The Delta independent., 1919-10-03

of AL articles Of the treaty negotiated
at Versailles ON June % last between
81 allied and associated powers, in
cluding the United States and the new
Government of Germany. Three OF
these powers were born of the travail
of the war just ended. The operation
of the covenants of this treaty upon
us will be neither individual nor par,
tisan, but national. Our attitude to-
wards the treaty should be national al,
so. 1t is an old and trust true. say
ing that we are partisan within our
geographical boundaries and are Amer.
fcans beyond them. The truth of this
aphorism now approaches the supreme
test, and it will be sad hour for our
country if it does not survive the
ordeal.
I am fully aware that some eminent
Republicans, of whom Senator Borah
is an example, insist that the covenant
of the league not only should be. but
is in fact, party issue. l know, too,
that much of the opposition to it is
inspired by partisan motives, and Re
publicans have no monopoly of this at
titude, for many Democrats are simil-
arly disposed in the other direction.
But the wisdom of the mass, too OBJ
viously resentful of this tendency, will
effectually check it's general accept
ance.
Since 1 entered public life I have
affiliated with and recognized the OBJ
legations of the Democracy, but have
never for a moment permitted any
party consideration to influence my
Judgment in the exercise of the treaty
power, and SO long as l remain
in the Senate / never will.
Lest l have misapprehended the
character of your resolution, however,
I must add just here that while con-
cede the right of your, committee to
officially advise me as to all matters
of party nature, I am unable to ac-
its extension into other do
mains Of public duty. Hence shall
treat your communication as embody-
ing the view of eight of my esteemed
friends and fellow citizens and reply
to it in similar fashion.
1 do not know how many of you have
read the treaty nor how familiar you
may be with its terms. Several times
| have read and pondered over its
many and complicated covenants, and
my task is still incomplete. Indeed /
have done this SO long and SO anxious
Iy that some of my constituents re-
proach me with being unable or unwill-
ing to reach definite conclusions
through timidity, vacillation, or some
equally ignoble impulse. But have
been actuated at all times by the very
desire to support the treaty
by squaring its provisions, If possible,
with the dictates of duty and Of con.
science. This task ! have been un.
able to accomplish.
If the league, when established,
would function as SO confidently as
serted by its supporters, many OF
whom are not familiar with its pro-
I would accept it. But II 1t
does not, and fear 1t will not so
function, the reaction among these
very supporters will justly make US
the first objects of their condemna-
ton, since ours was the responsibility
of final action.
The President in his New York ad-
dress last March declared that the
league would be SO woven into the
general fabric of the treaty that it
would be very difficult to separate 1t
That has been done. Hence
one must familiarize himself with the
entire document or he cannot intelli-
gently comprehend the nature and
probable operation OF the league. My
opinion is that this is a victor's treaty,
a treaty of force, a treaty OF punish
ments, treaty OF partition, treaty
purdened with conditions accepted by
the vanquished only at the point OF
the sword. Doutless Germony deserves
its punishments and much more, but
the treaty is nevertheless freighted
with a ghastly cargo Of future wars,
only awaiting opportunity for their
bloody development. Germany, like
France before her, will submit to her
burdens only SO long as she must
Both herself and Russia are excluded
from the league. 1t now seems prob
ale that she can and will control that
great but suffering nation in the near
future, and operate within her vast
dominions unhindered by any treaty
limitations. Russian Bol b 9 Wis m
means, and has always meant, German
activity in Russia. Through Lenine
she has required ownership of major
ity manufacturing equipment. The pop
ulation of the two countries is fully
$50, ,OO0, 900, more than twice that OF
Great Britain, France, and Italy, and
equal to the combined population of