El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-12-29


9 voice would settle the continuation or
Z abandonment Of such aid as Europe
Q was receiving and needed For
8 France Great Britain or italy to re-
fuse 10 follow the presidents wishes,
conform to his demands SO far as he
( declined 10 modify them was 10 run
obvious risks. which Italy did run.
with the result that the president adj
dressed 10 the Italian people an ap-
peal over the heads of the govern
meut with consequences stul 20 be
measured
Technically the European nations
could have rejected the presidents
credentials, resisted his leadership,
recognized the legislative rather than
the executive branch of the American
government as dominant But prac-
lcaily this was out OF the question
The president could stop money, re-
call men divert supplies; the senate
could only reject treaty and. i'm
portant as the treaty was, ultimately.
the other things were of FAR greater
value at the moment
Real Peace Postponed.
The strange situation in our gov
eminent with respect Of treaty max
ing, compelled Europe to take sides.
TO negotiate with one Of two equally
influential elements, actually hostile,
and each possessing the power TO neg
ative the treaty. but only one able 10
act positively so far as negotiations
were concerned Europe did this. not
without reluctance in some quarters. /
at least, and the result has been a
deadlock and a postponemenr Of real
peace for more than six months
Now, looking 70 the future. what
reception VIII the next peace delega- E
ton sent from America 20 Europe
have, or the next delega ton sent to
negotiate any treaty or agreement? II (
must come from the president - his (
power TO negotiate treaties is unques- 3
tionable. Ii may well set sail when I
the senate is controlled by an oppos- Z
ing political party. or It may, in con F,
Iormlty with the views OF the presl- .
dent. subscribe to agreements repug- !
nsnt TO the whole senate OF a ma b
lority thereof without regard 10 party. /
In such case. what win become Of the /
treaty. the agreement VIII not Eu- I
rope. once burned, shrink back from /.
a new danger?
French Make Concessions.
II is fact that the French,
through Clemenceau. actually con
scented TO certain notifications Of I
French policy in the matter OF the
treaty OF Versailles because president
wilson declared that such modifica-
tons were necessary 10 obtain an
American guaranty OF French secu-
rity for the future. Clemenceau.
against the advice Of Foch, against
The wish OF many F'renchmeu. re-
signed the Rhine as a military bar
Ter because president Wilson offered
n exchange guarantees Of French Sc
,urity found within and without the
league OF nations covenant
So far France paid in advance She
got the presidents pledge. but she
acks the countersignature Of the SEN
lite, and the discount she has IN re-
urn for her resignation Of title. is
7alueless, But her resignation Of IL
ne IS written into the treaty OF Yer
3ailles- Now in what spirit will the
5rench be forced 70 negotiate with
ne next An erican delegation
The next time we send a deleEa-
Ion. commission to negotiate q
reaty, whether to Europe or 20 Asia.
Z VIII be fact notorious that the
even II headed by the
resident. can give no promise Of rati-
lcation OF the treaty by their gov :
rnment France, Britain, italy can
I'VE such a guaranty
II IN this next conference. rs
In the last, American representa-
rires urge upon those OF other na-
lions agreement 10 certuiu modf-
neHuons OF national viii, which
power however useful TO the
cnuse Of world amity, can only be q
made in return for certain guar
uuty coming from the other side. d.
any chance Of obtaining the con-
eession must disappear. because
the American representative are
without power TO make any efr
feetfve pledge
What results. then, is an obvious
iscredittng OF American negotiations :
] advance OF their arrival at any
eace conference, any world assem-
lager They can pledge nothing. Q
romise nothing. for their country. r
system Of checks and balances ! G
.ay be essential to preserve liberty q
/ domestic affairs. but it carries with Z
certain possibility OF anarchy in "
"a Of Cox 90
nWise 10 permit the president 10 20
broad and undertake engagements 3
2 oenalI OF this country. subject to
D legislative restraint. ought not the
gtslative branch, then. be permit
"a 70 name at least a majority az the
embers OF any International deleEa-
on, 20 name them from its own
Ink and thus TO remain in imme-
ate relation with the treaty.
Can Revise Constitution.
The alternative Is 70 give the presi-
mt absolute power but in the pres
Il temper Of the nations Il IS plain
lch revision Of the constitution IS
lLnlnkaDle- Yet some revision cer- 4
lnly seems necessary.
Possibly some way might be found.
case Of a deadlock, to throw the
hole matter into the house Of rep
sentatives and let IL break the tie.
But the discussion of solutions Isl
Their irrelevant What IS important
recognize is the fact that the war
IS brought about total change IN
e Importance Of foreign affairs. so
T as the United States IS concerned.
escapably our relations with other
untries OF the world are becoming
oser and closer We shall have TO
ter into new agreements. under
Ike new duties. which must BE ?
Zed by international conferences.
Such ebeing the fact. we can not
We our relations with the world
tally handicapped by defective ma
inery which permits one OF two
anches OF government, each having
Wers OF death, If only one has OF
e, over foreign negotiations. to de-
roy what the other may do, 20 par
we Il and 10 paralyze our inter
urse with other nations and-as in T
ally.
Can Not Expect to FIRE Wen.
We can not expect to fare wen in
reign negotiations while this de-
Ct prevails. for the costs TO Eu- 4,
pean countries OF their first ad- IL
nture with American treaty making il
. a large scale has been almost pro- Oh
1itive. 70
To argue that because the thing =
& not happen before 1913 it can not Ell
ppen again is TO argue logically. IS
le truth is that the very character co
the war the destruction and the o.,
anges incident TO It. have produced al
condition which must lead to many ~
ternatiOnal conferences Of a sort re
like those OF the past We can not
unmindfCl OF international gather
sss whose decisions may lead TO nv "