The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-10-13
All Other Great Nations That
Made War on Germany Have
Approved the Pact Except
Japan.
JAPS AWAIT u. S. ACTION
SHANTUNG SETTLEMENT
Under Terms of the Versailles
Agreement Treaty Becomes
Effective When Approved by
Three of the Great Nations.
(ey GEORGE Il. MANNING)

4 Washington d. c., Oct. 1.-THE Uni
| ted States will be the last of the four
great nations that made war on Ger
many to ratify the peace treaty. it was
conceded by both the Democratic and
Republican members of the senate to-
day, and the treaty will be actually in
effect and the United States will be at
peace with Germany. along with the
other powers, before it is ratified by
the United States senate
Japan, the fifth great nation to war
against Germany. is apparently waiting
| to see what the United States will do
about her claims to the rich Shantung
province before ratifying, and will. on
that account. be the last OF the big
five" to ratify-
Under the terms of the Versailles
peace treaty 1t becomes effective when
ever three of the principal nations rat
| ify it. Peace is then an actuality an0
Ian trade restrictions with Germany.
imposed during the war. are abandoned
President Wilson denied this for sew
eral weeks after his return from France,
and held that the whole world would
still be at war until the United States
senate ratified the treaty. He urged
this as strong reason for speedy rati-
fication. But when he appeared before
the senate foreign relations committee
he was forced to admit, in answer to
questions, that the contention of sena-
tors Knox and Lodge that peace be-
came an actuality when three of the
principal nations that battled with Ger
many ratified it. was correct.
England ratified the treaty some time
ago. The French chamber of deputies
ratified it several days ago by vote
of 372 to SO, and the French senate
ratified 1t during the past week. Italy
has ratified the treaty by royal decree,
which may be issued this week
Japan is waiting to see what action
the United States takes on the treaty
before ratifying, it is understood.
The United States senate is showing
no inclination to avoid this predica-
ment. "A week ago the Democrats
seemed in hurry to bring matters to
a vote and to a conclusion, while the
Republicans were trying to hold off a
a vote and a show down of strength as
long as possible. Now the Democrats
are as willing as the Republicans to
drag along.
The main reason for this is the wish
to wait until some of the Democratic
senators can hold conference with the
president to ascertain what sort OF
reservations he will accept. 1t was
hoped that the president would be well
enough a few days after his return to
permit of several conferences SO that
he could be acquainted with the fact
that IL iss now impossible to obtain
ratification without accepting reserva-
tions and to learn what reservations he
will agree to. The turn for the worse
in the presidents condition since his
return, however, has prevented con-
ference of any kind and it is now diff
ficult to predict when they can be held.
The Democrats are now iwlling to al
low debate on the treaty to drag along
until something definite can be learned
from the president
The turn of events in the senate dur
ing the past weeks demonstrated be-
yond all question that it will be i'm
possible for the opponents of the league
of nations to amend it, and on the
other hand. that it viii be impossible
to ratify it without reservations to
cept it in its present shape.
The rejection of the Fall amend
ments by a vote of 5S to 80. indicates
clearly that the opponents of the lea
que have not the votes to amend it and
send it back to the Versailles peace
conference for approval
( Thirty votes in favor of amendments,
however, of of IS, shows there are
enough opponents of the league to
prevent its ratification as 1t now
stands. two-thirds vote being nec-
essary.
The present week will in all prob
ability bring about show of strength
in the senate on the Shantung amend
ments. of which there are several.
These amendments will probably carry
more votes than the Fall amendments
did. but not sufficient to carry. which