Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-05-30

Paris, May 2S-Gaston Doumer-
que, former prime minister of
France, and vice-president Of the
senate committee on foreign af-
fairs, nas ady Used French diplo-
mats against attempting to induce
the United States to enter the
league Of nations or to ratify the
Versailles treaty.
Frances policy, he said, should
be to abstain from anything that
might be construed as meddling in
Americas internal affairs.
1.-THE flat rejection of the treaty
of Versailles and of the covenant
of the league Of nations is certain
ly very painful to us" said M. Dou-
mergue. France has no other
legal claim on Germany except
that provided in the treaty.
But Americas action should
have surprised no one. 1t was a
ne.icr, almost inevitable, of
the error committed by France and
Aer allies in ignpring the fact that
President Wilson's signature OBJ
Iigated no one but himself. A bet
ter understanding Of the consti-
tuition Of the United and of Amer
ican public opinion would have en-
abled us to avoid this serious mis-
take.
''It is too late to repair a fault
already committed and there Is
nothing to be gained by weeping
over it. It is much better to retain
this lesson; two peoples, who pos
tess mutual est eem and friendship
for one another, have permitted a
Misunderstanding with infinite
consequences to raise itself be-
tween them. Only absolute frank
ness and courageous confidence
will cause it to disappear.
1--WE can only bow with respect
before the frankness Of President
Harding, who, in the face of his
own country and of the other ma
tions Of the world, refuses to ap-
prove The personal policies of his
predecesso We have no reason,
on that account to diminish our
confidence in the loyal America
who gave her blood on our battle
fields for justice and liberty. 1t
is the undenIable. right of the
United States and of her govern
ment to take a sovereign and in
dependent attitude and to reject
a treaty which she has not con-
stitutionally ratified.
''France has too much respect
for the interior and exterior policy
of her friends and allies to permit
anything which might resemble
an attempt to meddle in American
affairs. 1t should be matter of
dignity on our part to make no
observations ON the subject of the
treaty of ersailles, which has
been rejected by the United
States.
but France can and should say
automatically. that she renouncel
none Of her rights in the face of 9
Germany too much tempted tC
evade her responsibilities. The
signature Of France is at the bot
tom of the Versailles pact and il
has been constitutionally ratified
by the French parliament. We
have not the right to go back on
our signature. 1t would be a ia.
tai imprudence for us to permit
Germany to consider this treaty as
a new scrap of paper solely be
cause some of its clauses were
judged incompatible with the con
stitution and national sentiment
of the United States.
"This reserve, 1t seems. shoul,
be as easily accepted at Washing
ton as we accept, in Paris, the re
serves of President Harding. Be
tween honest people there is nevel
any Misunderstanding. Indeed
there are Indications In the atti
ture to the new president of tn,
United States that he disinterest'
himself neither from France, MOI
the subject OF reparations, nor tn,
future of peace and the safe
guarding Of civilization in tn,
world. That should be sufficient
for us.
"There are two things which
the United States will never dream