The sun., 1919-07-31
KNOX TO LEAD FIGHT
ON FRENCH ALLIANCE
Senator Declares 1t Gives
League Control Over u. s.
in Treaty Making.
SOVEREIGNTY IN DANGER
Open Hearings on Peace Pact
Begin To-day-Baruch.
Will Be Called
Special ps.patca TO TH. sus.

Special Despatch to TEn Sun.
WASHINGTON, July s0.-Senator Knox
(Pa) to-day sounded the keynote argu-
ment in behalf OF the opposition to the
treaty Of alliance with France. The
Senator. discussing this treaty in Its re-
lations to the whole scheme OF rehabtli-
Eating European relationships took the
view that the provision OF the French
pact which would deprive the United
States of the right TO enter into treaty
relations with any other country at It's
own pleasure and give to the League
OF Nations power OF control over the
policy of the United States In this re-
gard, amounts to depriving the United
States of an essential attribute of SOW
erelgnty. This, he insisted, cannot be
permitted to be made a part OF any
treaty of this country.
Senator Knox has not yet developed IN
any detail for publication his argument
on this point but will do so in the most
public way in the near future. This is
its ground work.
The French treaty makes the alliance
between the United States and France
subject to the approval OF the
League Of Nations Council, and the
alliance Is avowedly only a tempo
rary arrangement pending the perfected
organization of the league, which Will
enable It to take over such responsible
titles. But In effect 1t binds the United
States to submit most important part
of Its foreign policy to the approval OF
the league, and in this 1t is regarded by
Senator Knox, viewing 1t In the light OF
his experience as a former Secretary OF
State, as involving surrender to the
league of an important part OF the SOW
| ereign independence of the United States.
Others Hold Same View.
The same view has been making
strong appeal to other Senators, but Mr..
Knox's adoption Of II for his own gives
II q special Significance and authority.
In conversation on the subject to-day
Senator Knox manifested a decided
curiosity as to the responsibility for the
original suggestion that the treaty maxi
ing power Of the. United States should
be made subject to the approval of the
League Of Nations His curiosity was
as to whether the suggestion originated
with President Wilson or with the
French Premier.
From the standpoint of intimate pub
lie interest the open hearings on the
treaty of peace which will begin to-mor-
row before the Committee on Foreign
Relations will be the most absorbing
phase that this consideration has yet
presented. Bernard NJ. Baruch, one OF
the American economic advisors in Paris,
will be heard tomorrow In explanation
Of the financial and economic clauses
Of the treaty. These are extremely in
volved and difficult Of understanding, and
the committee has been by no means
certain that It has fully apprehended
their significance.
Experts say that never In the history
OF treaty making has there been SO de-
tailed an elaboration OF requirements in
any treaty settlement This is not by
way of criticism, but Is regarded as
natural incident to the increased COM
plexity of International. financial, COM
mercial and economic relationships un-
der present day conditions. Also the
necessity. for most minute specification
of all these details is increased by the
fact that most OF the leading Industrial
and commercial nations were actually in
volved in the war and that no nation or
people has escaped from a most inti-
mate concern with 1t.
Serious Money Problems.
For example. 1t Is pointed out that
as result Of the war imitation of cur
rency has extended to the entire world,
though in varying degree to different
OF money. which only in recent decades
has been established as a substantially
universal system. has been we'll nigh
| swallowed up throughout a great part
OF the world in the deluge of paper
money issues.
The Foreign Relations Committee is
particularly concerned to learn from
Mr.. Baruch all about the arrangements
for distributing the $4,000, 100000 gold
indemnity which Germany is to pay.
Article 237 OF the treaty provides that
the first $1,000, 100000 shall be paid
within six months OF the ratification of
; the treaty, and that thereafter the bal
ance shall be paid in four equal install
| ments, a year apart. This entire amount
is to be distributed among the allied
and associated nations on the basis to
be agreed upon by them
In answer to an inquiry from the
Foreign Relations Committee a few
days ago, the President wrote Senator
Lodge (Mass.) that he did not know
| whether this plan OF distribution had
yet been settled at Paris. II Is pre-
sumed in Washington that It has not
been because interest In 1t is SO great
in Europe that II would hardly have
escaped publicity. The Senate wants to
know whether the United States comes
| in for any share OF the indemnity, and
II so what that share is.
The general impression is that, pur-
suant to his repeated protestations of
high ideals and entire unselfshness the
President has renowned all claims. upon
this fund In behalf of the United States.
| 1t is not at all certain, II this should
prove to be tho case, that Senatorial
| judgment will agree.
Cost of Occupation Armies.
Related to this question OF distribute
ing indemnity, Is that of payments by
Germany covering the expenses of the
| armies of occupation within German
territory after the armistice. In this
connection many complicated conditions
are presented. When the American troops
are withdrawn from each occupied Ger
| man community the local authorities
prepare bills setting forth the damages
which have been inflicted upon public
and private property by reason. of the
| occupation, these being submitted to the
American rrilitary authorities. Ulti-
mately, these accounts must all be ad-
Justed and settled.
Military men have been bringing home
some remarkable stories of the ingenuity
with which claims of this sort have been
padded by the Germans. Among other
things. the Senate wants to know
whether II Is possible that the cost of
maintaining the army OF occupation Is
| to be largely Offset by the German
claims for damages, while at the same
time the Washington Government shall
forego any share In the big cash In
demnity.
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