Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-09-26
Enforcing Isolation

WITH but one opposing vote. that OF
w Senator Borah. the Foreign Relations
Committee has favorably reported the troa-
tics of peace negotiated between the United
States Germany. Austria and hungary.
with certain reservations designed more
completely TO sever The United states from
any connection with III" Versailles treaty.
The principal reservation adopted is to pre-
vent the participation OF American rcpr"scn-
tatives on any international bodies created
under the Versailles treaty, without the OK
press consent OF Congress Upon consulta-
ton, the reservations were not antagoniZ"d
b! the President and Secretary hughes.
These treaties should be ratified without
longer delay than may be necessary prop
orly 10 consider them Nothing whatever
is To be gained by protractcd debate. and
certainly nothing is to he gained by with
holding approval OF the three measures.
There may be disappointment in many
quarters over the terms OF these compacts
The sincere friends OF the league OF nations
are not easily reconcied TO the final rcpudia-
ton of this great enterprise for outlawinG
war, but they must understand that no
league is to be encouraged by the party now
in power. Others regret that the Versailles
treaty, minus the league covenant was not
rcsubmitted to the Senate. but timid adj
ministration refused TO proceed even that
far as long as ii is inundated by small
group of Republican irrrconcilabcs
The important thing now from the Amer
lean standpoint and that standpoint, of the
world at large is the return of peace. tech
nically wei! as actually This can only
be accomplished by the ratification OF the
Berlin. Vienna and Budapest treaties. ANA
that business should be proceeded with
without loss OF time. The American people
and the people OF .iuropa. should have any
benefit mat may odihG from a restoration
OF diplomatic relations between America
and the nations with which we are still
nomnally al war.
\ puciie effort was made by Congress
more than three months ago TO consummatc
peace by resolution II was assumed i'm
narrow Republican circles that the war
might be brought 10 an end without the
mutual ratification Of treaties and that the
country might he dcludcd into believing tina,
an enactment Of Congress would end all war
legislation and all WAL conditions 1t was
found By the very authors OF this measure.
however that il accomplished nothing 30
single condition at home VAS changed and
certainly no condition abroad was affected
President Harding upon good advice. rcal-
1zed that he dared not even Issue the peace
proclamation which the Knox Porter rc,o-
luton authorized lie could only await the
successful negotiation CT separate treaties
ana their mutual ratification before pro
claiming the war At an end
If any possible good could come from.
delaying favorable action upon the German.
Austrian and Hungarian rroattc. those who
are dislustful OF these measures mirbt b.
justified III opposing them To the hmi; Of
their resources But il is Impossible to dis.
cover what may be gained by lighting and
by longer keeping America ANA Americas
enemies In suspense as To The issue Of peace
rms does not mean, of course. that the
three treaties should be taken up ana voted
upon overnight They should be mauroIy
considered and sufficiently discussed to show
The people OF the country exactly VIVA, ,hev
have been handed as a substitute for ,bo
treaty OF Versailles and for the I,aruc az
nations