Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-07

the muif1pnCltN OF answers tnat Sprln,
10 the lips and in the attempt>to choos,
between them. IL is more matter O
opinion than a matter of fact The Presi
dent holds one opinion; a majority of tn,
United States Senate holds another
Other persons hold other opinions. Their
arc those who hold that the United State,
viii stand disgraccd in the eyes of the
world: there are others who assert that
II viii I've disgraccd in its own eyes-i
Il ratities the treaty or fails to do so.
There Is only one question ON which
all agree. There rs no dispute over the
fact that It the Treaty is rejected The
United States Will not be member oi
the League of Nations
That Is the crux of the treaty fight
IN the United State Senate. Everything
else. even Shantung, has been swept
INTO the background. The League Of
Nations is the only issue. II the treaty
fails in the Senate the United States will
remain outside the League. and this not
withstanding the fact that President
Wilson. representing the United States,
Is the man who caused the covenant of
the League 10 be written into the treaty.
STATUS or T1IE L. 5. WITH GERMAN
The argument is, OF course, being
made by friends Of the treaty that
If IS rejected the United States will still
he AT war with Germany Technically that
l. true. The state of war theoretically
exists until it has been declared mt an
end by CngresS But II actually does not
exist and has not existed for many months.
The United States has resumed trade with
Germany. The volume Of trade is small.
but that Is chiefly due 10 the fact that
Germany Is in no position TO buy much.
has few goods To sell and also suffers
from lack of shipping facilities The two
governments permit trade between their
citizens. American passports for persons
who wish tn enter Germany are issued and
German ptssprtS ar accepted in the
United States All this in spite of the
fact that the two countries have not
officially made pe8tc
Thus the argument about the con-
tlnuance II state ~ war, provided
the Treaty fails, does not cut very
much figure IN Washington. II is recog-
nlzed here - mainly 4 trchnicality.
he war between the Jnited States
and Germany to-day Is not much more
than fiction of International law.
Present relations between the United
states and Germany are not likely To
change very much for a considerable
time. no matter whether the Treaty i
ratified or not.
But that, Of course, Is a miner fca-
ture of the Treaty issue The war Z
has been over for more than
q wear; the Senate merely has failed
Ia say so. The big question concerns
the League Of Nations whether the /
I Inited States shall join or stay out
and what will happen in either Of the
two events.
WHAT FRIENDS or THE IEAGUE CLAM
The friends Of the League hold that
the United States will hc false 10 it,
obligations and its interests II II remains
outside and, roughly those interests
and Obligations arc divided 'nto three
clasSes moral, political and cconom;c.
Under the head of moral obl'gat 'ons.
which are part cularlv omphaz;sed by
Pres dent wilson ! = cOntended that
allure 70 JOIN the League Will constitute
, reputation OF all the ideals that were
70 the world when the United
states entered the war The Leagues
riends hold that unless America becomes
member the high moral position
aiken by this contrv will be abandoned I
md It's moral influence IN behalf Of world
,cace lost: that IL will be false TO its
'andsrds that II will cease 10 be the
reat disinterested nation Of the world:
AAiN ~ VIII - iAtiL III ~ btAttf
a.ions because IT has not translated
1 ideals into action; that II will have
Iven the world great idea. only TO {
hrow the idea aside when the time [
anne to put II into effect There i an \
pInion IN many quarters that reputation /
I the League Will cause the nited States I
% be blacklIsted on the score ~ morals '
n the remainder 81 the world. with {
Ultimate practical damage 10 this country n
The enemies OF the League vigOr-
,Isly dissent; They assert that the 7
nIted States cannot 90 into the League [
lthout abandoning many OF its owg !
lerished ideals. such ~ no entanglinn a
.liances, the Monroe Doctrine. etc [
I'D that II would be- an immoral act v
y IL 70 do - They deny any moral
Dligation on the part of the United Il
iates 20 participate III world aff airs "a
trough the League; they hold that Is
irely domestic obligations outweigh "
" International obligations Also !.
icy do not concedc that President /,
ilsOn had any right OF authority 10 al
edge the United States a. certain al
oral obligations which they them o
lves do not consider moral al all D.
THL QUESTION oF WORLD MORALS.
The question oi world morals raised
the Treaty ls 50 largely d matter -,
opinion and 80 little q matter Of .,
II that il can be debated endlesslv. Il
le issue - too intangible for definite ~
termination at this time j. gcner- r.
v y conceded here that a moral boy- II
u Of the United State might produce -
nous practical consequences But Il,
'uld there BE- such boycott That ls -
lere II becomes a matter Of opinion. M
ould the world be seriously concerned v.
the United states did not ION the ~
ague? Would some Of il be- better ,n
ased If the United States stayed out? ar
- the rest Of the world really hold the n.
ague OF Nations next ID IL heart2 an
'inions rather than facts must BE- In
Ten N answer o. those and other IL.
sstIone -
n - whether there will b. political su,
'suNahtaees ~ failure TO ra'dy the VIII
,aty, the question appears tn be- almost on,
open a. that involving morals. Friends
the Treaty contend that the disad ,;o
itage % the United States will be III,
ous that u will BE- a constant embar- IN,
sment "a the conduct of international an,
ltlons, that tht league will be dealing Bu
b aftairs that concern the United hce
tss, although this country be not ACC
nberi that the United States will have hU
voice IN the world parllament For moi
lance, South American countries. - "a
nbers VI the league. will bs brought WI
a new relation with the Old World v.;t
cough South America hiss long been :. su,.