The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-07-05
POLICY
NOT DETERMINED
State of Peace With Ger.
many Does Not Clear
Situation II
HUGHES CARVING. ..
VERSAILLES PACT
lrrecOnciiables Hope Harding Will Draft
New Treaty With misunderstanding
Seeks Treaty of Peace and Commerce
Hughes Clears Legal TangIes.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

by DAVID LAW RENEE.
Especial Dispatch to The Reformer)
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON. July American
foreign policy under the Harding ad-
ministration is still an undetermined
fact. President Harding himself doesn t
know exactly how peace with Germany
viii be re-established after the Knox
Porter resolution declaring a state of
peace Is on the statute books repeating
all legislation passed during the war.
Neither does Mr. Hughes know the
formula. The highest spokesman of the
administration officially admits that
they do not yet know which paths they
will choose in seeking to extricate the
United States from the anomalous posi-
ton in which our foreign policy has
been ever since President Wilson de
lcllned to accept the reservations of the
Republican senate to the Versailles
treaty.
| For several days there have been
I whispers that Mr. Harding would result
mt the Versailles treaty with explicit
reservations excluding the league OF ma @
tons covenant and all other clauses
That might involve the United States i'm
| any obligation to enforce the treaty.
The wrath of the "irreconcileable ,
group in congress which is Just ~ much
opposed to the treaty as to the league
slowly gathered. The whispers have
grown softer. No longer is it repeated
that the President has determined upon
a course of action. The only thing that
| Is said Is that Mr.. Harding's words in
ms last message to tcOngresS have not
| been withdrawn. He declared il would
be wiser for the United States to ZEN
gage under the existing treaty" rather
| than To negotiate Il new treaty
Secretary Hughes has been carving the
Versailles treaty 1t has been pains
taking Job. He has done it quickly and
| without publicity. He hash t finished.
| The big question of whether it il prac-
| ticable to handle the matter by submit
| ting the Versailles treaty with reserva q
tons has not vet been answered and
there l. a lingering hope among the ir-
reconcilables that Mr.. Harding will not
/ lind IL wiser" To engage under the eX-
isting treaty but viii make a new
ltreaty after all.
Mr.. Harding has insisted that the
next step was the negotiation of a
Itreaty of amity and commerce with Ger
many. The American could include as
many portions of the Versailles treaty
as desired and yet not have the. docu
/ mcnt labelled Versailles Treaty, but
Il then the question arises as to whether
n the United states. IS entitled To the
\ rights of victorious possession which
the allies claim were given the United
II states along with the allies only upon
Il condition that the Versailles treaty he
ii ratified. In other words the rights are
no longer Germany's but have been
banded TO the allies and the contract
in which Germany gave those rights
away is the Versailles treaty.
H Mr.. Hughes ability as a mrist comes
i'm handy and he has already solved
many knotty question Of law i'm the
department of state. His logical mind
made a simple case out of the mandate
controversy and reduced the Mexican
E question to a plain statement of law.
h Some of those who have been opposed
n TO the ratification of the Versailles
treaty in any form are wondering why
H Mr. Harding bOtherS with the Versailles
4 nact or anything European and doesn't
Il forget Europe altogether but since com
ing into office Mr.. Harding has found
d that the payment of the ten billion dol
h lars owed lis by Europe is inseparahly
4 hound up in the reparation question
Il and that matter Is in turn a vital part
Il of the Versailles treaty To safeguard
n America 5 finances and to enable the
II American people to redeem their Lib
ertv bonds at some where near their
1 original price, the Harding administTa
ton Is PLAYING as close to Europe a.
Il possible without involving America il
pledges to participate in future quar-
rels abroad.