Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-01-20
PRESIDENT WILSON'S LETTER.

COngratulating the party upon the
opportunity offered to be of service
to the country in the matter of the
League of Nations, inasmuch as its
ideas best fit it for the task of leader.
! ship in such a work." the chief execu-
| tive wrote practically as follows:
'"The United States enjoyed the spir-
itual leadership of the world until the
senate of the United States failed to
ratify the treaty by which the bellig-
/ erent nations sought TO effect the set
Elements for which they had fought
throughout the war.
at is inconceivable that at this SUI
preme crisis and final turning point
In the international relations of the
whole world, when the results of the
great war are by no means determined
and are still questionable and depend
ent upon events which no man can
fOresee or count upon, the United
States should withdraw from the con-
cert of progressive and enlightened ma
tions by which Germany was defeated
anu OH SON Cl vi lAAC
world be so unhappy as to contain
any warned of the certain conse-
quences of any attempt of a like in
iquity, and yet that is the effect of the
course the senate of the United States
has taken with regard to the treaty of
Versailles.
I'VE Are Still at War;"
Germany is beaten, but we are still
at war with her, and the old stage is
reset for a repetition of the old plot.
1t is now ready for the resumption of
the old offensive and defensive ALI
ances which made settled peace impos-
sible.
Without the covenant of the league
of nations there may be as many Sc
cret treaties as ever, to destroy the
confidence of governments in each
other, and their validity cannot be
questioned. None of the objects we
prOfessed to be fighting for has been
secured or can be made certain of
without this nations ratification of
the treaty.
World Peace Depends on U. S.
"The question is whether this coun-
try will enter and enter whole-heart-
eddy. If it does not do so the United
States and Germany will play lone
hand in the world. The maintenance
of the peace of the world and the eff
fective execution of the treaty depend
upon the whOle-hearted participation
of the United States. I am not stat
ing it as a matter of power The point
is that the United States is the only
nation which has sufficient moral force
with the rest of the world to guaran,
tee the substitution of discussion fol
war. If we keep out of this agree
ment. if we do not give our guaran
tees, then another attempt will be
made to crush the new nations of Eu
rope.
Believes People Desire Ratification.
II do not believe that this is what
the people of this country wish or will
be satisfied with. Personally, do not
accept the action of the senate of the
United States as the decision of the
| nation. / have asserted from the first
that the overwhelming majority of the
people of this country desire the rati.
fication of the treaty and my impress
sion TO that effect has recently been
confirmed by the unmistakable evil
dences of public opinion given during
nay visit to seventeen of the states.
Il have endeavOred to make it plain
that if the senate wishes TO say what
the undoubted meaning of the league
l is, l shall have no objection. There
can be no reasonable objection to in
corporations accompanying the act OF
ratification itself. But when the treaty
Is acted upon, l must know whether il
means that we have ratified or re
jected it.
Submit Treaty to People,"
I'VE cannot rewrite this treaty. We
must take ii without changes which
alter its meaning. or leave it. and then
after the rest of the world has signed
it. we must face the unthinkable tasl
of making another and separate kline
of treaty with Germany.
IF there is any doubt as TO wha
the people of the country think OF
this vital matter, the clear and sin