Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-01
The Return of Peace


. REPRESENTATIVES. of the German gov
N eminent have signed the treaty of peace
dictated by the allied and associate govern
ments. They have entered no reservations,
and the war, which was suspended when the
armistice was signed in November, therefore,
comes to formal end. But it remains for
the American Senate to determine whether
or not President Wilson shall have the au-
thority to proclaim the termination of the
conflict, to renew diplomatic and economic
intercourse with the enemy and to permit
Germany to enjoy peace relationship with
this country.
The President can neither declare war nor
make peace. The Congress alone can declare
the one and the Senate alone can do the other
The President may proclaim state of war;
once Congress has acted; he may negotiate
treaty of peace once an armistice has been
signed and he may proclaim state OF peace
once the Senate has ratified the treaty which
he may lay before that body. No treaty
have force or effect until two-thirds of the
Senate has assented to it.
Full responsibility for the continuation of
the war. therefore, has been transferred from
the shoulders Of the President to the shoulders
OF the Senate. If that body is so minded, it
can refuse to treat with Germany; 1t can re-
fuse to accept any treaty to which German
signatures have been attached; it can re-
pudiate the action of the President in nego-
tiating pact with the enemy and it can
perpetuate state Of war between this coun-
try and that forever. But the Senate will
not do this 1t dare not do it. If it should
dare, an indignant nation would in turn re-
pudiate the Senators responsible and would
cast them out as men unfit to represent the
American people. The Senate has a right
and, in fact, assumes the obligation to examine
carefully any treaty that is laid before il. It's
duty is to analyze such an instrument and de-
termine whether or not that instrument safe
guards the interests of the United States, and
whether or not it's terms can, and should, be
lived up to by this country.
The treaty Of peace with Germany has been
before the Senate for month, although not
formally presented. 1t has been bitterly de-
Dated during that time. It's provisions are
familiar to every Senator who has taken the
time to read it, and opposition TO the docu-
ment has manifested itself. This proceeds
from distrust not of the terms which Ger
many has accepted, but to doubts regarding
the league of nations covenant which has
been embodied in the treaty.
IL that league actually demanded surrender
of American sovereignty; IL 1t gave some
other power than our own government the
right to regulate domestic affairs in the
United States, if it invalidated any foreign
policy of the country, such as the Monroe
Doctrine. the Senate might be justified in re-
Jeetih6 IL anu Gazing Ior n new deal. But
the peace treaty does none of these things
1t exacts nothing from America that is in
compatible with American sovereignty. and
the Senator'S who fight ratification because of
ooscure technicalities or partisan wilfulness
Will live to regret their action. The Ameri-
can people want peace with Germany, and
they want peace that will endure through
the ages. This treaty promises both bless
ings. and the Senate will commit the blunder
OF centuries If it fails the country In this In
stance.