Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-30
The SEPARATE German Peace,
And What Might Have Been

OUCH satisfaction as Republican d.
plomacy may take in its separate
German peace does not compare with
the complacence which must be felt in Ber-
lin. To discredit the treaty Of Versailles and
undermine its moral support has been per-
sistent aim of those who fell heir to Prus-
sianism's thwarted schemes Repeatedly
they have tried to evade that treaty's terms
and repeatedly to sow dissension amongst
its upholders. But they met with i'll sue
cess until fortune turned their way a group
of United States senators and executives i'm
placably prejidiced against all policies bear
ing the mark Of Woodrow Wilson's states
manship. These the representatives of Ger
many found ready for negotiations discover
ed from the Allies and in pointed disregard of
that great Covenant which free nations made
to preserve the principles Of peace so dearly
won. Thus it is that after months of secret
proceeding the White House and the State
Department announce the contamination OF
act concerning which the Hon. Henry Cab
bot Lodge, now chairman If the Senate For
eign Relations Committee, averred but three
summers ago: cit would brand us with ever
lasting dishonor and bring ruin to us also if
we undertook to make separate peace"
The new treaty doubtless will pass the
Senate, and will serve, but only in the manner
Of Portals sorry suitor-"God made him, and
therefore let him pass for man. It is of
scant credit to it's negotiators on this side of
the water 1t does no honor to the Republic. 1t
reveals no CLEAN Of the spirit in which tens
of thousands died and millions sacrificed that
America might prove worthy Of the vision
vouchsafed her. Instead, its tone and temper
are those of a trader proud of sharp dealing,
but too near-sighted to know when he is
worsted. Regulating the Versailles treaty
and covenant, it at the same time claims 'all
the rights and advantages stipulated (there-
in) for the benefit of the United States" an
attitude which is tantamount to declaring,
1--WE refuse to bear our part in the duties of
maintaining peace but we insist upon our
share of the profits accruing.' Diplomatists
of the Lodge-Johnson school plume them
selves on this policy, but history will set 1t
down to their shame.
1t may we'll be that this inglorious COM
pact represents the best that the White
House and the State Department could do
in the circumstances; and certainly it was
desirable to bring the anomalous estate of
war; with Germany to an end. But who is
responsible for the handicapping circum-
stances if not the Administrations own par
ty? Secretary Hughes, one may readily be-
lieve, would have preferred plan of settle
nent consistent with the role that America
played as comrade among nations fighting
for world cause; and President Harding in
his first address to Congress indicated his
wish for treaty negotiated in general rec
ignition of that of Versailles, rather than for
separate peace. But against such coun-
sells stood the Irreconcilables, determined to
destroy, so far as they could contrive it,
every vestige of the great fabric which Wood
Wilson had designed. So it was, per-
haps, that the State Department made the
best of the niggardly opportunities left it by
it's reactionary party. And from this point
Of view the treaty with Germany in that it
promises resumption of satisfactory trade
relations and fastening of business read
justment, is to be welcomed.
Yet, the regrettable fact remains that all
these and many other and greater advan-
tages could have been obtained long ago but
for those forces of reaction and blind preju-
dice that now hold the whip hand at Wash
ington. The peace that would have crowned
America with honor and repaired the world s
broken fortunes, they prevented. And now,
after costly delay, they bring us buck
ster's settlement. Let us acknowledge it's
advant ages and make the most of them. But
let us not forget who they were that sac
rificed the incomparably finer peace and
that, holding the rarest opportunity which
ever fell to American craftsmanship, played
the part of him who threw a pearl away
richer than all his tribe