The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-29
IMMEDIATE MILL
TARY ASSISTANCE
is GUARANTEED
In Case of an Unprovokh
Attack on Her by Ger
many, Without Waiting
for the Advice of the
Council of the League of
Nations-Arrangement Is
Not Independent of the
League.

Washington, D. c., July 29.---President
Wilson to-day transmitted to the Sen.
ate the special treaty with France by
which the United States pledges itself to
come Immediately to the aid of that re-
public in the event Of an unprovoked at
tack by Germany, and asked for its early
ratification "along with the treaty with
Germany
Submission Of the treaty came after
sharp criticism by Senate Republicans,
who for several days had openly charged
on the Senate floor that in failing to
present the draft of the pact along with
the treaty of Versailles, the president
had violated one Of the articles OF the
document. The president did not follow
his custom of presenting the treaty in
person. He sent it to the Capitol by spe-
cial messenger along with a message ex-
planning its object.
The Franco American treaty is almost
identical with one signed between Great
Britain and France. One difference being
the texts as made public by the French
foreign office to which attention has been
called is that the United States pledges
itself to go Immediately" to the assist
ance of France, while Great Britain Con
sents" to assist that country.
The president told the Senate the pur.
pose of the treaty was to provide as
sistance for France in case of unpro-
yoked aggression by Germany without
waiting for the advice of the council Of
the league Of nations that such action
should be taken, and explained that it
was to be an arrangement mot indie
pendent of the league of nations, but un-
der it."
"The covenant Of the league of ma
tions," the president said, provides for
military action for the protection of its
members only upon the advice of the
council of the league advice given, it is
to be presumed, only upon deliberation
and acted upon by each of the govern.
ments OF the member states only If its
own judgment justifes such action
Pointing out that the treaty shall
receive the approval of the council of the
league" the president said it would re-
main in force "only until, upon the ap-
lication of one of the parties to it, the
council Of the league acting, if neces-
sary, by majority vote, shall agree that
the provisions of the covenant of the
league afford her sufficient protection"
Mr., Wilson said he was moved to sign
the treaty by the ties of friendship
binding the two countries and the as
sistance France gave America in its
struggle for independence. Without this
assistance, the president said, it was
doubtful whether America could have
won its independence, and added:
Nothing can pay such debt"
President Wilson's message was as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Senate:
| take pleasure in laying before YOU a
treaty with the republic of France. the
object of which is to secure that republic
of the immediate aid of the United
States Of America in case of any un-
provoked movement of aggression against
her on the part of Germany / earnestly
hope that the 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 yon have had an opportunity to ex-
anime the great document presented to
you two weeks ago, it seems opportune
to lay before you this treaty, which is
meant to be in effect part OF it.
1t was signed on the same day with
the treaty of peace and is intended as
temporary supplement of it. 1t is be-
lieved that the treaty of peace with Ger
many itself provides adequate protection
to France against aggression from her
recent enemy on the east; but the years
Immediately ahead of us contain MANY
ineaIculable possibilities. The covenant
of the league of nations provides for
military action for the protection of its
members only upon advice of the council
of the league advice given, it is to be
presumed, only upon dehbsration and