Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-01-17
WILSON SAYS NATION Is BEHIND
HIM ON TREATY.
Eight Lost, Better Compromise, Is
Bryan's View.
sons Letter to the jackson Day
Dinner Follows:

My Dear Mr.. Chairman: 1t is with
keenest regret that l find that am
to be deprived of the pleasure and
privilege of Joining yor and the 9TH
er loyal Democrats who are to assem-
BILE tonight to celebrate jackson Day
and renew their VOWS OF fidelity to
the great principles Of our party, the
principles which must now fulfill the
hopes not only of our own people but
of the world.
The United States enjoyed the spr
itual leadership Of the world until
the Senate Of the United States fail
ed to ratify the treaty by which the
belligcrcnt nations SOUGHT to effect
the settlements for which they had
fought throughout the war. 1t is in
conceivable that at this supreme Girls
is and final turning point in the inter
national relations of the whole world
when the results OF the Great War are
by no means determined and are still
questionable and dependent upon
events which no man can forcsce or
count upon, tho United State should
withdraw from tho concert Of progrcs
sive and enlightened nations by which
Germany WAS defeated and all similar
Governments tif tho world be so un
happy as to contain any, warned OF
tho certain consequences Of any at
tempt OF like inlQuity.
And yet that is the effect OF the
course the Senate OF tho United Stat
rs has taken with regard to the trca-
~ of Versailles. Germany is beaten,
but We arc still at war with her and
the old stage Is reset for repetition
OF tho old plot. It is now ready
for the resumption Of the old often
sivo and defensive alliances which
made settled peace impossible 1t is
now open again to every sort OF in
triguc. The old spies are free to re-
sumo their former abominahlc activ
tiles. They arc again at liberty TO
make 1t impossible for Governments
to be sure what mischief is being work
ell among their own people. what in
b iernal disorders arc being fromcnt-
cd.
Without the covenant Of the Lcag
Ne OF Nations there may be as many
secret treaties as ever, to destroy tho
confidence Of Governments in each
other, and their validity cannot no
quest oned. None OF the objects we
professca TO be fighting for has been
secured or can be made certain OF
without this nations ratification of
| tho treaty and its entry into the cove
! nant. THIS nation entered tho Great
~ War to vindicatc It's own rights and
to protect and preserve free govern
ment. 1t went into the war to sec il
through to the end, and the end has
not yet come. 1t went into the war to
make IN end OF militarism. to furnish
guarantees to weak nations and 10
make just and lasting peace. 1t
entered it with noble enthusiast ~.
Five OF the leading bclligcrcnts have
accepted the treaty and formal rat1-
fications will soon he EXCHANGED.
The question is whether this coun
try will enter and enter wholchoartcd
~. If IT does not do so the United
States and Germany will play n lone
hand in the world. The maintenance
OF the peace Of the world and the Of
foctivo execution of the treaty de-
pend nnon the wholchcartcd participa
ton OF the United States. T am not
4 stating it rs n matter Of power. The
point is that tho United States is the
] only nation which has sufficient NOR
nj force with the rest of the world TO
sion for war. If we keep out Of this
agreement, If we do not give our guar
antees, then another attempt will be
made to crush the new nation OF
Europe.
| do not believe that this Is what
the people OF this country wish or
VIII be satisfied with. Personally, I
do not accept tho action OF the SEN
ate OF the Unitd States as the decis
ion of the nation. I have asserted
from the first that the overwhelming
majority OF the peoe OF this country
desire the ratification OF the treaty,
and my impression to that effect has
recently been confirmed by the unmis
taxable evidence OF public opin-
ion given during my visit to seven
teen of the States. have cndeavored
to make 1t plain that II tho Senate
wishes to say what the undoubted
meaning OF tho league Is shall have
no objection. There can be
no reasonable objection to interpreta
lions accompanying the act Of ratifi
cation Itself But when the treaty IS
acted upon I must know whether it
means that we have ratified or reject
ed it.
We cannot rewrite this treaty. We
must take It without changes which
sitter Its meaning or leave It
and then after tho rest OF the world
has signed 1t, we must face the un
thinRable task Of making another and
separate kind OF treaty, with Germany
But no more assertions with regard
to the wish and opinion OF the country
are credited. II there ia any doubt AZ
to what the people OF the country
think on this vital matter, the clear
and single way out is to submit 1t for
determination at the next election to
the voters Of the nation, to give the
next election tho form OF a great and
sotemn referendum. referendum az