Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-30
GREY'S VISIT
TOU. S. WILL
BE OF BENEFIT
Finds Our Form of Gov.
ernment At Bottom of
Treaty Tangle.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial to The Argus.)

Washington, D. c., Dec. 30.-Vis-
count Edward Grey, the man who
as foreign secretary of Great Bri-
tain, led the allies in the critical
moments Of July, 1914, returns this
week to Europe to tell the people
over there exactly what he believes
to be at issue in the treaty contro-
versy in the United States.
The ambassador leaves in no
complaining spirit and in no cap,
tious or impatient need. He is
neither slighted by his inability to
have an audience with President
Wilson nor is he impressed with
the charge that party politics alone
lie at the bottom Of Americas hes
itation to ratify the peace treaty.
1t is true in one sense that the
mission Of Lord Grey has been
failure but in quite another sense
it is about the most important mis-
sion that could have been con-
templated for this critical moment
in the relations Of the United States
and Europe.
1t will be remembered that Lord
Grey was sent to the United States
to discuss with President Wilson
certain questions arising out of the
ratification Of the peace treaty.
When he got here, Mr.. Wilson had
suffered a nervous collapse and
not even the secretary of state was
permitted to see him. And. fur
thermore, SO far as America is con-
cerned there have been no "ques-
tions arising out Of the ratification
of peace treaty" for the obvious
reason that the treaty which Eu-
rope expected to see ratified by
October with the first meeting Of
the League Of Nations in session
by them still remains unacted upon
by the senate of the United States.
-" Has Two Courses.
There remained two things which
Lord Grey could do, wait here tin
the senate acted. which might pro-
long his visit in America beyond
the time trhich he had agreed on
account. ts failing health to re-
main in Ia, United. Statea. or. else
% back homo and serve the Eu-
fopean people best by telling them
exactly what IL involved in the
treaty controversy in the United
States.
Naturally Lord Grey chose the
latter. In such q situation as the
present nothing but first hand con-
sideration and personal contact
could enlighten a foreigner on the
true causes of Americas treaty
----uggle. The British envoy has
had an opportunity to meet Senator
Lodge, the Republican leader, and
other opponents Of the treaty. He
has had q chance to discuss with
them the reasons for their desire
for reservations. as we'll as their
reasons for wanting to see Amer
lea keep out of Europe altogether.
He has been able to size up tn sit
uation and bring back a compre-
hensive report. He will be listened
to In Europe because Of his remark
able prestige in European diplomacy
both inside and outside of Britain
and because of the fact that he
has dealt at first hand with the
principals in the American treaty
fight.
Not Wholly Selfish.
Lord Grey, will hardly tell the
European peoples that the same
nation which showed her unselfish-
ness in the great war now would
be guilty of selfishness in seeking
to dissociate herself entirely from
the prostrated European countries
and thus seek to impose added bur-
dens on the peoples who bore the
brunt of the war for human free
dom. Lord Grey will hardly con-
firm the charges Of SO many people
/, in this country that Senator Lodge
has been seeking partisan advan-
tage alone in his keen battle with
the president. But unquestionably
he will tell Europe about the
+, unique character of the American
form of government which makes
the legislative branch of the gov