South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-08
JULY 8. 1919.
THAT TRIPLE-ALLIANCE AND THE
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Settlement Of the League Of Nations issue. OF
course with the destruction Of the League has now
been made 10y opponents Of the document perfume
torv shelving il aIonS that other agreement enter
"a into between Lloyd George. Prest Wilson and
Georges Clemeneeau subject ratification by their
various countries by which Britain and America are
20 move al once 10 tho of France If attacked
by Germany. Sen. Borah has made the discovery
and OF course Sen Borah is indisputable This
derstanding 10 him. nuIlihes the League Of
Nations in itself
That this should come directly the heels Of
the Knox contention. supported by Borah. that the
League Of Nations must be separated from the peace
treaty as they could pass together. adds 10 the
interest The League Of Nations and the peace
treaty cannot pass together it in his all-wise
judgment while the peace treaty. carrying the
League Of Nations and the triple under
standing. cannot stand apart. You get the incon-
sstency OF the thing.
The triple und 81 nding is that much special
sop" handed France by Llo-G George and Pres't
Wilson TO quiet her fright and something for
France fall back in case the League Of Nations
should fail Of ratification. should the League of
Nations become a virilc reality, we anticipate that
neither the president the British premier will
care whether their three-cornered understanding
Is ratified not
This agreement provides that the United
States shall be bound to come Immediately to the
aid o France in # any unprovoked act of
erosion directed against her by Germany"
similar agreement hes drawn up between
France and Great Britain. Thus America and Great
Britain they rattfy pact, stand together
as guaranors OF French safety against any possible
attack hereafter like chat of 1914.
Many Americans who are ardent advocates OF the
League will hesitate any binding pledge
10 stand as the defender OF a particular country
wei they may II the League plan adopted.
II is an obligation dat would devolve upon Britain
and America anyway under the provisions of the
League OF Nations. and intended, clearly enough
simply reassure tic French who have more faith
in such a direct pledge than they seem to have at
present iu the League pending ratification From
the American standpoint however it is open to the
objection that appears constitute definite al
lance with particular country being opposed
10 the oldest and strongest diplomatic tradition Of
the United states.
Americans generally have taken the stdrG that
only thing which will make foreign alhano~
toerable is alliance with ali foreign countIe5 at
once. such as the League of Nations conter plates
That would avoid tie iva'ries and special Interests
ho.nd grow of amy alliance with an individual
nation a limited group OF nations which - he
Sims against which george Washington deti,cret
his celebrated warniae TIE treaty carrying the
i.easue with IT. mish. well pe ratihed and the
trple-understandins then cas-, aside
Yet is early 81 express a anal opinion on
this subject The has NOT been fully discuss
I'd. either alone its relation 20 the League in
which Americans primarily interested There
is no question &C. the American attitude toward
France. though There has developed some question
the French s,tifude toward America The
United States would probably be glad 10 hght for
France 70 arose for the love and graft
tude they bear that country particularly IT, as it