New-York tribune., 1919-07-02
U. S. Will Be Free to Open
Commercial r e | a tion 5
When Three Nations Rat
ify Treaty, Says Senator
Resolution Not Needed
Fear of Advantage for
England and France Is
Declared Not Justified
New York Tribune
WdShtnUtOu Bureau


WASHINGTON, July 1.--Trade be-
tween the United States and Germany
may be resumed as soon as three Of
tha principal Allies exchange ratifica-
tons of the peace treaty with Ger
many, in the opinion of Senator Phi
lander c. Knox. former Secretary of
State.
The contention that the United
States will be debarred from trade
with Germany, while Great Britain,
France and Italy, having ratified the
treaty, monopolize the German mar
kets, is bugaboo, Mr.. Knox declared,
and used in the propaganda to force
speed in the approval Of the peace
treaty and league of nations covenant.
Many Senators agree with Mr.. KnoX's
contention that peace will thus be re-
stored, and commercial relations opened
up with Germany, no matter whether
the Senate has ratified at that time the
treaty or not.
Fall Resolution Called Unnecessary
The view of Mr.. Knox is held by
some Senators to make any such ac-
ton as proposed by Senator Fall, who
has pending before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee resolution de-
claring Immediate peace with Germany.
unnecessary.
This does not mean that these Sen
ators oppose the Fall resolution. They
feel that il would be merely gesture,
but one which, if it carries assurance
to those who are still fearful about
America being handicapped in the race
for German trade, would do no oSharm.
"Thc treaty itself provides" said
70
be effective by the agreement shall date
from the deposit of ratiiications by
Germany and any other three nations.
1t must therefore follow that the re-
sumption Of trade between Germany
and all other nations is made possible
by this same stipulation. At present,
trade between the people of the United
States and Germany is prohibited by
the Trading with the Enemy Act.
That act by its terms, is to continue
in effect for the duration of the war.
when the war shall have ended and the
declaration, in my opinion, viii termi-
nate the operation of the act
Wilson Edict Not Essential
"How about the announcement by
Attorney General Palmer that the war
would not end until the proclamation
by the President announcing its ter
mination had been issued" Senator
Knox was asked
The Pennsylvania Senator said he
would be very much surprised if the
President would take that view The
President had had { great deal to do
with making the treaty, he said, and
undoubtedly understood the purpose of
the provision, which expressly declares
the agreement shall become operative
as between all nations when the ratii-
cations by three of the Allies have
been exchanged with Germany.
after the armisticc had been estab-
ished," Senator Knox said, "and Ger
many had acknowledged it's defeat, as
the vanQuished nation Germany had
the right to know when she would be
able TO obtain q state of peace. 1t is
undoubtedly in recognition of this right
that the peace conference, having i'm
posed all necessary conditions upon
Germany and obtained from Germany a
solemn agreement to accept these con-
ditlons, declared that peace should
then be established between Germany
and all the nations when the ratifica-
tons as described were depositcd."
Costa Rican Situation Cited
The Costa Rican situation, revived
to-day in the Senate by resolution
introduced by Senator La Toilette, was
pointed to by many Senator'S as IL
Illustrating that no action would be re-
CURED by the Senate on the peace
treaty in order to permit the restora-
ton of trade between the United
States and the Central Powers
Senator La Follcttcs S resolution to-