Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-30
FALSE PEACE

Under the impression that the Depart
- mcnt Of State was handling the foreign
affairs Of this government in rather compe-
tent style, the public as n whole seems TO
have been content to view Senator Knox
and his pet peace restorative with COM
parativC unconCern.
Not the least of the reasons for this in
difference is the obvious futiity of an in.
strument which declares peace without
making it, which spurns the Versailles
treaty and at the same time demands n
share Of the benefits with which that pact
is in part concerned.
Unfortunately, the sbsurdity Of the Knox
resolution is not harmless. The possibilities
Of mischief which it contains are more
menacing now than ever before, since the
resolution is TO br brought TO n vote in the
Senate today. Should it eventually pass
both houses Mr.. Harding will be faced with
the necessity of squarng practically and
realistically the peace program which he
and Mr.. Hughes have been working out
with Senator KnoS's remarkable procedure
1t is difficult to see how these two policies
can be reconclcd The debate on the rcso
luton has caused division ip the Repuh-
lican ranks. Senator Nelson of Minnesota q
who ranked as n mild reservationist during
the treaty fight under the last administra
ton, is sticking spiritedly TO his guns, and
his denunCiation of the resolution revealed
insight and broad constructive patriotism
II am not a diplomat" he told his con
freres the other day. ''and perhaps for that
reason l am unable 70 concur in the rcso-
luton the passage Of which will encourage
Germany to continue with her reluctance 10
comply with the treaty of Versailles as 10
disarmament and rcparation.'
This is a clear and elemental view of the
from, wi
contradictions of the resolution. there is 10
be considered first Of all its effect upon the
nation with which the whole world is do
sirous of entering into a solid and pcrma
ncnt peace.
There is ample evidence from Berlin that
the German Government deeply desires the
resolution to be passed and signed by the
President. This means that the trouble.
making features Of the declaration are balm
to n nation which welcomes complications
10 cloak and confuse its real debt to cvili
cation. II is undeniable that the Knox
resolution. II adopted, will tend TO render
cooperation between the Allies and the
United States a matter of extreme difficulty.
Looking at the situation from the most
exclusively American viewpoint. ii is i'm
possible to discover that the Knox plan
relieves this country from any Of its embar
easements. Indeed il adds 70 them ma =
terially, since, ms Senator Underwood has
maintained. "the President can make better
terms under war status than under a
legal peace status
Except for the German property which we
ConhsCatcd in war undertaken in partner
ship with the Allies. and except for the
profits accruing 70 US from tho Versailles
treaty. which We have spurned. we are with
out bargaining material 10 lay upon the
table IL We proceed 10 frame a separate
peace with Germany.
The revised Knox resolution docs not urge
To" President to negotiate such n pact. But
II tho Knox plan does not lead 10 this out
come it is headed absolutely nowhere.
You would go continues Mr.. Under
wood "only as n supnltant, because by this
resolution you say that the war is at an
end"
The rrcconciabcs behind Mr.. Knox do
not appear To have thought this far ahead.
But many Republicans, as has been proved
before and was lately demonstrated in the
admirable debates in the Senate on this
subject. have brought sound common sense
70 bear upon the problem.
Mr.. Hughes policy thus far has been one
that is wholly Inconsistent with the Know
nostrum. II Congress approves it. il is
reasonably safe TO say that the executive
branch Of the administration will exert il:
best efforts To offset it's worst influences.