The Washington herald., 1920-06-26

ence. The European signatory
nations. except the enemy. will
take no risks of seeing chaos from
these causes.
New Treaty Talk Bunk"
The league Of nations covenant
is An essential part Of the treaty.
1t does possess two different func-
tions: First. it gives the title to
mandates; Ii today governs certain
neutralized areas: 1t ramifies the
score of details of the settlement
with enemy states. Its second func-
tfon is its provision for prevention
of future war. The first phase can
no more be reopened than the treaty
itself. The second function relates
to the future and is subject to
anne endment; II can be amended by
the league organization itself.
There is therefore a primary fact:
that all talk of making new
treaty is bunk; to revise the second
series OF functions of the league in
the prevention of war is possible.
"A separate peace involves a Sc
ries of negotiations from a disad-
vantageous position, not only with
the enemy but with all the new
states that have been created, and
with each of the allies and the neu-
trails who have Joined the league.
leave the legal phases of this to
the lawyers, but l point out some
prohibitive reasons-the treaty of
Versailles is the web that holds
Europe together today. 1t embraces
a vast network of economic clauses
that vitality concern our economic
well-being. The execution of these
clauses is in progress at the hands
of a commission practically con-
trolling the economic future of the
enemy states. This economic future
can be guided impartially in the
interest of the whole world. or in
the interest of a few states. and
thus against us. Its present atti-
tude is of the latter character. No
treaty between ourselves and the
enemy states can admit us to this
control. for that depends upon our
late allies. If we enter the repara-
tion commission we can only do it
by ratifying the treaty. Statesman
ship looking to separate peace is
plain foolishness-and worse. Sem
ator Lodges apt phrase may be re-
peated because it is the truth: 1t
would brand US with everlasting
dishonor and bring ruin to us also
if we undertook to make a sepa-
rate peace
Proposition of Revision.
therefore, my suggestions
are, first, that Ii is worth con-
sideration by the present men,
bers of the league whether inn
mediate revision of the parts
mentioned should not be UNDER
taken in order that IL may be
actually of greater strength
for the great good IL can ac-
complish. Second, such a re-
vision will meet the merits Of
dissension in the United States.
Third, whether it be today or
ten years hence, we Will, IL we
want peace, ratify the treaty
OF Versailles in some form.
In the face of these conditions
cannot the Republican party
strengthen its own position by
adopting the definite constructive
policy OF ratification subject to the
minor reservations and wider
vision of strengthening the league
by excluding the guarantees and
their military enforcement - and
making membership in the league
conditional upon disarmament with
In given period? Such policies
will protect American Independence.
free us from every possible entan-
clement except the use of our NOR
al and economic strength to en-
force peace. 1t will leave our DEM
ocratic !. friends fencing upon
the ground of advocacy of prac-
ticsl military alliance-upon which
their safety devices only further
endanger the real value Of the
league"