The Washington herald., 1921-04-11
EUROPE WON'T MAR
TREATY.OR LEAGUE,
SIMONDS ASSERTS
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promise of greater power In the
existing league than in any new as
ISOLATION.
There is too easy optimism and
assurance in Washington at the
moment based upon an exaggerated
notion of American power In the
world and of the necessity existing
abroad to enlist the support of the
United States at any price. Unmis-
takably the world and particularly
the allied world is eager to have
America sit into world conferences
and share in world reorganization.
but there is still a price too high to
be paid-and this price exactly is
the "scrapping" OF the treaty of
Versailles or even its substantial
modification.
In Washington. however. II is
fair to say that there Is no gen.
eral belief that American policy will
undertake to enforce a rewriting OF
the treaty, of Versailles. What Mr..
Hughes seems to seek Is to have
recalled certain decisions made un-
der the treaty, notably in the mat
ter Of mandates and, in the larger
view. to have Europe take the
American view as to the Far East
That the British will ultimately
yield in the matter of their man
dates, as a matter Of policy. is at
least not improbable, but what
course will hey take with respect
OF Japan?
Insists on sOpen Door,
1t is the japanese aspect which
lies just below the surface in the
whole Hughes utterance. Tho new
administration is resolved to obtain
a. readjustment of Far Eastern con-
ditions, not alone in the matter
OF the Zap mandate. but also In
word. to re-establish the open
door" policy. But Shantung passed
to Japan by the treaty, and the
cession by China was envisaged in
"A treaty made by Japan with BrN-
ain and France before We entered
the war and as the price Of Japa-
nese aid in the submarine crisis.
No one imagines Britain will join
the United States in any attempt TO
coerce Japan. but not impossibly the
measure OF British sympathy VIII
be taken in the course Britain pur-
sues with respect to the renewal
Of the Anglo-Japanese alliance a
few months hence. II japan rejects
all Of our suggestions as to Yap
and Shantung. and Great Britain
thereafter allies herself to Japan
under any conditions. the results
will be unmistakable here.
President to Reject Covenant.
But for the moment the japanese
aspect is in the background. The
President intends in his Forthcoming
message to scrap" the league and
to reject the treay of Versailles, all
of which is we'll within American
rights. The suggestion that there
after there may be an international
conference held perhaps in Wash
ington, to adjust American relations
to the world generally and to the
treaty and league in particular, is
gaining credence, but as yet there
is an imperfect appreciation here OF
the European value attached to the
treaty and the South American val
ue attached to the league.
As to the league, this sentiment
might not prove an lHlpOSslUle OD-
stacie IL the United States would
consent to ratify the treaty, with
all reservations as to the league
But more and more it becomes pat
ent as days pass that Europe will
not and can not scrap" the treaty
and that American policy based on
such an assumption is likely to lead
to deceptions and disappointments,
Thus, despite all the talk about a
separate peace by resolution. II
seems to me to be becoming more
and more likely that in the end we
shall not make a separate peace. but
ratify the treaty of Versailles, with
the league of nations left out and
thus, having regularized our posi-
tion be able to urge our. own views
as to some world association such
as remains in President Harding's
mind.
But any such outcome is plainly
contingent on obtaining some salts
faction for the demands made by
Mr. Hughes and expressed by all his
colleagues alike in the Cabinet and
the Senate. II Europe refuses that,
then the Knox resolution Is likely
to show new vitality pretty prompt
ly and the talk of American co-op-
Grafton in Europe fall to pretty in
audible whispers.
Copyright, 1sal.)