Evening star., 1921-07-13
PRESIDENT ASKS T.
/
HUGHES TO WORK :.
OUTPEACETREATY.
Requests Substitute for Yer
saiIIes Pact in Dealing
With Germany.
HOPING TO SATISFY :
OPPOSING SENATORS
U. S. Rights Under Allied Plan
Make Latest Move Most ;,
Difficult.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
President Harding has asked Secre-
tary Hughes to work out an alternative
proposition to that of the Versailles
treaty as a means Of making peace with
Germany.
This doesn't mean that the President
has rejected the idea Of submitting the
Versailles pact, with reservations, but II
does mean that Mr.. Harding feels the
necessity of exhausting every legal re-
source that might accomplish peace with
Germany and yet not not offend the ele-
ments in the Senate who believe. the
United States ought never to put its ap-
proval on any part Of the agreement
negotiated at Versailles by President
Wilson.
Searching for Precedents.
Whether there is an alternative Is
yet to be determined. Mr.. Hughes is
searching precedents and considering
new devices of law. He himself be-
lieyes Americas rights will never be
as well safeguarded as they would be
under the Versailles pact. and would
SO hold if he could have his way. but
he is endeavoring to do for Mr.. Hard
ing what any able lawyer would do for
his client-flnd a way to meet not only
the external difficulties Of an internA-
tionaI character. but the internal
troubles of a political nature which
may impede ratification in the Senate.
There is one alternative being con-
sidered which may OF may not be eff
fective. 1t is so novel that its effects
cannot Immediately be conjectured. II
involves making a separate treaty
with Germany, but claiming unoer
such a treaty all the rights and priv
ileges which were given the United
other words. Germany having be-
slowed upon the United States as one
of the principal allied and associated
powers certain rights and privileges
would now subtract those rights from
the Versailles pact SO far as they at
feet the United States and transfer,
them to a new treaty.
Allies Might Object. 81
The objection to such a course 10 two,
fold. Would the allies consent, and,
second, would America be legally as SEE
cure even II the allies did? The big
fact is that Germany hasn't any rights
| to give away any more and no longer
anything she gave away in that pact
without first getting the consent OF the
signatories to that treaty-the great
powers. In other words. Germany can't
agree to anything with the United States
without the consent OF the allies.
The peace negotiations will be nomi-
nally with Germany. but in reality with
the allies. To make a separate treaty
opens up that whole question. To sub
nit the Versailles treaty with reserva-
tions means that the consent OF the al
lies to those reservations Is not neces-
The United States would merely be
approving and subscribing to certain
articles of the treaty. but would de-
cline to be party to other articles
INV ~
ment of the treaty either through the
league Of nations or any other instru-
mentality.
Experts See Treaty Flaws.
Some of fhe legal experts believe
that a separate treaty with Germany,
even though its first paragraph might
grant all the rights which Germany
had previously given the United States
in the Versailles treaty. would not,
having disposed of those rights In the
first place to the allies and the
United States &s a group, 1t may be
that the failure of the United states
to remain . member OF the group
known az the principal allies and as
sociated powers means losing the
rights given that group. The analogy
most commonly heard here Is tnAt
the allies and the United States con-
stitute a company just like CORPORA
tion. to which certain rights to build
street railways have been given by q
city.
diyiduals who collectively are obliged
to give the city a certain sum OF
money.
The money is paid. but one OF the
five members Of the group doesnt pay
his share and withdraws from, the
transaction. Could he claim that he
is entitled to the right to build q
street railway of his own over the
identical right of way! The city
made the grant Of all its rights to the
company as whole and did not d.
vide its rights among the Ave indi-
yiduals, leaving it to them to work
out the share Of responsibility and re-
ward. That. in a nutshell. is the pre-
vailing view here. .-
Means Loss Of Rights.
The United States cannot withdraw
from the principal allied and asso-
ciatsd powers without losing its
rights as member oI that Group.
alternative. Sometimes 1t looks a. II
he will succeed. He is an ingenious
/, LAWYER, But the trouble is. the allies
are the receivers Tor q bankrupt Ger.
many, and unless America re-
| sumes her place as one OF the pran-
cipal receivers she puts herself out-
side the allied group and must take
whatever rights the allies want to
The question has proved the most
perpIexing Of Mr.. Hardings admins,
tration. 1t is signihcant ne mas askea
Secretary Hughes to work out an
alternative to the Versailles pact, but
it is not believed he will eventually
a''ep' " Copyright. 1911
g.