Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-07-31
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E GAINING GROUND

Slowly but surely the peace treaty with its covenant Of
the League of Nations is gaining ground at Washington. The
opposition becomes more and more confused as days go by and
the chances of getting together are nil Nearly every Repub-
lican Of prominence has now had q shot at what he thinks ought
to be the reservations and changes in the treaty. no two of
which are alike with the result the opponents are all at sea.
In the meantime, President Wilson, with his conferences
with the different senators is making known facts that con-
vinces the senators in their own mind that it would be extreme
ly dangerous to disrupt things now with Europe in the condi-
ton that she is.
The treaty and covenant have stood the test of a months
careful discussion and i. is really stronger than it was at the
beginning. This is because the more the treaty is studied the
better it is understood and with the understanding comes the
conviction that the document is not only the best that could
be drawn under the circumstances, but that it lis an instrument
for the advancement of civilization and the good of the world.
If there were any fatal defects in the treaty they surely
would have been found by this time, but such opposition as has
been raised has not succeeded in bringing about any unanimity
on the part of those who have raised the objections. They well
know that the American people favor some measure that will
tend to prevent war in the future; they know that American
isolation has gone; they know that any war of any consequence
anywhere is bound to affect America, and for that reason the
American people want to do everything possible to prevent
wars anywhere. The senators realize this and they realize that
TO do anything that is likely to cause the treaty to be rejected
is only to throw the whole situation wide open again and that
will mean chaos.
Should the senate adopt reservations that would require
the reassembling of the conference that drew up the treaty it
is well known by those who are familiar with the problems that
confronted the conference in the beginning that everybody
would want something more than what they got. Germany
would seize the opportunity to demand alterations relieving
her of the heavy burdens that have been imposed BY the pres
en-. treaty. Even among the allies, Italy thinks that France was
greatly favored as against her, and France is not sure that
Great Britain didn't get the best Of it. All the small nations
lady to try again to see if they cannot get something more
sofi it than they have received, and SO it would be should the
conference reassemble and reopen the subject.
To have the treaty of peace go back to such a conference
to be debated for many months through a winter of unknown
severity with Europe coalless, clothesless and ~foodless, is un-
thinkable. Yet that is what the opposition senators are en-
deavoring to force upon the world by the tactics they have
adopted.
AS these things are being more and more realized the oppo7l
siion weakens, especially as the people back home are being
heard from.
That the debate is dragging and the arguments against the
treaty are losing their force is quite apparent. 1t is doubtful
If the opposition senators can hold out much longer. But as
long as they do hold out they are delaying the restoration of
peace and the resumption of business throughout the world. 1t
is impossible to settle down to domestic problems which are
crying for attention such as the high cost of food, until the SEN
ate gets through with this debate.
TO reject the treaty or pass such reservations as to make
it necessary for it to go back to the other powers would only
indefinitely prolong the present unsettled condition.
The people are willing to try the League of Nations in the
hope that it will accomplish what it is intended to do. If it.
fails there is no harm done but if it succeeds the world has,
indeed advanced in civilization. The resources of the
world will be developed along great constructive lines instead
Of being taxed to the limit, and then some, to maintain ex-
pensiye ornaments in the way of vast standing armies and en-
ormous navies.
WHICH WOULD THEY HAVE?