The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-09-08
GERMANY SIGNS PEACE TREATY
WITH AMERICA
Are Reaf6rmed by Germany
League Stunned

In getting Germany's signature to
treay of peace, August 25, Presi-
dent Harding, ably achieved a ire
mendous personal victory.
Although the treaty was separate
ly negotiated between the United
States and Germany, it is satisfac-
tory to Great Britain, France and the
other allies.
Although it Incorporates the vital
provisions of the Versailles treaty, it
is acceptable to the senate ''irrecon-
cilables" who prevented ratification
of that treaty.
1t is welcomed by the reservation
lists since it contains in substance all
the Lodge reservations to the Yer
sailles treaty adopted by the senate.
It's ratification by the senate when
congress reconvenes is considered a
foregone conclusion. The Repubi-
cans will support it solidly and
to insure the necessary two-thirds
majority.
The only criticism of the new
treaty comes from the glitter end"
Democratic advocates of the league
of nations and Democratic newspa-
pers which declared that a separate
treaty with Germany could be achiev-
ed only when an American army
marched on Berlin.
The Harding Hughes treaty, though
it Incorporates all provisions of the
Versailles treaty essential to full pro-
lection of American interests, con-
tains not a line nor a word referring
to the league.
Thus has been accomplished what
Woodrow Wilson tried to make i'm,
possible and league partisans
prophesied never could or would be
done-separate the Versailles treaty
from league provisions woven into it.
Reservations Are There
When finally ratified, this treaty
will constitute in effect an applica-
ton of the Versailles treaty between
the United States and Germany with
drastic reservations.
Most important of these reserva-
tions is the stipulation that the
United States assumes no obligations
under these sections of the Versailles
treaty designed to guarantee the
present territorial boundaries of for
eign nations.
Another specifically exempts the
United States from participation in
the international organization of
labor under the league of nations.
Perhaps one of the most signifi-
cant features of the treaty is that
Germany reaffirms her responsibility
for starting the war, since it includes
that part of the Versailles treaty
which definitely declares Germany's
guilt. The German government balk-
ed at committing itself again to this
confession, but the firm persistence of
Secretary Hughes prevailed.
u. s. Rights Affirmed
Full title to "all the rights, priv
ileges, indemnities, PREPARATIONS or ad-
vantages" specified for the United
States under the unratified treaty of
Versailles is reafirmed. Both by
blanket declaration and specific
enumeration the treaty recognizes the
claim of the America government to
these benefits and at the same time
disavows on the part of the United
States any responsibility for provi-
sions of the league of nations coven-
ant, the Shantung settlement, or the
political realignments of Europe.
State department officials consider
the treaty a full settlement, making
possible not only a resumption of
diplomatic reactions, but a large
measure of commercial intercourse as
well through its reafirmation of the
economic and financial concessions of
the pact of Versailles.
The text of the new treaty, made
public at the state department, de-
fines with unusual brevity the re-
snonsibilities 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 reafirm-
ed: It is stated that this government
''shal not be bound" by four Of the
fifteen sections; and one section, that
arraigning Emperor Wilhelm and de-
handing trial of vioIators of the
laws of war, is not mentioned at all.
While claiming all the privileges
of the reparations section as agreed