggres-
sion 1t would reserve even the right of
declaring war, only IL the matter con-
cerned itself. II would. according to
reservation No. VII. participate In the
commissions only II Congress authorized
that course. 1t seems impossible that
majority will disavow the work OF
the conference which was above all, let
US not forget, the personal work OF
President Wilson. The political differ
ences which exist in America cannot af-
feet Americas international engage
ments." y