Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-10
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright, 1920, for The Atlant;
Journal)

Journal)
WASHINGTON, D. C.-European
diplomacy, hitherto stepped in ira
dition, has taken advantage OF the
topsy-turvy conditions in interna-
tionaI affairs to cast off It's meticu-
lous regard for the official PERSONAL
ity Of the president Of the United
States to whom ambassadors are ac-
credited.
Unable to reach woodrow Wilson,
either because of his illness or his
stubborn refusal to enter into par
leys with foreign governments con-
corning a compromise on the treaty
before the American senate, Euro
pean governments have sought and
successfully maintained a line Of
communication direct from their for
eign Offices to the Hobbies of the
United States senate.
The true story Of what has been
generally known in Washington for
many months, but which has been
confined to whispers of surprise and
establishment, but no open protest,
can now be told. The fact that
Prime Minister Lloyd George sent a
cablegram to Viscount Grey, which
the latter is said by Senator Borah
to have shown to one Or two sena-
tors advising them that reservations
to the peace treaty would be &C
ceptable, is not less subject of
speculation and interest than the
cotncident effort Of Premier Clemen-
ceau similarly to get in touch with
Senator Lodge and other Republican
leaders few weeks ago.
Foreigners Took Initiative
The Massachusetts leader himself
has refrained from mentioning the
names Of any distinguished foreign
statesmen whom he has insisted have
assured him that reservations would
be accepted by the allies, but it is
an open secret that Senator Lodge
and Viscount Grey have been in con-
ference and that Mr.. Lodge discuss
ed the treaty with the diplomatic
| representatives Of other countries
But so has Senator Hitchcock, the
Democratic leader, and in fairness to
| these senators it must be said that
| they generally are credited with
having responded to the initiative OF
| the foreign ambassadors, and not
sought the conferences themselves.
Diplomacy, however, has establish
ed some severe precedents whereby
| it is considered a diplomatic impro-
| priety Of the first order for an am
| bassador or minister accredited any.
where to enter into communication
directly with the legislative branch
or any government without first OBJ.
ta1n1ng the permission Of the foreign
once or department of state.
For the mere mention Of interna.
tional politics in United States in q
| letter to friend, which subsequent.
ly became public, Lord Sackville
| west, British ambassador to the
| United States, was sent home by
President Cleveland. Similarly the
Colombian minister to the United
states few years ago was ordered
nome by Secretary Knox because hi
said the proposed visit Of the Amer.
lean secretary Of state to his coun.
try probably would not be very wei
come.
Time Of Deep Anxiety
But the situation in recent month!
| In Washington has been one Of deer
anxiety for European governments
Ambassadors here could not get II
touch with President Wilson. They
could visit with Secretary Lansing
but that cautious individual refused
to talk about the treaty except tt
say 1t was the presidents business
Desperate because they could get n,
satisfaction at the White House, for
e1gn ambassadors invited senator's t.
their homes and through the well
known medium of social occasion
so often used in Europe, the ambas
sailors got a line on the situation
here.
Strictly speaking there is nothinj
Illogical in their course. They say
the senate as the powerful facto
in the situation, and they were bein
pressed from European foreign of
fices for accurate information as t
what was happening. Moreover the
were urged to express discreetly t
American senators the Europea
viewpoint and do all they could t
forward a compromise.
Frecedents Seen
There are those who think tina
out of the present series Of incident
may come new presidents, namel
the sending Of unofficial ambassa
doris or ministers to sit in the lot
bies of the United States senate an
make clear the European viewpoin
This would entit1e he United State
to send a commissioner or unofficis
!, envoy to sit in the house of common
or the French parliament wit
analogous privileges.
There are those who think laws o
the statute books of the Unite
States will first have to be repeale
before some phases of open diplc
macy-free interchange between eli
liens and governments can be rea
lied.