Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-25
NEW FOREIGN
POLICYF FOR u. S.
IS PREDICTED
RY DAVID LAWRENCE

state. That means, by a nd with the
advice and consent of President Will
son, the initiation of new foreign
policy. The slate is wiped clean of
the policies pursued by Secretary
Lansing so far as they differed from
those of the president.
Very little is known as just what
were the exact differences of opinion,
but the assumption is that new
Mexican policy, new Russian pol
icy and new Far Eastern policy are
in prospect. The entire foreign policy
of the United States must, in any
event, be defined in view of the post
ponement for one year, at least, of
action on the treaty of peace.
Congress is getting ready to pro-
pose peace by joint resolution, but
it soon will become apparent that the
plan is a makeshift only. Actually
there can be no peace unless the pres
ident of the United States consents,
for he is charged under the constitu-
ton with the conduct of foreign re-
lations.
There can be, however, technical
state of peace. Thus joint resolu-
ton of congress might be vetoed by
the president, in which event two
thirds vote is needed-and the i'm
possibility of getting a two-thirds
vote has just been demonstrated in
the senate. But even if passed over
the presidents veto, there is grave
doubt as to what practical effect the
resolution could have.
Effect Of Peace Resolution
For instance, constitutional law
years are agreed that a joint resolu-
ton declaring peace cannot settle
any points in dispute between the
United States and Germany relating
to property or anything else. The eX-
ecutive branch of the government
alone can negotiate international
agreements or understandings of any
kind. The department of state could,
and probably would, arrange a modus
vivendi, or Short-time agreement, to
cover commercial intercourse and
diplomatic relations, but the status
of all the alien property, both in the
United States and Germany, amount
ing to billions of dollars, would re-
main unsettled until q treaty was
negotiated and ratified.
But for all practical purposes
there would be peace just SIS soon as
joint resolution was passed and
signed BIZ the president or adopted
over his veto. All of which is ad-
mitted difficult, since the president
is insistent taht the treaty of Yer
sailles be voted upon in the autumn
elections.
On the. other hand, congress could
by joint resolution revoke the war
time powers of the president and re-
peal all war legislation, but this
could have been done by congress on
the day the armistice was signed and
is a matter of domesticS legislation
entirely irrespective of an agreement
with an enemy.
Wilson to Keep Fighting
There is little indication that
President Wilson will let congress
by joint resolution give the i'm
preston that it has done as much as
treaty of peace could do to get the
country back on peace basis. He
unquestionably will emphasize that
policy of involuntary isolation
keeps the United States off the repa-
ration commission and enables the
European powers to, divide up the
commerce Of Europe as they please
and to arrange for financial adjust
the United States.
Nobody has been let in on the
White House plans thus far, but
that Mr.. Wilson intends to keep the
fight on the treaty going is apparent
from statements made by many per-
sons that are familiar with his point
of view.
Mr. Wilson realizes, no doubt, that
he ies fn,, foYs fIn fn ic
concerned, but with man who be-
lieves the senate doesn't represent
the American peoples true wishes
there is little prospect Of an abso-
lutte surrender of the whole thing
with the simple process of approx
ing a joint resolution by congress.
Political Game Desperate
In executive quarters the joint
resolution idea isn't taken serious
ly because of the intention to pune
ture it full of holes as soon as the
plan is up for debate, in both houses.
Then will come an avalanche of
arguments and instructions from the
White House which may make con-
gress pause.
The simple little business Of al
lowing official documents and pass
ports by the thousands to lie un-
signed had the effect of fastening
the senate's action on the Colby
nomination, and it is similarly doubt
full whether congress will care to
take the responsibility for any ad-
verse developments in the foreign
trade situation that might affect
Americas financial stability.
The political game is a desperate
one this year and there are people
here who actually look forward to
a financial crash as a result of the
chaos in Germany and the reluctance
of the United States to put her
shoulder to the wheel and assist,
through the League of Nations, in
the enforcement and operation of
the peace treaty.
Blame Treaty Situation
All the economic ills that may visit
this country between now and next
autumn are to be blamed by the
Democrats on the treaty situation,
and that's why they hardly will aid
in getting a joint resolution through
congress to simplify matters, though
there are some folks in administra-
ton circles who believe that the
passage of "a joint resolution would
be helpful in defining exactly, by a
process of elimination, how much re-
sponsibility for economic troubles
can be attributed to the failure of
the senate to ratify a treaty or par
ticipate in the League of Nations.
The Republicans are not a BIZ
feazed by this, for though some O.
them admit, as Senator Harding did
that the benefits to be derived by the
ratification of the treaty with reser-
vations now are lost, they will con-
tinue to insist that the responsibility
for the whole business lies in the I'M