Evening star., 1919-12-29
LORD GREY TO co
FEELING ]. s. WILL
STAND BY ALLIES
British Envoy, Despite Some
Disappointment, Is Not in
Complaining Spirit.
by DAVID LAWRENCE.

III LA LII LA W IL ENIE.
Viscount Edward Grey-the man
who. as foreign secretary of Great
Britain. 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 controversy in
the III cd States
The ambassador leaves in no COM
planning spirit and in no captious or i'm
patient mood. He is neither sighted
by his inability to have an audience
pressed with the charge that party
politics alone lie at the bottom of
Americas hesitation to ratify the
peace treaty.
Mission Is Unfilled.
1t is true in one sense that the mis-
sion of Lord Grey has been failure,
but in quite another sense 1T is about
the most important mission that could
have been contemplated 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
peace treaty.
When he got here Mr.. Wilson SUI
fered nervous collapse and not
even the Secretary Of State was per-
mitted to see him. and, furthermore,
so far as America is concerned, there
have been no questions arising out
OF the ratification of the peace treaty.,
for the obvious reason that the treaty.
which Europe expected to see rati-
fed by October, with the first meet
ing of the league of nations in ses-
sion by then. still remains unacted
upon by the Senate of the United
States
There remained two things which
Lord Grey could do--wait here till
the Senate acted, which might pro-
long his visit in America beyond the
time which he had agreed on account
of his failing health to remain IN
the United States, or else go naGk
best by telling them exactly what IS
involved in the treaty controversy IN
the United States.
Naturally, Lord Grey chose thu
latter In such situation as lhe
present nothing hut iirst-hand con,
enlighten a foreigner on the true
causes of Americas treaty struggle.
Phe British envoy has had an oppor-
tunity to meet Senator Lodge, the
republican leader. and other OPP
ponents of the treaty. lie mas haa
chance to discuss with them the rea-
sons for their desire for reservations,
as well as their reasons for wanting
to see America keep out of Europe
Altogether He has been able to size
up the situation and take back COM
prehensive report. He VIII be listened
TO in Europe because of his remarka-
Bile prestige in European diplomacy,
both inside and outside Of Britain,
and because of the fact that he mas
dealt at first hand with the principles
in the American treaty fight.
whnt He Likely VIII Tell Europe.
Lord Grey hardly will tell the Euro
pean peoples that the same nation
which showed her unselhshness in the
great war now would be guilty of
selfishness in seeking to dissociate
herself entirely from the Frustrated
European countries and thus seek to
impose added burdens on the peoples
who bore the brunt OF the war for
human freedom. Lord Grey hardly
will confirm the charges OF SO many
people in this country that Senator
Lodge has been seeking PARTISAN ad-
vantage alone in his keen battle with
the President.
But unduestionably he will tell
Europe about the unique character OF
the American form of government
which makes the legislative branch
of the government independent of the
executive SO that the country might
have one party in Congress and an
other party in the White House. And
he will be able to trace for the benefit
of European peoples VINO are ac-
'customed to the parliamentary form
of government and an executive re-
sponsible to the legislature the grow
ing tendency on the part of the ex-
ecutive from the days Of Roosevelt
on to proceed Independently of the
other branches of the government.
Will he Able to Give Reasons.
He will be able to describe the rea-
son for Americas hesitation to enter
into a binding contract for participa-
ton in European affairs without
knowing first exactly what the COM
mitments are going to be. summed
up. the European observers, including
the ambassadors and writers who
have been making study of the
American treaty controversy. see it
possible to boil all the reserva tions.
down to a single resolution, namely
that in the operation of so important
an instrument as the covenant of the
league of nations the President of
the United States shall not have the
power to commit the United States to
any obligation-moral, political, phys
ical, legal or material-unleSS the
consent of Congress is first given.
Such an assurance is not necessary
in Europe, for the moment the pre-
mier or prime minister adopts policy
that is not to the liking of the parlia-
ment or national legislature he can be
ousted by a simple vote of lack of
confidence, and If he doubts the valid
ity Of that vote he can appeal to the
the verdict can be affirmed or reversed
and a ministry continued or turned
out of power.
Some day America may modernize