The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-29
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Defense Treaty u Proof of Our Sense
of Honor-WiIson.


Defense Treaty n Proof of Our Sense
of Honor-WiIson.
Washington. July 29.-President
Wilson's message to the senate fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Senate:
at take pleasure in laying before you
a treaty with the republic of France,
the object of which is to secure that
republic the immediate aid of the
| United States of America in case of an
unprovoked movement of aggression
| against her on the part of Germany.
1 earnestly hope that this 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 I presented to you
two weeks ago. it seems opportune to
| lay before you this treaty which is
meant to be in effect a part of it.
Supplement to Peace Treaty.
at was signed on the same day with
| the treaty of peace and is intended as
a temporary supplement to it. 1t is
believed that the treaty with Germany
| itself provides adequate protection to
France against aggression from her
recent enemy on the east; but the
years Immediately ahead of US con-
4 tain many incalculable possibilities
| The covenant of the league of nations
provides for military action for the
/ protection OF its members only upon
| advice of the counsel of the league
! advice to be given, it is presumed, only
upon deliberation and acted upon by
each of the governments of the mem
J Der states only If its own Judgment
| justifies such action. The object of
| the special treaty with France which
l now submit to you is to provide for
! q Wi ff1vs IT,,
France by the United States in case of
any unprovoked movement of aggres-
| sion against her by Germany without
| waiting for the advice of the council
| of the league of nations that such
action be taken. 1t is to be an ar
rangement, not independent of the
| league of nations, but under 1t.
! VIII Be Only Temporary.
at is. therefore. expressly provided
| that this treaty shall be made the SUBJ
| ject 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
provision for the safety of France
| shall remain in force only until, upon
application of one of the parties to 1t,
the council of the league acting, if
necessary. by a majority vote. shall
| agree that the provisions of the
! covenant of the league afforded her
| sufficient protection.
II was moved to sign this treaty by
| consideration, which will. I hope, seem
| as persuasive and as irresistible To Won
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 assist
ing in driving enemies, who were also
| anemies OF the world, from her soil:
but that does not pay our debt to her.
/ Nothing can pay such a debt. She
now desires that we should promise
to lend our great force to keep her
| safe against the power she had most
reason to fear. Another great nation
volunteers the same promise. 1t is
] one OF the fine reversals of history
| that the other nation should be the
| very power from whom France fought
| to set US free.
"New Day Has Dawned."
"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 il is wise
and necessary for grea. nations to do
to free the world of intolera BILE fear.
Two governments who wish to be
members of the league of nations ask
leave of the council of the league to
| be permitted to go to the assistance
of a friend whose situation has been
found to be one of peculiar peril.
without awaiting the advice of the
league to act.
4 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 me one
of the proofs that we are a peonIe
that sees the true heart of duty and
prefers honor to its own separate
course of peace