The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-24
u. s. Not Consulted.

I NH dGtlHIhh w 4tbREAi ARiiAtt'ti Nlte
relations with the soviet was taken
without consulting America, and the
truth is, the allies have absolutely re-
versed the position they expressed In
their note Of Dec, = ON the Ftume con-
troversy. They are coming to believe
that expedency requires any kind Of
4 settlement that viii satisfy Italy.
As for the Jugo- Slays, Well, America
is not giving the economic assistance
asked for Congress turned down Pres
ident Wilson'S request for $3.50, coo ,0eh
TO aid the Central European republics
md offered s60,0oQ0o0,
The European governments see the
United States drifting back "a isoIa-
ton, Notwithstanding President VIII
sons ASSURANCES and the high profess
sinns Of world partnership which ad-
vocates of the league IN both the he
publican and Democratic parties have
been making
50 far as can be determined here, the
allies mean no disrespect 60 President
Wilson. They would have liked to go
along with him, but the probabilities
of the situation are staring them In
the face. For the moment the AZ
ISOLATED powers have been brought 10
realize that the president might with
draw the treaty altogether and defi-
nitely cut off American cooperation.
This, Of course, makes the allies hes
itate. But, with the prospect that the
senate viii fail to rattfy the treaty,
anyway. the European governments
may not be affected by Mr.. Wilson's
threat after all
80 the next note TO Great Britain,
France and Italy must argue the case
before the public opinion OF the world,
irrespective Of Americas own opnor-
tunity TO BE- Of assistance In Eufone,
The president may have lost influ-
ence In this country. but the power
OF his appeal oh broad principle of
European affairs Is not gone,
And there are many elements in
Great Britain and France which would
be responsive 10 such an appeal.
In other words the president has
not stopped fighting on tho Flame ques-
tiOa Ii Is one of tho few principles
not sacrificed al Paris for the sake Of
e&pediency, and the outery for re-
vision OF tho treaty Itself, which Is arls
ing from so many quarters, Is produC~
ing In Washington a sense Of greater
responsibility to stick by principle now
than when the world was all absorbed
Ia the details Of q complex settlement
and nations everywhere were lrging
precipitate haste In getting compro-
mise treaty signed.
10 Surrender on tho Fiume question
involves something bigger than reser-
Nations. For instance, IN the United
States, IL the president did accept all
The Lodge reservations. 1t might. Of
course, happen that the contingencies
provided for N those reservations would
never arise. Tho reservations aim at
Hypothetical emergencies,
The Eiumc question Is an unfortu-
nata rsalitN~-a test of principle. 1t
viii show whether the uew partnership
Of nations Is going 20 function along
@sne old lines Ct imperialism and terri q
lat
means elf-determnation and an equal
opportunity for the weak as well as
the strong in Europe
10 Is a fact that settlement was
practically reached last August on the
Fiunte problem. when Frank Pc was
head OF the American mission in Paris,
Poets Action Cause.
Then came the DAununzio episode
The Italian aviator brushed aside
principle and simply seized Fiume He
applied the doctrine Of violence and ar
hitrary force, something that had been
repudiated in the peace treaty itself,
when Germany invaded Belgium.
The whole document was born of a
desire to substantiate negotiation for
arbitrary force. II President Wilson
Yields and the allies bow TO eXpediency
the league itself win not be worth
starting, and the treaty might as well
be Withdrawn ana America So back to
isolation.
That Ii why the threat to withdraw
tho treaty on the part Of the president
lis not mere pique or VamnuflaEc hut
Il deliberate weighing Of tho facts I'm
the case, coupled with the unfortunate
tendency abroad to coustrur the mae.
tion Of the senate OF the United States
on the peace treaty ~ the real desire
stFt hA A fTfaFiT-aU uAppIA I,.