Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-12-19
OUTLINES STATUS OF TREATY.

latlOnS, committee OF the Senate. 3
and in charge Of The forces lighting
for the ratification OF the treaty
with Germany. gives the cores
pondent this clear statement Of cN- ,
listing status OF the treaty so far as
the Senate is concerned. Ii is we'll
worth careful reading:
You ask me to outline for the |
Gazette the situation affecting the +,
peace treaty. That question is put
to nc frequently. If you mean to
inquire what the outcome of the
fight will be | can say candidly
that | expect ratification TO occur. !
not Immediately but within the next
month or two. II you mean by
that inquiry 10 ask me to explain
what the situation is now. | can
say that it is one of deadlock. The
Senate with % members has done
nothing but vote negative. 1t re-
jected Senator Lodges resolution of
ratification containing destructive
reservations by a vote Of II to 81.
1t rejected resolution containing
reservations which ! offered by a
vote of Al 10 80 and it rejected a
resolution Of unqualified ratifica-
AAoh ny WI lliNSll ttlS Same SOtc.
'On the surface this looks a little
discouraging but tho fact remains
that out Of 95 Senators 80 voted for
ratification III one form or another
and only Is voted against ratifica-
tion in any form. | think therefore
it is not only possible but likely
that compromise resolution Of
rattle alton can be framed that will
receive the votes Of Ga Senator's. |
believe the Democrats can furnish
40 of these votes and believe the
Republican side can furnish at least
~.
You ask me what evils would
grow out of failure to ratify. This
may be answered in two ways:
First evils that this country would
encounter, and second. evils that
The world as Il whole would en-
counter. The evils that we would
be compelled Ia face are material.
Let me specify some of them. First.
exchanges Will continue 10 fall be-
cause America will not be in Il DO
sition to advance the necessary
credits to Europe. Second. exports
Will. as natural result. fall off
rapidly and we will not be able to
market our surplus products. Third,
we will be in danger Of losing some
thing like 4 hundred ships, The title
10 which we got by the German
treaty. These were German ships
which, their, owners left i'm our
ports while we were neutral coun-
try We have no real title TO them
except what Germany gives us in
the treaty and failing to ratify the
treaty we lose that title. If those
ships arc sent upon tho seas after
England and France have made
their peace with Germany they can
be Hbclcd in any port of Europe.
That is to say. the German owners
can appear in court and lay claim
TO the title to the vessels and thcy
can establish their claim and bv
order of The court take possession
of the vessels. Failure TO ratify the
treaty therefore, cndangcrs over
60O,0OO tons of shipping which con-
StituteS n large part OF our merchant
marine.
IF we fail 10 ratify the treaty
also we lose GernianyS acknowledge
ment OF responsibility for the war
and her promise TO pay its damages.
We lose her promise to recognize
and validate the acts Of the United
States in Selling and selling eight
hundred million dollars worth of
property belonging TO German ciii-
zcns in the United States. Instead
OF being able TO use these funds TO
pay our citizens for losses incurred
III Germany or upon The high seas
we would be compelled to meet
Gcrmany'S claim that the money
must be returned to her citizens.
We would lose our rights to The
benefits of many other agreements
made by Germany in The treaty re-
lating to trade, TO patents. and TO
business losses growing out of the
war. We would be i'm a stale or
uncertainty and doubt with Ger
many for years to come. In the
war we have incurred her hatred
ana II we fail TO ratify the treaty
we VIII incur The disgust and con
icHlpt OF me nations associated with !
us III the war. We would also he |
competed to enter upon a larger
scale Than ever military and naval |
preparations to protect ourselves in +!
the future. =
Inc world would incur prOdig- \,
lous evils as the result Of failure 10 |
ratify the treaty. II would lose our
moral support in European settle |
mentS.
The league Of nations that pro-
poses TO stabilize law and order |
throughout the world. to preserve
peace and establish Justice among
The nations might degenerate into |
q mere offensive and defensive al |
lance II We arc not in it, Leader |
ship in The IcaQilc of nulinnc Ln-