Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-01-17

WILSON SAYS NATION is BEHIND
HIM ON TREATY.
light Lost, Better Compromise. Il
Brynn's View.
Washington. Jan. S.-Prcsdent vii
sons Letter to the Jackson Day
Dinner Follows:

My Dear Mr. Chairman: 1t Is with
keenest regret that l find that l am
to be deprived of the pleasure and
privilege of Joining yon and the 9TH.
er loyal Democrats who arc to assem-
Bile tonight to celebrate Jackson Day
and renew their VOWS of fidelity to
the great principles of our party, the
principles which must now fulfill the
hopes not only of our own people but
of the world
The United States enjoyed the splr
| itual leadership Of the world until
the Senate of the United States fail
ed to ratify the treaty by which the
belligerent nations SOUGHT to effect
the settlements for which they had
fought throughout the war 1t is in
conceivable that at this supreme cris
Is and -inal turning point in the inter
national relations of the whole world
when the results Of the Great War are
by no means determined and are still
questionable and dependent upon
events which no man can foresee or
count upon, tho United State should
withdraw from the concert OF progress
sive and enlightened nations by which
Germany was defeated and all similar
Governments Cir tho world be so I'm
happy as to contain any, warned OF
the certain consequences Of any at
tempt OF a like iniquity.
And yet that Is the effect OF the
course the Senate OF the United Stat
cs has taken with regard to the trca-
ty OF Versailles. Germany is beaten.
but we arc still at war with her and
the old stage Isl reset for repetition
of the old plot. 1t is now ready
Tor tho resumption OF the old Often
sive and defensive alliances which
made settled peace impossible. It is
new open again to every sort OF in
trigue. Tho old spies are free to re-
sumo their former abomnahlc activ
tiles. They are again at liberty TO
make 1t Impossible for Governments
to be sure what mischief is being work
Ell among their own people, what in
b ternal disorders arc being froment-
/ ed
Without the covenant of the Lcag
NO Of Nations, there may be as many
secret treaties as ever, to destroy tho
vi confidence Of Governments in each
4 other and their validity cannot no
quest onod. None Of the objects we
professed to he fighting for has been
secured or can be made certain of
without this nations ratification of
| the treaty and it's entry into the cove
nant. TINS nation entered tho Great
y war to vindicate It's own rights and
10 protect and preserve free govern
ment. 1T went into the war to see il
through to the end and the end has
not yet come. 1t went into the war to
make an end Of militarism, to furnish
guarantees to weak nations and TO
make Just and lasting peace It
entered 1t with noble cnthusiat ~
FiVe OF the leading bclligcrcnts have
accepted the treaty and formal ratr-
#llcatlon5 will soon he exchanged.
The question is whether this coun
try will enter and enter wholeheartcd
~. If it does not do so the United
States and Germany will play lone
( hand in the world. The maintenance
OF the peace of the world and the ef-
tectfve execution of the treaty de-
pend upon the wholehcarted participa
ton OF tho United States. I am not
I stating it as n matter Of mower, The
point is that the United States Is the
only nation which has sufficient nor
nj force with the rest Of the world to
sion for war. IF we keen out OF this
agreement If we do not give our guar
antees, then another attempt will be
made to crush the new nation OF
Europe.
do not believe that this Is what
the people of this country wish or
will be satisfied with. Personally, I
DO not accept the action OF the Sen,
ate OF the Unitd States as the decis
ION Of the nation. have asserted
from the first that the overwhelming
majority OF the peole OF this country
desire the ratification OF the treaty,
and my impression to that effect has
recently been confirmed by the unmis
Il taxable evidence Of public opin.
lon given during my visit to seven
teen of the States. have cndcavored
j to make 1t plain that II tho Senate
wishes to say what the undoubted
meaning OF the league Is I shall have
no objection. There can be
no reasonable objection to interpreta
tons accompanying the act of ratifi
cation Itself But when the treaty Is
acted upon I must know whether it
means that we have ratified or reject
ed it.
We cannot rewrite this treaty. We
must take 1t without changes which
Il alter Its meaning or leave It
and then after the rest Of the world
naD signed 1t, We must face the un
sthinkable task of making another and
separate kind Of treaty, with Germany
But no moro assertions with regard
to the wish and opinion OF the country
are credited. II there ia any doubt an
70 what the people OF the country
think on this vital matter. the clear
and single way out is to submit 1t for
determination at the next election to
the voters Of the nation to give the
next election tho form OF a great and
solemn referendum. referendum az