The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1921-03-10
NOT OUR PLEDGES

men appear TO hold to the view that
the action OF Mr.. Wilson In agreeing
with Lloyd George and Clemenceau
TO the substitution Of German bonds
for the debt owed By Belgium to the
United States win prove an embar-
assment to the Harding sdminIstra
tion," says the Republican Publicity
association. through It's president.
Hon. Jonathan Bourne Jr. Mr.. La.
mont, the financial adviser Of the
American delegation to the peace
commission, assured Mr.. Harding
that he was free as air to handle
the debt question az he chose. but II
is intimated that the disclosure OF
the Wilson agreement regarding Bel
GUM refutes the statement of Mr..
Lamont. Moreover, It is suspected
that further revelations may be forth
coming concerning what President
Wilson said and did at Paris that
may hamper even more President
Harding's future policy concerning
the allied Indebtedness.
But fears Of that sort are ground
less Not single act OF Mr.. Wilson
while in Europe has been ratified by
the senate, and without that ratifi
cation the arrangements he made are
utterly futile and of no effect. T.
will be recalled that Mr.. Wilson
agreed to urge upon the senate an
alliance between France and the I'm
tied States by which this country
would rush to the aid of France II
she were ever again attacked By
Germany. The suggested treaty of
alliance has never been seriously con
sidered by the senate and there Is no
indication that It will be. Does any
body contend that Mr. Wilson's indi-
vidual acquiescence In such an alli-
ance in any way binds the United
States. OF limits in the slightest de-
gree what President Harding may or
may not do concerning II France
knew that the alliance was without
effect unless ratified by the senate.
Belgium knew. or should have
known that the presidents promis
OF debt exchange was worthless un-
less concurred in by congress.
THE Belgian debt arrangement is
on precisely the same legal footing
as the suggested French American
ALLIANCE. Mr.. Wilson merely said
that he would ask congress to auth
orize the exchange of the Belgian
obligation for German bonds He has
done II and there the matter rests
congress is free as air to adopt o.
reject Mr. wilson's recommendation
and President Harding likewise, viii
be free as air to adopt, reject o
modify the policy followed BY hi
predecessor,
''In view OF what has already beel
revealed OF Mr.. Wilson'S conduct Il
Paris. the country may as well prc
!pare itself for more astonishing dis
closures, But they will be of impor'
lance only as confirming once NOR
1.-THE publlc's estimate of the un-Ar1
Iericanism and total unfitness for th
Executive office of the retiring oecr
pant OF the White House. They wi
furnish additional reason for congrf
tulation that wisconsin is dead. d.
,aside from that It matters not whs
commitments the head of the Amer
can peace delegation may have mad
y "As a matter of fact Mr.. Wilso
y lcould have done nothing more pr,
y posterous than pledge the wealth an
% power of the United States to mali
tain world peace-which is precise
what he did in fathering the leag,
of nations. But nobody will asse
that the rejection OF that undertake.
= by the United States Senate was al
q thing less than complete relea
! of this country from any obligatiol