The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-06-14
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
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BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer.
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON. June 14.-Firstl
steps toward the making of treaty OIL
peace between the United States and
Germany will be taken Immediately after
congress passes the Knox-POrter resOlu-
ton this week. This became known Off
cially yesterday. Until the congressional
resolution is out of the way. interna
tional negotiations cannot be begun. The
resolution itself does not bind Germany
or in any way establish peace with Ger
many. This fact is recognized by PreSi- !
dent Harding and his associates. They
believe, however. that when congress
passes the resolution, q certain psyche
logical unrest win have been allayed be-
cause so far As domestic laws are con-
cerned, the phrases duration of the
war and the present war emergency,
used in so many statutes will have been
wiped off the law books.
Mr.. Harding realizes that the peace
resolution of congress goes only part of
the way and that he must then negoti-
ate a treaty which will establish diplo-
matte relations between the United
States and Germany. The executive hasl
felt that it was unnecessary TO move in
that direction, until congress had ex-
pressed itself. Notwithstanding the pros
pect of an early passage of the Knox
Porter resolution. Mr.. Harding feels that
the responsibility for the next step is
upon him. He has indicated that he viii
not delay action. In response To an in
quiry as to whether the treaty of Yer
sailles would be used AZ a basis for
peace making with the central powers,
| 1t was significantly pointed out that the
President had not withdrawn the state
ment made in his address to congress,
namely, that it might be wiser TO en-
gage under thesexisting treaty" than tol
attempt new treaty with Germany.
Really Dealing with Allies.
| The truth of the matter. as explained
| at the department of state, * that the
| United States is not dealing with Ger
many at all but with the allies Nomi-
nally Germany signs the treaty but hav-
ing given away all her rights to the al
| lies. the latter must say whether the pro-
visions of the new treaty with Germany
are satisfactory. And it X the purpose
| of the American government 10 write the
| kind of treaty that will bring harmony
rather than discord to the ranks of the
allies. .-
The practical problem of making the
Versailles treaty effective as between the
United States and Germany is one that
Secretary Hughes has be oiokrwngfonn
| Secretary Hughes has been working on
1
| opportunities for the United States gov
| eminent to find out how the allies viewed
| the matter and the attitude of the great
powers Is one of expectancy and hope
that America viii find it possible to at
/ tach her signature to the Versailles
treaty even though a number of reScrva-
1 tons or notifications may be made. The
French. for instance. place. great weight
upon the moral value of America sig
nature to the Versailles pact because Of
the effect such move would have upon
Germany where hope Still fingers that
/ the I'pited States viii part company with
her allies and make a separate treaty
with Britain.
Supreme Council Rules.
u Another reason for using the Yer
SaillcS pact instead of new treaty has
to do with preserving Americas status
in the supreme council, that organiza-
ton which formed during the war and
remained as a league of victOrs. Presi-
dent Harding feels that the supreme
council can be used as a vehicle for many
important things. He has already availed
himself of the machinery of the supreme
council to canvass sentiment with respect
to disarmament. If America made q
separate treaty and disassociated herself
from the allies. she would no longer have
valid claim to membership in that SUI
preme council. And since it is Mr..
Harding intention to eliminate Ameri-
can participation III those clauses OF the
treaty covering the league of nations,
the United States would have no voice
IN the council of the league itself which
is n somewhat larger body than the SUI
preme council would have vanished en-
tirely as all members of that organiza-
ton are represented on the council of the
league of nations. 1t was when Lloyd
George saw the status of the league of
nations made uncertain because of Amer
lea hesitation to join that he suddenly
revived the supreme council The French
concurred in the movement and it is the
supreme council which rules Europe to-
day. President Harding has made it
clear that one of the principal objects
of his foreign policy will be to establish
close intercourse with other nations by
personal conference. The supreme coan-
Icil affords such an opportunity and it is
a safe prediction that the form of Amer
lea new treaty with Germany or rather
the reservations to the Versailles treaty
will be discussed informally at the su-
preme council and the approval of the
powers obtained before the revised pact
Is submitted to the American senate.
II Beginning to Take Notice
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