Evening star., 1920-03-23
PREDICTION OF new
FOREIGN POLICY
UNDER MR.. COLBY
President Expected to Direct
Changes and Object to
Peace by Resolution.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

cambridge Colby is now Secretary
of State. That means. by and with
the advice and consent Of President
Wilson. the Initiation Of new for
eign policy. The slate is wiped clean
Of the policies pursued by Secretary
Lansing 30 far as they differed from
those of the President.
+ Very littl~ IL known Of Just what
were the exact differences Of opinion.
hut the assumption is that new
Mexican policy. q new Russian policy
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 postpone
ment for one year at least Of action
on the treaty Of peace. 4, ;
Senate's Peace Proposal.
Congress is getting ready to propose
peace by Joint resolution. but it will
soon become apparent that the plan is
a makeshift only. Actually there can
be no peace unless the President of the
United States consents. for he -
charged under the Constitution with
the conduct Of foreign relations.
There can be. however. a technical
state of peace. Thus a joint resolu-
tion of Congress might be vetoed by
the President. in which event a two
thirds vote is needed-and the impos-
sibility of getting a two-thirds vote
has just been demonstrated in the
Senate. But even il passed over the
Presidents veto, there is grave doubt
as to what practical effect the reso-
luton could have.
View Of Constitutional Lawyers,
For instance, constitutional lawyers
are agreed that a joint resolution de-
claring peace cannot settle any points
in dispute between the United States
and Germany relating to property or
anything else. The executive branch
Of the government alone can negotiate
international agreements or under
standings of any kind. The Depart
ment Of State could and probably
would arrange a modus vivendi or
short time agreement to cover COM
relations. but the status of all the
alien property both in the United
States and Germany, amounting to
billions of dollars, would remain un-
settled until a treaty was negotiated
and ratified.
would be peace just as soon as joint
resolution was passed and signed by
the President or adopted over his
veto, all Of which is admittedly diff
cult since the President is insistent
other hand. Congress could by joint
other hand. Congress could be joint
resolution revoke the wartime pow
ers Of the President and repeal all
war legislation, but this could have
been done by Congress on the day the
armistice was signd and is matter
of domestic legislation entirely ire
spective of an agreement with an
enemy.
President Expected to Object.
There Is little indication that Pres
ident Wilson will let Congress by a
joint resolution give the impression
that 1t has done as much as q treaty
of peace could do to get the country
back on a peace basis. He will un-
questionably emphasize that a policy
United States off the reparation COM
mission and enables the European
powers to divide up the commerce of
Europe as they please and to arrange
for financial adjustments in Europe
without consulting 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 persons
hitherto familiar with his point of
view. Mr.. Wilson realizes. no doubt.
that he is beaten SO far as the Senate
is concerned, but with a man who be-
lieves the Senate doesn't represent
the American peoples true wishes
there Is little prospect Of an absolute
of the whole thing with the
simple process of approving a joint
resolution by Congress.
Idea Not Taken Seriously.
In executive quarters the joint reso-
luton idea isn't taken seriously be-
cause Of the intention to puncture it
full Of holes as soon as the plan is up
for debate in both houses. Then will
come an avalanche of arguments and
from the White House,
which may make Congress pause. The
simple little business OF allowing Of
hcial documents and passports by the
to lie unsigned had the eff
feet of fastening the Senate's action
or the Colby nomination. and it is
doubtful whether Congress will care
to take the responsibility for any ad-
verse developments in the foreign
trade situation that might affect
Americas financial stability.
Tho political game is a desperate
ono this year, and there are people
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