The Washington herald., 1921-03-08
Separate Treaty With Germany.

OcPaIakc treaty WIN ocfmauys
TT is NJ. Rene Vivani who is to come to this
country to plead on behalf of France, that
the United States shall not make a separate
peace with Germany. Neither Mr.. Balfour nor
any other representative of the British government
IS coming to make the same plea for Great Britain.
M. Viyianis visit is, believe, unnecessary. 1t
IS hardly believable that the United States will de-
hberately desert its allies of the war now, any more
than our armies would have done this on the battle
fields of France and Belgium. This is not the
American way. 1t is directly opposed to the
American code of honor
There is no inherent trait of character stronger
in all the human family, than that of loyalty De
sertion to the enemy has always and everywhere
been condemned. This is not merely a product of
eiviiraton. II is part of the code of the savage
as well as of civilized Americans will not.
break it in this Twentieth century.
!, Those who favor, a separate peace with Ger
many in the Senate or out of it, form very small
rninority, and even they are swayed more by i'm
pulse than matured judgment. This proposal in the
Senate came in the heat of the fight the league
of nations. Had the covenant not been mussed up
with the rest of the treaty. separate treaty with
Germany would never have been seriously proposed.
:. Nor could it have had serious consideration had
il been possible at that time disentangle the
enant from the treaty. The final passage of the
resolution by majority vote, was a sort of def
ance to President Wilson; the to his refusal
to accept reservations. The atmosphere of the
Senate today is totally different as is that of the
public
!, Such action is now favored by but two ele-
pents; those who believe it would favor Germany
and those who believe it would seriously embarrass
Great Britain. Both are mistaken in the results
that would follow. The treaty is now the accepted
and operating law of Europe 1t binds every gov
ernment of Europe, neutral well belligerent,
except Russia, which has no government.
No action by the United States alone can
change this. Our action cannot change the fact
that the treaty terms bind Germany. 1t would only
make it more difficult for France 1t would leave
France alone, cut off from sympathy, our moral
support, Our helping hand. 1t would add to:
Lafayette, we are here" the words "But we will
not stay to see you safe though We will pull
your machine out of the morass, but we will leave
il for the enemies of France to wreck" -
AS for Great Britain, it is quite certain that
such action would be welcomed by considerable
dement, not unrrpresented in her government. She
has been constant brake to the demands of
France. There have been constant evidences that
the German navy having been wiped from the
and Great Brtain's dominions having been still
further "far flung" the British content to quit
resume trade and reap the harvest.
4 There would then be the American example and
American encouragement to also desert France, to
leave her isolated to struggle along and possibly go
down under. her burdens. Nor would it alone be
desertion of France but of Poland, CzechoSlovaka,
Jugo-Siavia, -Rumania and all the nations of,
Europe our armies helped free and reconstitute.
Il would greatly hearten only Soviet Russia. Our
dead would indeed have died in vain; all the high
ideals of Americans would be thrown in the rubbish
heap and the flag of national dshonor would
Fly over thera- ....
!. 1t is useless to contend that France and our
other allies were warned; that they told
President Wilson did not represent the United
States; that the treaty he framed it., would not
be ratified. As fact this warning but referred to
the league of nations covenant, its ENHANCEMENT
with the treaty. and not to the treaty proper.
i Moreover, while America may snub its Presi-
dent, If it viii, foreign governments cannot. Even
those most hostile to him would resent this. They
say: This not you represents American sentiment;
this, not what you say must be our guide; we will
consider this and not you; you, will ignore; you
can go way back and sit down; those not present
in person have given Americas instructions"
Il Mr.. Wilson was President of the United States;
he was there; he the United States in his per-
son. and If he misrepresened US, that affair."
and did not warrant discourtesy and ignoring by
foreign governments to whose aid he, as Com
raander-in-Chief of armies, had sent the help
of 100000 fighting men.
II 1t cannot be credited that when all of these
simple facts considered, that Mr.. Wilson is
out of the question, the order will ever go out to
haul down the flag"
III 1t is reported that an overproduction. of
prunes viii work hardship on the growers.
ALSO no doubt on boarders. -