Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-28
THE TREATY DEADLOCK is
A SENSELESS DISGRACE
When the Inevitable Break Comes the
Available Courses Of Action viii Be

NNe'dplt SOuTSSS OI H|NlOU "Ui DC
Just What They Always Were
GRANTING, as most sane persons do,
~ that ratification Of treaty is neces-
sary to the official conclusion of war,
there arc only five methods by which the
United States can achieve peace with
Germany.
Senatorial approval of the treaty of
Versailles without interpretations, reser-
vations or amendments would bring about
this result with clarity and speed, This
process has its warm adhcrcnts and its
heated opponents. The latter, whatever
the validity of their objections, cannot
deny that unqualified acceptance would
be expeditions and devoid at least of i'm
mediate complexities.
A second procedure would involve in
terpretations so mild and inoffensively
worded that our former partners in the
war need not consider them. Save as
balm to representative Americans, these
recapitulations of the obvious would prac-
tically be meaningless and the treaty
would retain its original virtues or de-
fects.
A third performance could be charac-
tcrized by such amendment-"reserva-
ton is only sugar coating-as would
be acceptable to all of our late allies. The
| governments of these nations might for
mally agree to our changes or they might
assent by silence. In either case the good
result would be the same.
A fourth method foreshadows compli-
cations, certain delay, but not necessarily
| failure. The Senate might pass really
| significant amendments. Objection to
them on the part of any or all of the
| other signatorieS of the pact of Versailles
could compel a reopening of the Peace
! Conference. The delegates from the va
rious nations might redraw the treaty
of course, after the usual array of chal-
! lenges and compromises. When resub-
mitted to our legislators it might meet
! with more favor than the first document
! and eventually be adopted. If dread of
starting the conference machinery again
! proved potent, the separate governments
might exchange notes upon the pact until
| by the consent of all parties it had been
| given some new form.
The fifth definite step that could he
taken is that of complete rcjection-the
ideal so dear to the irreconcilables. There
are two conceivable constructive consc-
! quences to this act--the reconvening of
| the international conference, the framing
of an entirely new treaty and it's ultimate
passage by the United States Senate or
the negotiation by America and Germany
of separate pact which would win sena-
torial appreciation.
The continuance of the present dead
lock in Washington until the treaty be-
comes a presidential election issue will in
no sense alter the five optional means,
any one of which must be employed to es-
tablish genuine peace.
! Should the Senate, disregarding a
treaty, declare the war at an end it will
| merely be engaging in a mendacous
farce. In the end some agreement with
| Germany to settle vital and outstanding
issues arising from the war must be
| made.
The approaches to the task are the
| same for all Congresses. There are but
! five moves to be made should the COM
| pleXion of the Senate in 1921 be Demo-
cratic or Republican-unless Europe goes
to pieces and the treaty of Versailles is
nullifed or becomes dead letter
Upon the merits of the courses out
lined there is naturally great diversity
of opinion. Political pressure often en-
| ployed with gross insincerity has never
theess been TO some extent influential in
/ crystallizing popular sentiment. 1t is
reasonably safe to wager that a majority
| Of the public now favors interpretations,
or even amendments, which will be soon
acceptable abroad and will not occasion a
reconvening of the Peace Conference.
The "bitter-enders" who would prefer
separate treaty with Germany have COM
paratively few followers. Mr.. Knox has
awakened virtually no response, not even
in the Senate, to his call for peace with
out a treaty. Erratic as they often are,
the American people have no taste for
transparent fictons in polty.
But the most perilous of the methods
outlined, the most intricate and exas-
perating, would be vastly preferable to
the citizens of this republic to no accom-
plishment at all. This is the wretchcd
spectacle to which the nation has been
treated for weary and costly months.
Better ponderous new convocaton in
Paris, better separate dealings with Ger
many in which she will have us at A
marked disadvantage than utterly mega
tive obstruction
Fixing the blame for the disgusting
muddle is a futile task. Historians in
time may successfully analyzc it. We
cannot wait for their verdict. Condi-
tions, not theories, confront a drifting
nation.
Mr.. Lodge has an unenviable task in
placating the Borahs and the Johnsons. in
responding to the public demands for ac-
ton and preserving the integrity of his
reservations" which, if intact in prnci-
ple will be a feather in the cap of his
party.
Mr. Hitchcock plays politics with a
weak weapon--a minority faction. He
will cover himself and his party with a
certain specious glory if he succeeds in
altering the Republican alterations. The
| =. L. ,.n..nI tirl.n,.