El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-20
PEACE TREATY
HARD To AMEND
Every Change Means Gable
Negotiations With Some
Twenty Nations.
Continued from page II

ties to the treaty. Judging hv ex-
perience, with other treaties where
only the United States and anolurr
country was involved, IL would be op-
timistic to guess that every one or
the powers. big and little. could be
made to agree 10 the American point
OF view in six months time
Plan Resumption Of Trade.
Inasmueh as the European countries
plan to resume trade imme diately on
the signing Of the peace treaty,
America will find herself with a large
surplus Of products on hand and many
factories and commercial establish
ments anxious TO do an export and
import business with Europe but IN
able to do so until the trading with the
enemy act is fully nullified By proc
lamati0n Of peace
What the noupoItical elements IN
the senate are really concerned about
IS the opinion on the league Of nations.
They want to make sure that certain
interpretations OF American policy
are embodied in the peace treaty and
certain safeguards inserted against
the employment OF military and naval
forces without a full and free eX-
preston by the American congress
To this end certain senator's
want reservations made. They are
anxious that joint resolutions be
adopted by congress now. stating
specifically what America under
stands by certain Items in the
peace treaty.
II they ratify the document as
whole and then add specific reserFa-
tons these will be valid or invalid in
the future, according as the leglsla-
tive and executive branches Of con-
gress in coming years want to assert
OF defend the principles involved in
the reservations
Joint resolutions adopted in con-
gress now will not be binding upon
foreign governments except insofar as
a president or secretary OF state Of
the United States wants TO insist upon
the Interpretation formally rendered
by congress in 1913 as basis for
American policy
Amendments Take Too Much Tine.
Conservative thinkers here, there
fore, believe that amending the treaty
itself vii be found difficult. If not an
impossible task. unless the country
wants to be kept on a war basis while
the prolonged negotiations are ln
progress in an effort 10 secure an
agreement by cable with 20 nations.
II the country wants TO get back on
a peace basis at once pressure for the
ratification OF the treaty VIII undoubt-
eddy bring about an early proclama-
ton OF peace. though. Of course con-
gress viii stin be free 10 have its say
IN joint resolutions interpreting the
peace treaty. None OF these is expect
ed TO bring about any nonparticlpation
by the United States in a league Of ma
tions, as the extreme opponents OF the
league have vainly hoped
The chief business, therefore OF the
new congress viii be the fight be-
tween president Wilson and the senate
on the ratification OF the treaty
The senate does not seem TO Ia
vor any triple agreement 10 de-
Hna i
stntes TO keep for five years more
American troops on the Rhine
Very little IS said in admin istratiou
quarters about either OF these points
hut the impression is growing that
president Wilson himself does not IA
Vor them but agreed 10 submit 10 con
Eress both proposals so as 10 satisfy
the wish Of premier Clemenceau VINO
Il wiz be remembered. was constantly
telling Mr. Wilson that perhaps the
Republican party was more favorable
to q program defending france Lnau
Mr.. Wilson himself
c. o. p. Ufterances Impress Clemeneeau
Editorials in some Republican news
papers favOring an alliance between
Great Britain. France and the United
States and speeches OF the peace treaty
or league Of nations. made a deep
impression on the French premier
II is considered significant that the
American mission has thus Tar not
permitted any quotation OF expression
70 20 forth. explaining why the triple
agreement was deemed necessary OF
IS ny it should be adopted Certainly u
poll OF congress were taken today it,
would be found opposed to any alli-
ance with any country. though IN IA
vor OF a general association with the
rest Of the world In a league Of ma
tions.-CopyriEht 1919. by New York
Evening Post Inc