The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-22
Treaty Rejection
Means Dire Results
Cannot Keep Ships in Our Ports Blow to United
States Prestige Incalculable if No Peace
Document is Adopted.
Not Represented on Reparations Commission - New
Treaty Would Have to Be Approved by League
Council So Declaration Of End Of War
Not Binding

which under the constitution has the
right to make laws governing the COM
merce of the nation.
(s) If the Upited States rejected the
present treaty and endeavored to ne
gotiate a second treaty with Germany
It would be necessary under the rules
Of the league of nations. which will
soon be in effect as between Germany
and the European powers for any treaty
made by Germany with the United
States to be submitted to the council
of the league of nations for approval.
Thus America would not have free
hand in negotiating a separate peace
get the consent Of the allied and asso-
ciate poweres who could have a voice
in the negotiations and in the appor-
tionment of war debts and other con-
tracts that might affect the financial
opportunities Of the allied and asso-
ciated governments to collect money
from, Germany.
1t will not be soon forgotten the fight
which Premier Clemenceau made
against the payment by Germany of
coin instead of credit paper for the food
sold to central Europe by Americans
since the armistice and the successful
fight which Herbert Hoover waged to
get q certain priority in payment for
American farmers out of Germany's
funds. - t-s.
The league OF nations and the allied
government would have complete power
of decision without being obliged 10
heed the protest in the United States
If they SO desired.
t9) The blow to the prestige Of the
United States government throughout
the world would be incalcuiabIe II no
treaty with Germany were adopted.
Not only would the moral power OF the
executive branch Of the united States
government be weakened In exchanging
notes with other powers on numerous
questions, but with the knowledge that
congress alone Is dominant.
In foreign affairs there would be a
disposition to deal with individual menu
bers of congress, a practice that has
quietly grown UP of late and which
puts the executive branch of the gov
ernment at serious disadvantage in en-
deavoring to discharge its constitutional
functions of conducting foreign affairs.
Whoever is at fault for the present
state of affairs--eitf1er the ofstfnacy on
the president ana his refusal to take
to Paris men in whom the senators
would have confidence or the. desire OF
senator's to punish the president for his
errors-the fact remains that unless
compromise resolution is adopted when
congress reconvenes and the treaty
ratified in some form-the people OF the
United States. who usually suner when
congress squabbIes with the executive,
will suffer again. Only this time the
effects may reach into the financial and
business Issues of the whole country
and touch not only economic factors
like wages, export trade and retrench.
ment Of Industries which had expected
to benefit from foreign commerce. but
the value Of liberty bonds and all other
securities which depend upon the speed
with which Europe can rehab'litate
herself and pay her war debts. as well
as the bills she Will nave contracted
for American goods since the war ended.