Evening star., 1921-07-19
Enters Into Discussions With
! Powers on Alternative to
Versailles Pact.
OBJECTION NOT EXPECTED,
FRANCE WANTS SUPPORT
Believes Moral Effect of American
Signature on Existing Treaty
Would Have Been Great.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

The United States government has
entered into informal discussions with
Great Britain. France. Italy and
Japan to determine whether they as
members of the group known as the
principal allied and associated pow
ers' have any objection to the max
ing of separate treaty between the
United States and Germany, which
shall include in it's text the same
rights and privileges granted the
United States in the economic and
treaty.
This step. which has been in prog
ress for several days. is the alterna-
tive to the submission of the Yer
Sailles pact with reservations. and if
the allied powers interpose no OBJ
Jections and no legal complications
arise the '.irrcConcilables" in the
American Senate will have their way
to the extent that the original Yer
sailles pact will not be submitted to
Item again. while the pro-treaty ele-
ment Will have the satisfaction of
knowing that approximately so per
cent of the Versailles pact will be
included in the new treaty to be ne
gotiated with Germany.
Objections Not Anticipated.
Objections from the allies are not
anticipated. though it is known that
France would have liked to see
America sign the Versailles treaty
and ratlfy ii. even though the reSer-
vations excluded the league covenant
and participation in the enforcement
clauses of the treaty. France be-
lieveS the moral effect of America s
signature on the Versailles treaty is
valuable asset in making Germany
understand that the partnership of
powers begun during the war has by
no means been dissolved. On the
other hand. the answer made here is
that Germany cannot possibly derive
any impression of division in the
allied ranks because she VII be
asked to sign treaty containing
clauses on reparations almost identi-
cal with those in the Versailles pact
Germany's obligation to pay for the
war will, be just as much stressed
in the new German-AmeTicah treaty
as in the Versailles convention.
Little Difference In Pacts.
There is in reality little difference
in substance between the submission
of the Versailles pact with reserva-
tions and the alternative now being
worked out with the allies covering
separate treaty with Germany. But
there is a difference in form and
it is sufficient to cool the wrath of
the 'irreconcilableS" and make easier
the ratification of the treaty. Presi-
dent Harding and his cabinet have
practically every day come face to
face with problems which cannot be
solved because Americas economic
relationship with Europe is unset
tied. 1t is with the idea of a speedy
settlement of all important questions
pending. with Europe that the sepa-
rate treaty plan has been more or
less determined upon. Its final ap-
proval by the administration will, of
course, depend upon the replies of
the allies and the arguments they
make as to the validity of Americas 8
rights when granted under sepa-
rate treaty.
1t does raise some interesting legal
points, for. while America will in one
sense be withdrawing from the legal
partnership created by the joint sig
natures on the Versailles treaty. she
will be asking the partners to agree
to a cesSion of the same rights
through another instrumentality-a
separate treaty.
Allies Have More to Gain.
Just now the allies have more to
gain than lose by agreeing to
Americas wishes. The funding of the
allied debt over period of years
meanS more to the allies than technl-
cal questions and abstract rights. The
consent of the allies is confidently eX
pected. Diplomatic notes exchanged
between the United States and the al
lied powers will be sufficient to safe
guard Americas rights and when
once those notes have been received
the United States government will
feel free to lay the text of the new
treaty before the German govern
ment.
OF course Germany might balk and
try to reopen the economic clauses of
the treaty for general discussion. but
Germany would soon be told that the
matters are not open for parley and de-
bate but are closed. Germany, too. has
more to gain than lose by accepting the
American viewpoint. 50 everybody in
the allied consent has heen obtained
the rest will be smooth sailing.
The Harding foreign policy is slowly
being evolved. Step number one is
settling our economic relationships with
Europe; step number two is the confer
ence on disarmament already called. but
which is expected to remove sources of
friction in the far east, and step number
three is general plan for the preserva-
ton of world peace either by a league
or an association of nations or some
other kind of international conference
body which shall substitute counsel and
discussion for war.