The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-08-25

they have brought to their ranks not only |
a ma jority of the senate but the executive
branch of the government including men ,
like Secretary Hughes who originally ia /
yored the Versailles treaty with reserva-
tions Senator Lodge, who drew up
set of reservations to the Versailles treaty, ;
has agreed to the amendment Of that docu- /
ment and is in favor OF the new peace {
treaty.
Senator Knox. who wrote the peace
resolution of congress, is pleased because
the new treaty follows almost exactly the
purposes of that resolution. The "irrecon-
cilables" set out to defeat the league of
nations to see to it that the United
States assumed no political obligations in
any treaty to make a separate peace with
Germany, and to see that Americas eco
monte rights growing out of the European
war were safeguarded
All these points in the program OF the
''irrecOnclableS' have been absolutely
won by them. The new treaty ignores the
league Of nations. 1t doesn't involve the
United States in any assumption of po-
| litical obligations or responsibilities in
European affairs. 1t confirms the con-
| gressional resolution declaring peace.
/ 1t safeguards Americas economic rights
/ in all the territories given either through
mandates or ceSsiGnS TO the victorious
| powers in the European war. 1t affords
| the basis for claims of equal commercial
| opportunity in oil regions and in other
areas where valuable resources may be
found.
Will BE Little Opposition.
! The new treaty viii go through the
senate without much opposition. The
| Democrats are not strong enough to pre-
| vent its passage. The Democrats have
| a membership OF only slightly more than
Ione-third of the senate and there are at
least Il half dozen Democrats who will
vote with the Republicans to make the
necessary two-thirds.
The question is being asked how it is
that the United States can obtain rights
under the, Versailles treaty which it
doesn't consider valid because it failed
of ratification But the truth is the
United States. has 1aSt1 made what
tftmonnts td6a favored uhtion''' treaty. 1t
has been customary for governments III
making treaties with each other to OBJ
tain all the rights or special privileges
in commerce which We're being granted to
iOther powers. Thus Germany gave the
lallies certain economic rights. She gives
America the same rights by a sweeping
Insertion that the same privileges as were
granted to other countries in the Yer
sailles pact now are granted to the
American government The Versailles
treaty Is recognized as in existence be-
tween Germany and the European pow
ers just AZ it would be If it had never
been offered TO America for signature. II
IS true also that the Versailles pact
which was ratified by the senate was never
returned to Germany by the department
of state either under the Wilson or Hard.
llng administrations. Much use was made
Of that fact during the negotiations be.
cause at any time the American govern
nent could have submitted the Versailles
pact with reservations excluding the un
desirable clauses and thus obtain the sam,
thing. Sa Germany obliged America by
following the Harding-Kn formula
Secretary Hughes, as a distinguished
jarist, has decided that Americas lega
rights are fully safeguarded The issu,
now is before the senate which win ratify
or reject the pact after the recess ncxt
month. The treaty will, however. b,
ratified.