The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-10-07
OPPOSITION TO
PEACE TREATIES

Unexpected opposition sprang up to
the ratification of the peace treaties
with Germany, Austria and Hungary,
even with the senate committees
reservation providing that Americas
representation on the international
commissions must be decreed by con-
gress. The Democrats decided to fight
the pacts to the end, and 1t was re-
ported that they were receiving the
active support of former President
Wilson. They prepared a series of
reservations of their own. With the
approval of the President, the Repub-
lican leaders undertook to hurry up
the ratification by means of night ses-
sionS of the senate, and Mr.. Lodge,
1t was said, told Mr.. Harding that
enough votes were in sight whenever
it came to final action. 1t was stated
that twenty Democrats and three Re
publicans favored fiat rejection of the
treaties. This would not be enough
to block ratification. and besides,
some of them probably would accept
the pacts with reservations designed
to carry out the idea of closer par
ticipation in European affairs.
In the reichstag. also, there was
much opposition to the treaties as
they stand, especially to the acknowl-
edgment by Germany of its guilt in
starting the war. They hold that the
former kaiser's government. and not
Germany. was responsible for the con-
tlict. What worried Germany more
than treaties last week. however. was
the fact that it was on the brink of
tremendous financial panic Chan
cellor Wirth announced the country
would go bankrupt if it was forced
to pay the next indemnity installment
of million marks in gold. and the
German money market promptly col
lapSed. The value of the mark has
fallen to a ridiculously low point, and
for this the financial spectators are
blamed, the press denouncing them
as Unreasonable hyenas."
Premier BRAND has announced that
he and the rest of the French dele
gates to the conference on limitation
of ornaments and Far East questions
will sail for the United States on the
steamer Lafayette probably Novem-
her l. Though in other matters the
Frenchmen may come with open
minds. on one point they will bring
a fixed determination. They will re-
fuse to discuss the reduction of land
armament unless they are fully as
sured of the support of the allies in
case Germany attacks France. The
French now have an army of about
100000, the largest and best in the
world. and they have no intention of
reducing its size or efficiency as long
as Germany remains the menace to
France which they consider her to
be. 1t is said that Marshal Foch is
likely to present to the confer
ence the French reasons for opposing
reduction of land armament unless
some new security is offered France
in place of the provisions of the Yer
sailles treaty, which America has de
clined to accept
Japan's delegation to the confer
ence is to be headed by Prince
lNeSdto i phuSdNd. WHO. II inc fpUU1l
system had not been abolished in 1867.
would now he the shotgun. or virtual
'uler of Japan. He is the head of a
great family and is considered Japan's
strongest man.
This week the members of the Amer
lean delegation are comforting on the
policies to be urged by them. 1t is
known that they will stand firm for
the practical and against the vision
airy and that they are agreed that
complete disarmament is Impractical
at present; but they believe that an
international agreement to restrict
and reduce armament gradually may
well be reached. Our delegates are
of the same mind as the President in
holding that the proposal of the
pacitists that the United States reduce
armament even if the other nations
refuse Is utterly foolish.