The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1921-07-08
SECRETARY HUGHES
WOULD NOT FORGET
VERSAILLES PACT
The Peace Resolution Recently
Adopted by Congress Spe-
cincally Mentioned the Ver-
sailles Treaty, Joke on "Ir-
reconsileable" Element
Among Republicans.
(By David LaWrence.)

(By David Lawrence.)
Copyright 1921 by Daily Times.)
Washington, July CAS- the "irre-
concilable" element in the United
States Senate unwittingly played a
joke on itself? This group opposes the
Versailles treaty and would prefer
not to have it submitted even with
reservations but Charles Evans
Hughes, secretary of state and law
yer extraordinary, has grasped one
sentence in the Knox-Porter peace
resolution which has just been signed
by President Harding and that one
sentence is the key to the whole sit
uation. 1t is that section of the peace
resolution which announces that
while the United States declares a
state of peace with Germany, the
Washington government does not
yield any of the rights obtained eth
er by signing the armistice or
through the Versailles treaty. The
resolution of Congress specifically
mentions the Versailles pact.
Now( asks Mr.. Hughes in effect,
how can the Government here COLI
serve American rights under the YER
sailles treaty by onicially discarding
that document. Mr.. Hughes doesn't
intend to throw 1t aside. He intends
to use it. He regards the resolution
of Congress as imposing a duty on
the executive branch OF our govern
ment to safeguard all American
rights under the Versailles treaty.
Feeling that way, he will recommend
ratification of that treaty with reser-
vations. President Harding will have
the final say as to what shall be done
and he is being besought by members
of the Senate to forget the Versailles
treaty and make a new pact with
Germany calling it not treaty Of
peace but a treaty Of "amity and
commerce"
But Secretary Hughes has gone at
his job with the same energy as he
used to give to the preparation of
a case before the Supreme Court of
the United States. Ever since Con-
gress passed the peace resolution,
Mr.. Hughes has been concentrating
on his part of the task. Congress hav-
ing acted, he fels it is up to the Exc
cutive to move next. Mr.. Hughes
has lost no time. He has been in
constant conference with Mr.. Harding
for two days and while he refuses
publicly to discuss his plans there is
no doubt about the kind of advice he
is giving Mr.. Harding. Secretary
Hughes gives the impression Of a big
lawyer advising his most valuable
client. He will tell the United States
government what should be done to
safeguard rights growing out of the
European War. He will recommend
certain things as a lawyer and a jur-
ist. It will be up to Mr.. Harding as
President and custodian of American
foreign policy to say whether he will
follow law or domestic politics. 1t is
making considerable noise but the
irreconcilables are not as strong as
they were when the Wilson Admin
istration was in power and the entire
Republican party was conducting a
general attack. Now it becomes par
ty matter. One of the irreconcilab bles
himself privately admits that If Mr..
Harding and Mr.. Hughes get together
on program and announce it, there
will be considerable support for the
same eNen from the irreconcilable
group. He predicted that If Mr.. Hard
ing made the treaty a party matter
probably only a half dozen votes
would be cast against it. Certainly
true the irreconcilable cement is
the Democrats would support the
Versailles treaty even though they
will make a determined but probably
vain effort to retain the clauses re-
ferring to the league Of nations. More
than two thirds of the Senate favors
CONTINUED on page 81