The sun., 1919-09-17
viviani,> After Pointing Out
Weakness of Treaty, Calls
for Ratification.
CLEMENCEAU FOR SPEED
Obstructionists Urge Delay
Until United States Senate
Makes Decision.

fcation Of the peace treaty inscribed
their names on President Deschaneps
blotter when the debate was resumed in
the Chamber this afternoon. The list Is
| still open and growing daily.
Five speakers, four of them favoring
| immediate ratification, and the other
dissenting. are members of commits
sion headed by M. Viviani, which re-
ported to the Chamber through its secre-
tary. NJ. Barthou. upon the advisability
of ratifying the treaty. Ten Deputies,
all opponents or the treaty, will present
motions, embodying various reservations
| and criticisms which they desire inserted
| In the document after its ratification.
! M. Clementel. Minister Of Commerce,
1 opened the debate to-day. replying to
the criticisms OF former Minister of
Public Works Puech OF the economic
clauses.
NJ. Viviani after pointing out the
weaknesses OF the treaty, it's omissions
| and errors. concluded with an impas-
stoned appeal to the Deputies Of all par
ties to ratify the treaty at the earliest
| moment possible.
| address in the Chamber on Thursday or
Friday. outlining the policies as affecting
| the Allied and Associated Governments
| and former enemies.
MN. Tardieu, Loucheur, Klotz and
Clementel have explained before the
| Chamber the reconstruction, financial
| and economic clauses of the treaty, and
the Premier feels that his address
should aim higher than mere ex-
PLANTATION of the treaty, that 1t should
outline the. French Governments pro-
gramme, IL his administration Is re-
turned in the impending elections.
| InbhV pOSsin has that NJ Clanaan-
ceau personally is anxious for prompt
ratification, but the wave of obstruc-
| ton and procrastnation Is steadily
| mounting. and the outlook for a speedy
| conclusion of the debate is more pessi-
| mistic than ever.
The Socialists are not alone to blame,
| many members of the Centre and Right,
| staunch supporters of the Government,
are also adopting dilatory tactics. The
| reason generally advanced by the OBJ
| structionists is the desire that the
| French Chamber should await the de-
| cision of the United States Senate. but
| the real cause Is declared to be found
! in the fact that the Deputies are anxious
| to prolong their expired mandates as
| long as possible and are disnclined
| to face an election. and the newspapers
of all political shades are chatting them
| mercilessly for their evident timidity to
go before the people
| The election date, which was semi-of-
fcially announced as October 26, has
| not yet been fixed. November IL is
| mentioned now. but without enthusiasm.
| The Chambers mandate terminated in
May. 1918. and the Deputies since then
have been drawing stipends and ex-
penses. to which they are not entitled,
according to the French constitution.
| According 10 the estimates and
reckonings of all parties 800 Deputies
actually sitting at the present time will
not be returned.
Members OF the budget commission
| exhibit much concern, with the dollar
at francs. and are exhorting their col
leagues, publicly and privately, to be
brief in their explanations and ratify the
treaty promptly.
The debate in the afternoon turned
into a general discussion of the ex-
change problem and the continued de-
cline of the franc and the possible
remedies
Both NJ Clementel and NJ. Klotz ad-
vocated diminution of the imports from
| Great Britain and the United States.
For the first time the Chamber was
informed that the renewal of economic
relations with Germany was imperative
the mention Of Germany being drowned
in shouts of execration. NJ Clemente
faced the issue courageously, informing
the Chamber of the necessity of this
as soon as possible.
NJ Klotz responded to angry interpret
lations from ali quarters, saying he haC
warned the Chamber of the danger of a
rise in exchange when freedom of i'm
lportatfon was restored.
"As long as we buy from countries
possessing sterling and dollars and sci
| thas,, pptbtpo the exchange will rise n,
said.
Viviani Pleads for THeaty.
NJ. Viviani, In his plea for immediat'
Ratification of the treaty, expressed him
self as fully satisfied with the militar.
| clauses giving France new frontier
against a future revengeful return o
Germany, but advocated a close eco
nomic alliance with Great Britain an,
America. He opposed similar agree
ment with Germany on the ground tina
France would become merely tributar!
economically.
Despite the unfavorable situation will
respect to French exchange M.-Clemente
was optimistic that France would be on
of the nations recovering most quickly
He hoped that America would adopt Mr.
Hoover's suggestion of loaning Europ
SO, 900. 100000 and understand tina
Frances purchases outside of Americi
are not prompted by III feeling but owinl
TO the impossibility of buying withou
heavy losses because of the conditions
of exchange.
NJ. Viviani urged the immediate or
ganlzatlon of financial league of ma
tions. He said that France in 1911
not only saved the liberty of the worlt
but its interests, which makes II pos
, sible now for the, allied countries I,
flourish. It would be distressing. he de
clared, for France after surviving tn
terrible conflict ON the battlefield I,
succumb in the economic struggle.
NJ. Viviani spoke eloquently and wa
cheered by every section of the House
The Deputies unanimously voted to pos
his speech on the walls of Paris an,
in the public squares. lie was congratu
lated warmly by Premier Clemenceal
and all the Ministers.
NJ Klotz injected humorous toucl
into the debate when he told the Cham
ber that one of the causes of the rise Il
sterling was the Importation of enormou
quantities OF small arms and cartridge
destined for the use of hunters at tn
opening of the hunting season in Septem
ber, the amount totalling hundreds o
millions of francs.
NJ. Viviani expressed fullest confidenc
In the guarantees of Great Britain an
the United States that they would com
to the aid OF France In case of unwar
ranted aggression by Germany. He said
Had ] possessed such guarantee