River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-08-07
SENDS TREATY
WITH MESSAGE
Wilson Gives Senate Pact Made
With France to Aid Her
Against Attack.
PART PAYMENT OF DEBT
Declares France Assisted Us to Win
Our Freedom as a Nation-Asks
Early Ratification Along
With Peace Treaty.

| Washington, July 80. President
Wilson transmitted to the senate the
special treaty with France by which
the United States pledges itself to
come Immediately to the aid of that
republic in the event of an unpro-
voked attack by Germany, and asked
for its early ratification "along with
the treaty with Germany" The text
Of the message follows:
| Gentlemen of the Senate:
| take pleasure in laying before you
q treaty with the Republic of France,
the object of which is to secure imme-
date military aid to France in case
Of any unprovoked movement of ag-
gression against her on the part Of
Germany. / earnestly hope that the
treaty will meet with your cord sal
approval and will receive an early
ratification at your hands along with
the treaty of peace with Germany
| 1t was signed on the same day with
the treaty of peace and is intended
as a temporary supplement to it. It
is believed that the treaty Of peace
with Germany itself provides adequate
| protection to France against agrees
sion from her recent enemy on the
east, but the years Immediately ahead
of us contain many incalcuable posi-
bilities. The covenant of the league
of nations provides for military action
for the protection of it's members
only upon advice of the council of
the league advice given it is to be
presumed, only upon deliberation and
acted upon by each Of the govern
bments Of the member states only if
it's own Judgment justifes such action.
The object of the special treaty
with France which now submit
to you, is to provide for immediate
military assistance to France by the
United States in case Of any unpro-
voked movement of aggression against
her by Germany without waiting for
the advice of the council of the league
Of nations that such action will be
1t is therefore expressly provided
| that this treaty shall be made the
subject of consideration at the same
time with the treaty of peace with
Germany; that this special arrange
ment shall receive the approval of
the council of the league; and that
this special provision for the safety of
France shall remain in force only I'M
til, upon the application of one of the
parties to it, the council of the league
acting, if necessary by a majority
vote, shall agree that the provisions
Of the covenant of the league affords
her sufficient protection.
| was moved to sign this treaty by
considerations which will, / hope,
seem as persuasive and as irresistible
to you as they seemed to me. We
are bound to France by ties Of friend
ship which we have always regarded
and shall always regard as peculiarly
sacred. She assisted us to win our
freedom as nation. It is seriously
to be doubted whether we could have
won it without her gallant and timely
aid. We have recently had the priv
ilege of assisting in driving enemies,
/ IL,
from her soil: but that does not pay
our debt to her. Nothing can pay
such debt.
She now desires that we should
promise to lend our great force to
keep her safe against the power she
has had most reason to fear. Another
great nation volunteers the same
/ ie, Df
versals of history that that other ma
ton should be the very power from
| whom France fought to set us free.
A new day has dawned. Old antagon-
isms are forgotten. The common
cause of freedom and enlightenment
has created new comradeships and a
new perception of what it is wise and
necessary for great nations to do to
free the world Of intolerable fear.
| Two governments who wish to be
members of the league of nations ask
leave of the council of the league to
be permitted to go to the assistance
of friend whose situation has been
found to be one of peculiar peril with
out awaiting the advice of the league
to act. 1t is by taking such pledges
as this that we prove ourselves faith.
full to the utmost to the high obliga.
tions Of gratitude and tested friend
ship. Such an act as this seems to
me one of the proofs that we are a
people that sees the true heart Of
duty and prefers honor to it's own
separate course of peace.
WOODROW WILSON.