Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-02-28
EARL GREY FOR TREATY WITH
LODGE CHANGES.
Ills Position Complete Reversal of
That OF AroslucnC Wilson on
Arucio y, Etc.

Washington, February Earl Grey
BRUSH anDaSaauor to Tho Uuituu
states, takes except Oh TO tuc attitude
OIL Ir,Siuent wilson toward The peace
treat. ana aGGcpIS some OF tIc amend
ments offered by the Republican ma
J"ilIy Ill the Sen;lle as reasonable
ana necessary from the American
point Of Wow. lie docs not, however,
luiiy accept the view that Great Brio
am should not have more VOTING DOW
or. In Il communicat on to the Lon
don Times, ho says:
ut will be wen to understand the
real dliiicultics with which the people
OF The United States have been con
fronted. In the clear light OF right
understanding what seemed to be dis
agreeable features OF the situation
will assume d moro favorable and in
telligiDlo aspect. Let us first get rid
OF one misunderstanding No charge
of bad faith or OF repudiating sigma
lures can BIO brought against the act
ion of the United States.
"The Senate by the American Con
sttution, Is an Independent body, in
independent element in the treaty
making power. It's refusal to ratify
the treaty cannot expose either itscil
or the country to a charge of bad
faith or OF reputation nor is it fair
to represent the u. S. as holding
up the treaty solely from motives of
party politics, thereby sncrlfic ng the
interests OF other nations for thfa
petty consider alton.
"Nor is 1t true to say that the
United States Is moved solely by self
interest to disregard OF higher
ideals. In tho u. S. rs in 9TH
or countries, there arc cross currents
and backwaters In national life and
motiVes. 1t would DO well therefore
for reasons both OF truth and ex-
pediency, to concentrate on the real
underlying causes OF tho Senate's re
sorvations In ratifyng tho covenant
Of tho league Of nations.
There Is IN the United States a
conservative feeling for traditional
policy, and one Of those traditions,
consecrated by tho advice Of Wash
fngton is to abstain from foreign and
particularly from European entangle
nents. Even for nations which have
been used to European alliances. tho
league of nations Ia felt to be some
still more true for the United States,
which has hitherto held aloof from
all outside alliances. The league o"
nations IS not merely a plunge into
tho unknown, but a plunge into somo
thing which its historical advice and
traditions have hitherto positively dis
approved Hence this desire for some
qualification and reservation.
The American Constitution not only
makes possible, but under certain con
dftjons renders inevitable a conflict
between tho executive and the legis
iature. It would be possible If the
covenant Of the league Of nations
stands for q President in some future
years to commit the United States
through It's American representative
Oh the council Of the league Of ma
lions, to policy which the legisla--
ture at that time might disanprove.
That contingency Is one which can
not arise In Great Britain where the
government is daily responsible to
tho representative authority Of the
house OF commons, and where, In
case Of conflict between the house Of
! commons and the government, the
latter must either Immediately give
way. or public opinion must decide
between them and assert itself by
an Immediate general election. But
In the United States It is otherwise.
The contingency Is within the region
Of practical politics. They have reaa
on, and X they so desire the right
to provide against 1t.
There Is one particular reservation
which must give rise to eor,n diff.
Guilty In Great Britain and her self
, governing dominions. It is that wh'c',
has reference to the six British votes
In the assembly Of the league Of ma
lions.