The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-09-04

Il
the world. The work of ratifying the
treaty would proceed without us
The treaty itself provides that when
three nations in addition to Germany
have signed, il shall go into effect. 1t
is easy to see the enormous bene-
fits which Great Britain and France
will derive from this treaty. They will
not take any chances. 1t is preposter-
Gus TO suppose that Japan will delay
it's ratification. The result is beyond
all question.
What then will the United States
do2 Some say that congress can pass
a joint resolution declaring a state of
peace with Germany. Others say the
United States can negotiate separ-
tate and independent treaty. Those who
talk this way evidently have no con-
ception of the enormous benefits which
the United States enjoys from this
treaty.
Germany is compelled to accept fun
responsibility for the damages caused
| by the war, in one article. Does any
one think that if we undertook to ne
gotiate a separate treaty with Ger
many, Germany would make any such
concessions to the United States? Ger
many might say she had never de-
clared war on the United States. that
! il was the United States who forced
war on her.
Take the matter of Germany prop
| erty in the United States. Under this
treaty all acts of the United States
| and of the alien property custodian
with regard to that property are vail
dated unless Germany can show actual
| fraud. Is any one insane enough to
suppose that Germany will voluntari-
| ly make that concession to us if we
/ lose the hold upon her which this
treaty gives? Suppose Germany points
to the treaties of 1899 and 1928 under
which we agreed to respect the private
property of German nationals in the
/ United States.
! This treaty creates a commission
ca He'd the separations commission. I'm
Iquestionably it will be the most pow
erful international body ever created.
| 1t receives from Germany all repara-
| tions paid and distributes them to the
various nations. Does any one think
under the circumstances the United
States can afford to have repre-
sentative on the reparations commits
sion?
| ITO my mind it would be suicidal to
throw away the advantages and bene-
| fits provided in this treaty. 1t would
cially.
Defeat of the treaty by means of
proposed amendments to it is the
real program and hope of the majority
of the committee on foreign relations
I. is for this purpose that the treaty
has been locked up i'm cold storage for
SO many weeks. They have felt justi-
fled In retaining the treaty in commit
toe. holding useless hearings and maxi
ing killing amendments with the fun
knowledge that amendments would bear
the treaty just as effectively as re-
fusal to ratify.
"A few very few, have decided they
would vote against the treaty because
of the League of Nations, but IT has
remained for Senator Knox to declare
boldly agains tour participation in the
peace settlement To say that ne mas
amazed the country is to put 1t mildly.
He has shocked the country. He form
! erly favored taking the League of Ma
| tons out of the treaty and ratifying
the peace settlement with Germany.
Now he suddenly changes front.
| .What has become of the high pro-
| fessions of last year? Last October
when Germany sought terms for the
arnistice, the senators now seeking 10
| XIII this treaty shouted for uncondi-
| tional surrender They demanded
terms of peace dictated to Germany.
They insisted that the United states
should to the last maintain the clos
est cooperation with the allied gov
arnments. They said it would be
breach of faith if we failed to stand
| by Poland and other nations formed
as a result of the war
Now what a changer .Tne treaty
/ has been negotiated, Germany mas slga-
| ed 1t. Germany has ratified II, Great
Britain and Belgium have done me
sanoe. France, Italy and Japan will do
SO in rapid succession. Inc treaty
dictates the terms to Germany Ist
- thasa senators demanded it should.
..R,t now the same senators who in
s;sfad on a dictated peace propose TO
abandon il and negotiate peace set
.lor,ant on terms acceptable to Ger
v,apy II in suggested that we desert
o,,r a associates and negotiate a. separate
| treaty II is proposed that we ADOPT
/ nolicv of quit and scuttle. 1t Is pro-
nosed that we repudiate our opliga-
tions and like cravenS, leave them 70
ha nerforrned by the nations lately
associated with us.
ayyas there ever a more insane in
ternationaI policy proposedg In the
/ mixture of poltroonery mad foiy II Is
difficult to see which predominates.
The senator from Pennsylvania goes
| the limit He not only proposes that
| he desert our friends and abandon
Iour obligations, but he suggests that
we release Germany from all promises
OF indemnities and PREPARATIONS why
| not go further and propose tnat we
compensate Germany? That would
he . sim stronger appeal TO Germany
sentiment.