New-York tribune., 1919-09-25
League Doesn't
Need u. S., Says
Clemencea au
Can Exist Even Though 1t
Is Rejected by Senate,
French Chamber Told;
Is Subject Of d e ate

PARIS. Sept. - (By The Associated
Press In an explanation to the
Chamber of Deputies to-day Premier
CIemenceau, after declaring that the
league OF nations could exist even
though rejected by the United States
Senate, asserted that it was precisely
because the French felt that the league
OF nations was an insufficient guarantee
for some years TO come that the pro-
tective treaties Of alliances between
France, Great Britain and the United
States were drawn up.
The possibility Of ratification of
the peace treaty and the covenant of
the league by the United States SEN
ate, the consoOuences, in such event, TO
the guarantees for the future Of France
and the question whether the league of
nations could exist without the United
States a member, occupied the entire
afternoons debate in the Chamber of
Deputies.
Senate Action Surprising
The vote in the United States Senate
yesterday postponng consideration Of
one Of the amendments is regarded
here as significant and caused surprise
in the French Chamber Louis Barthou
repeatedly asked the government for
explanations.
Andre Tardieu and NJ. Pichon, the
Foreign Minister. replied, but the
chamber was not satisfied.
During the course Of NJ. Tardous
speech NJ. Barthou Interrupted and
demanded an immediate reply as to
what situation France would be placed
in should the United States not ratify
lie added that it was through delicacy
he had refrained from asking this
question before. as he wished and
hoped that the Senate would finally be-
gin the discussion and reach it's con-
clusion. But now this seemed hopeless
and the question must be settled imme
/ diately, as American ratification was
distant, "If it occurred at all"
Tardieu Predicts Ratification
NJ. Tardieu declared that he person
ally WAS satisfied that the United d
States Senate would ratfy the treaty
| NJ. Rarthou countered, saying that he
was far from satisfied, and citing the
vote of 43 to 40 on Senator Lodges mo-
ton for postponement as "a fair
warning Of the ultimate fate of tho
pact
NJ. Pichon's reply that legally
! speaking the league could exist with.
out Americas participation brought
| the retort from NJ. Barthou that wha,
France wanted was political guaran-
tees, not legal guarantees. He as
serted that the government must face
the issue Immediately.
Premier Clemenceau said:
should the United States reject the
league OF nations, two treaties OF al
! lance between France and Gresf Brit
ain and France and the United States
| exist Neverthe less. it was precisel,
because we felt that the league Of ma
tions was an insufficient guarantee fol-
! some years to come that these treaties
were drawn up. The league of nation:
| for the present has nothing to do with
| tho Franco British American treatie 3
which constitute sufficient guarantees
| for France"
M. Clemenceau added that the league
! of nations would not take up the re
sponsibihties and guarantees entered
into by the treaties unless it was de-
cided to do so by two-thirds ajority
when the league was completely organ
lied and operating.
'If you are seeking to adjourn the
debate until America ratihes tn,
treaty" he said. "you may do so, but
you shall do so without u.s."
The debate was adjourned until TO-