Evening star., 1921-08-26
The Peace Treaty.

The Peace Treaty.
!: In the briefest possible terms the
..eeparate peace with Germany consists
',of ratification Of the Versailles treaty
without any reference to the league of
nations or participation by the United
States in European affairs save at its
own wish. The treaty consists Of re.
tital of the act Of Congress of July 2,
1921, declaring the state of war to be
at an end. as a preamble, and then In
three articles it is set forth that 1) the
United States is to have and enjoy all
the rights, privileges, indemnities,
reparations or advantages specified in
the act of Congress and stipulated for
its benefit in the treaty of Versailles;
(2) that these rights and advantages of
the treaty of Versailles are those COM
prised in a certain enumeration, but
that the United States is not to be
bound by certain other stipulations,
land (3) that the present treaty is to be
ratified lin accordance with the con.
,stitutional forms of the high contract.
ing parties"
This treaty is doubtless q bitter dis.
appointment to those who felt that
there was danger in dealing directly
and separately with Germany for
terms of peace-a disappointment be.
cause they felt that their own way of
peace-making was the only way. 1t
has been proved that it is possible TO
make peace on the basis Of the Ver-
sailles treaty without any weakening
: in established.
This is, perhaps, the first time in
history when one nation has made
peace with a late enemy in practically
identical terms of the treaty made by
its allies and rejected. But never be-
fore has there been such q peculiar
situation. The United States was in q
unique relationship in the great al
lance or association that fought the
war against the central powers OF Eu-
rope. 1t alone Of all the allied and as.
sociated nations held a position of
political and physical independence. 1t
alone had a tradition that prevented
it. If followed, from participation in
world affairs as the associate of any
other nation or group OF nations.
: When the time came to decide 1t had
to hold aloof from a proposed world
! league in which it would have been re.
sacrifice that tradition.
That decision was made and ratif1ca-
ton of the Versailles treaty was re-
fused. Remained then nothing but
Separate peace, unless the United
States and Germany were to continue
!"at war;" with no shots fired and with
all intercourse resumed save In the
strictness of official relationship. Con-
gress having declared war in accord
ance with the Constitution, Congress
ended war, and did so in terms that
form the basis of a treaty. The task
Of the executive, though simplif1ed,
was not easy. 1t has been performed
with dispatch and with faithful adher.
-ence to the tradition of American in
dependence of world association, with
loyalty to the late allies and asso-
ciates and with no yield Of advantage
to the late enemy.
Ratification of this new treaty Is to
be expected to follow promptly upon
its submission to the Senate when It
reconvenes next month. Already sub.
mitted informally to the foreign rela-
lions committee. it has been pro-
nounced satisfactory. It will. doubt
less, be denounced by those who felt
that "peace and, honor alone lay in
the treaty of Versailles. 1t win be
condemned as a sacrifice Of the sacred
principles Of alliance by those who
felt that that instrument alone AFFORD
ed the United States with its greatest
opportunity to be an agency for peace
and war prevention for the benefit OF
fgaankind. i
MBut this new treaty will be hailed
with satisfaction and approval by
those who respect the tradition Of
independence, who wish to
See the two nations lately at war re-
stored to a basis Of peaceful if not
cordial relationship, and who are i'm
patient with the long delay in attain
ing to that basis. And judging by the
results Of the ''solemn referendum Of
Last November there can be no doubt
that those who will approve the treaty
as a righteous way Of lending the
.war" are in the overwhelming ma.
ss3ority.
70 wealfhv Americans have been go.