The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-26
Pact Merely Establishes
Friendly Relations and
Secures Such Rights AS
Are Granted to Amer
lea Under Versailles
Treaty-League of Ma
tons Is Repudiated

Washington, Aug. 26-Full title to
all the rights, privileges, indemnities.
reparations or advantages specified
for the United States under the rati-
fled treaty of Versailles is reaffirmed
in the separate treaty with Germany
signed yesterday at Berlin.
Both by blanket declaration and
specific enumeration the treaty recog
nizes the claim of the American gov
ernment to these benefits and at the
same time disavows on the part Of
the United States any responsibility
for provisions of the League of Ma
tions covenant, the Shantung settle
ment or the political realignments of
Europe.
Is Full Settlement
By state department officials the
treaty is considered a full settlement,
making possible not only a resump-
ton of diplomatic relations but a
large measure of commercial inter-
course as we'll through its reaffirma.
tion of the economic and financial
concessions of the pact of Versailles
There was every indication today
that efforts would be made by the ad
ministration to secure ratification as
soon as possible after congress reas
sembles late in October so that the
long-delayed treaty with Germany
might become an accomplished fact.
Such commercial and supplemental
treaties as may be found necessary
can then be negotiated through the or
dinary diplomatic channels.
With the treaty signed and await
ing senate action, there was a renewal
of speculation here regarding the is
suance of a possible peace declara-
tion to carry into effect the declara
tions of the congres Ral peace reso
luton. No official blld indicate
whether the proclamation might be
expected ito precede ratification.
VIII u. s. Troops Return?
Another question which remained
unanswered from any authoritative
source related to the probable dura
tion of the American occupation Of
German territory. No direct mention
is made in the treaty of the with
drawal of American troops from the
Rhine, though there is reaffirmation
of the section of the Versailles treaty
which permits the recent enemies of
II
border at her expense during the pc
riod allowed for payment of repara-
tions.
The text of the new treaty, made
public last night at the state depart
ment, defines with unusual brevity
the responsibility of Germany and the
rights of the United States growing
out of the war. The title of the
United States to benefits described in
detail in ten of the fifteen sections of
the treaty of Versailles are reaffirm-
ed; it is stated that the government
shall not be bound" by four of the
fifteen sections; and one section, that
arraigning Emperor Wilhelm and de-
manding trial of violators of the laws
of war, is not mentioned at all.
War Responsibility Ignored
Neither is there specific provision
holding Germany responsible for the
war but such a responsibility is i'm
piled by the reaffirmation of the re-
parations section, in whose opening
Clause Germany accepts responsible
ity "for causing all the loss and dam
age resulting from the war
While claiming all the privileges of
the reparation section as agreed to at
Versailles, the United States specifies
in the new treaty that she is not
bound to participate" in the repara-
ton commission unless she shall elect
to do so. The same provision is made
regarding all other international COM
missions created under the Versailles
treaty.
The treaty text of about $500 words
is largely devoted to repetition OF
the peace resolution, all of whose
manifold provisions for preservation
of American privileges as recognized
at Versailles and for retention of
seized German property, are confirm
i ed by Germany. A more specific recog-
milton of all the benefits of the Yer
Bailles treaty follows, and then the
!. tlocumeht makes these stipulations as
to the detailed sections of the Yer
4 sailles pact:
Asserts Versailles Rights
That the United States specifically
shall be endowed with the rights and
privileges contained in that portion
OF part four which gives to the prin
cipai allied and associated powers
joint title to the German overseas
possessions; in part five, which re-
lates to military, naval and air settle.
ments, including the disarmament o.
Germany under international commits
sions of control; part six, dealing
with prisoners of war and graves
part eight. containing the reparatior
clauses; part nine, detailing financia
stipulations; part ten, making eco
nomic rearrangements; part eleven
establishing laws Of aerial navigation
Tor Germany; part twelve, governing
Haflnai1 ports, waterways and rail
roads part fourteen, setting fortl
aernaanya gllarantees of peace. ~