Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-31
Circulation Every 4 E0TC
Evening Yesterday i fo1O
WEDNESDAY, DECEMRFR 81, 1915
The Making of Treaties.

If Is Sornewha surprising 10 read IN
Che editorial columns OF some leading
ecurnais of Great Britain, generally we'll
snioruned SIS 70 the provisions Of our Con-
saItI,tion and the details uf our form of
SovvFunent, condemnation oi the course
pursued by President Wilson as one Of
eho members OF the Congress that pre-
pared the Treaty of Versailles and the
Covenant of the League az Nations. Some
Os them even 80 70 the extent Of assuming
that be should have hecn in cooperation,
throughout the proceedings, with the
Sensta. and should have taken no decisive
,aeso without the consent of that body.
Tho extent II the mischief wrought
4-v President Wilson al the Paris Cor
ference" says the London Saturday Re
wis~, ''is only gradually being rcahzcd
Inv the nstious, of which the last 70 grasp
ut IS the British public MFR. Wilson IS
.ssoIit1csl gambler, he knew perfectly he
szs acting ultra vircs and dCfylng The
Amercan Constitution III his conduct Of
the r,esoe negotiat ous lie knew that hc
VS. bound 5y the Constitution 10 secure
not only the consent, but The advice OF
ahe Senate bcforr he signed = Treaty, and
be had neither" And this same paper
adds The misfortune WAS that neither
II. Clcmcnccau nor Lloyd Gcorgr knew
anything about the American Constitu-
son or che state Of parties II the United
sStater"
1t . hoped, for their credit, that both
M. C8enenocau and Premier Lloyd George
knov much more shout our Constitution,
and about the long-established procedure
II our country IN respect Of treaties than
this leading British journal seems 70
know. From the time the jay Treaty with
Great Britain ySas submitted to the United
States Senate, during President Wash
ington's frst administration, to the con-
sideration ot the Versailles Treaty, the
procedure has been without change, and
sao has : great deal 81 the experience
Washington VAS lufu-l1tcd at the Senate
opposition 10 tic Jay Treaty, and hardly
orc OF bI. successors has failed, at one
Erne OF another, 70 lndorsc the emphatic
expression be is alleged to have given Ut
Eeranoe to after ono memorable visit
~I'u never go near that damned Senate
again.
Trcstics on behalf Of our government
sre negotiated BY the President, generally
through the active agency Of the Secre-
tary Of State. When approved by the
President, they are sent 70 the Senate.
10 take chances u respect of the advice
and consent Of that body, as required by
the Constitution. Although official sta
tistlcs are not in evidence. there IS no
doubt careful study Of the records would
chow far more treaties rejected Or ignored
through the "a1yiee and consent I ot
the Senate, than rati6ed by the required
tvo-thirds affirmative vote Of that body.
This is the course that naS followed,
20 the letter. II respect Of the Treaty o
Versailles. Ii differed from its predcces-
sors only IN respect of its special distinc-
tioD OF beng. TO 3 large degree the pro
ductlon u thc President Q; tie lulted
Statas instead 81 the SECRETARY d STATE.
Bu, It's fate, tbIs FAR, has beer the fats
VISITED upon SO many pthcr treaties ID
the great disgust Of Presidents
However, IN respect Of the latest meas
urc Of agreement among nations, there IS
room 70 hope for hnal favonng action
Those Who enco1npassed It's defeat Ut the
recent session ot Congrcss 4re somewhat
dlsnayed at the large amount Of con-
dclnnatlon that is bcHg visited upon then
by The country They are likely, soon
after the reasseInbling Of Congress ID
endcavor 70 ind some plan for retraclng
.her partisan steps. and accepting thc
Treaty witt only d sufficient number and
quality Of s.rvatlons To enable them "a
make rretense # belng actuared fy
some degree Of vlrtCe j thelr unpopular
and .nexcusaDle opposition