Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-06
CONGRESSMAW'S ESCAPADE
IS WASHlNGTON'S BEST JOKE
TARD|EU TALKS Of
NEW PEACE PACT
BY ANDREW TARDIEU
Former French High Commissioner
to America.

to America
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal)
Copyright, 1921
Whatever may be the disappointment of
the allies that the United States should
make a separate treaG with Germany, the
fact remains, NJ. Tardieu says, that the
European powers have gained great
strength against Germany in the fact that
America in her latest treaty adopts the
greater part of Versailles.)
PARIS, Sept. 3-The most signifi-
cant comment on the German-Amer-
lean treaty in Europe is the lack Of
comment. There has been little or
no comment in the European press
and this is particularly true of the
French papers.
There are two outstanding reasons
for this. The first is the fact that
the text merely declares that the
United States reserves 20 itse If all
the rights required under such and
such sections of the treaty of Ver-
sales, but rejects the obligations i'm
posed by other sections. Not twenty
men in Europe are familiar enough
with the Versailles treaty to under
stand what this all means.
A second reason for the silence is
the fact that everybody expected
some such treaty to be made. There
fore the public has paid but little
attention to the incident. The opin-
ion of those few Frenchmen able to
understand the matter is easily
summed up.
Whether the United States even
tually would negotiate separate
treaty or ratify the pact of Yer
sailles with reservations, everybody
knew the Washington government
would reject the clauses concerning
the League of Nations mad those pro-
viding for an international labor or
that on account of difficulties in the
Pacific and the approach of the
Washington conference that the ar
ticles concerning the various col
onies might not be ratified.
Some Astonishment
But on the other hand there is
panied establishment here at the
failure of the German-American
treaty to ratify the German boun-
Diary clauses and the boundaries OF
the new states created by the allied
victory.
The establishment is all the greater
because there was nothing i'll the
1920 senate debates at Washington,
nor in the Lodge reservations, which
would lead anyone to expect this.
Furthermore, certain of the claus
es now rejected were among Ameri-
cas- principal war aims. When I
recall the tremendous ovation given
an Alsatian orator at Mount Vernon
on the 18th of July, 1918, demanding
the liberty of his enslaved brothers;
when 1 remember the enthusiastic
reception all America gave to that
great Czech, Stefanik, and that great
Pole Paderewski, / cannot help re-
GREETING that the United States to-
day refuses to ratify the acts which
liberated Metz, Strasburg, Pragut
and Warsaw.
1 would be lacking in respect for
my American friends If I did not rot
our recent guests of the American
legion will not repudiate.
Concerning the reparattons, finan-
cial and economic clauses the Ger
man American treaty merely re-
which is decidedly important AMI
fortunate fact. America thus pro
claims, like her associates in the
war, Germany's responsibility and
obligation to repair all damages and
the victors' rights to compel her to
do so. The pan-Germans had boldly
announced this would not happen.
The solemn denial inflicted upon
them will make the party which
murdered Matthias Erzberger re-
fleet.
1t, is notably a good thing, that
the treaty of Versailles. which reads:
1.-THE allied and associated govern
ments affirm and Germany accepts
the responsibility OF Germany and
her allies for causing ali the loss and
damage to which the allied and as
ISOLATED governments and their ma
tionals have been SUBJECTS as con-
sequence Of the war imposed upon
them by the aggression of Germany
and her allies"
It is also a good thing for Euro
pean peace that America adopts Part
XIV of the treaty Of Versailles pro-
viding for Is years occupation of the
left bank of the Rhine, with contin-
ued occupation if certain guarantees
are not made. This notifies Germany
on essential principles, that the Unit
ed States thinks today as yesterday.
AS for the practical working Of
the new treaty, do not foresee diff
ficulties. FROM strictly legal view
point, one might OBJECT that the
United States by reSerVing only the
clauses favorable TO her and reject
ing the others, places her associates
in an Unfairly disadv11ta geous posi-
ton. But as none Of the parties is
disposed to raise this judicial ques.
ton, obviously no dispute will arise
Moreover, it would be stupid to
der-estimate-and diminish by
vain controversies the strength the
European powers gain against Ger
many t,lo; ugh the fact that the Unit
ed States ratify by solemn treaty the
greater part of the pact Of Yer
sailles.
Let us hope this ac; ends yester-
days differences ard that the victors
in the war unitedly will turn toward
the future; it is their duty to organ
iZa 4 Ia sis of iuStina nd