Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-11-13
CHAPTER XVIII.
Conclusion.

1t was on March IA, 1919, that Mr.
Lloyd George and President Wilson
proposed to N. CIemenceau, in place
Of the interallied occupation of an in
dependent Rhineland, the undertaking
by Great Britain and the United States
to come Immediately to the assistance
of France in case the latter should
be the object of an unprovoked ag-
gression by Germany. / have shown
how, after five weeks Of negotiation,
NJ. Clemenceau obtained at one and
the same time the occupation of the
Rhineland as we'll as the two treaties.
The genesis, text and ultimate fate of
these solemn and unprecedented under
takings hold an important place in the
peace considered as whole.
But misfortune has happened
through no fault Of Frances. The
Franco British treaty was approval
by the house of commons. Not SO the
American treaty which went down in
the defeat of the treaty of Versailles
by the senate in Washington. The
treaty of Versailles lacked six votes
for ratification. The treaty of guar
antee though favorably reported by
the commissions, was not even dis
cussed; SO that under article 2, which
provides that these two treaties shall
treaty with Great Britain is also pend
ing.
Exploited to Full.
Need 1 say that this development
has been exploited to the full against
cused in France--sometimes even III
the United States-with having abai
doned the substance for the shadow and
renounced part of the substantial guar
antee demanded in their memorandum
of February %, 1919, for the sake of
obtaining two treaties which up to
now do not exist!
1t has been said also that this mis-
take was the more inexcusable in that
no one had the right to ignore the
fact that Mr.. Wilson was in minority
in congress following the elections of
November ), 1913. The conclusion
drawn is that the non-ratification of
the agreements negotiated by him
should have been foreseen. This dou-
BILE accusation has held prominent
place in discussions on the peace
Entrusted as / was with FrancoAmer-
lean relations in the Clemenceau min
istry, my desire to leave nothing un-
revealed and to give the full facts, will
easily be understood.
Moreover, the facts are quite simple:
For the two accusations that l have
mentioned can harm no one but their
authors. We have, it is said, the sub
stance for the shadow. Under the last
of article 420, you will see
that failing the guarantees against Ger
nan aggression, embodied in the Fran
CO. British and Franco American
treaties, the occupation of the left
bank Of the Rhine can be extended be-
yond Is years.
Precautions Adopted.
So we did foresee the risk of nom
and did adopt appropriate
As to the childish accu-
,ation that we ignored the results of
he American elections of November
), 1913, or that we did not allow for
heir possible consequenees-it is to
augh. Those elections attracted some
attention in the press. Their possible
fleet on the ratification of the various
reaties escaped us SO little that pre-
.isely because of the result, we de-
handed and obtained by strenuous eff |
orts the final paragraph of article 400.
What more could we have done and |
What would others have done in our
lace? Not negotiated with President |
wilson, our critics answer. With whom |
hen should we have negotiated? The |
iCACu government AuCW db We'll HN 1
ny one that on November 5, 1919. I
1r. Wilson had lost his majority in !
ongress-a mishap that has befallen
number of his predecessors not ex-
epting the greatest among them,
seorge Washington. But it knew also
hat in spite Of this adverse election.
1r. Wilson remained none the less
ntil the end of his term the only
power with whom we
ould treat; for the president of the
Inited States is responsible not to
ongress but to the whole electorate.
is objected that Mr.. Wilson in ap-
ointing the American delegation has
eglected to include Republican sena-
ors. Was this an error of judgm cnt
d the part Of the. president? IT Ii
ute possible.
Not Frances Business.
But that was none of our business,
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