Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-09-02
MAKES PEACE WITH GERMANY.

HE resolution passed by Con
grcS> declaring peace With Germany
proving abOriINc and worthless Tor
any good purpose, as ii MAS seen
at the time il would bc-thc LcSi>-
! EItive department of the govern
menl having no jurisdiction in The
matter of negotiating peace. and
! Germany being i'll no sense bound
by an cN-party resolution OF our
| Congress. the government, alter
! nearly three wears had been wasted
! finally concluded that peace must be
negotiated in the regular waN-bN
formal treaty. But being under
pledge with our Allies, pledge
given during the war not to con-
ciudc Il separate peace win Ger
many. our government, having re-
,cctcd The treaty Of Versailles. Was
under The humifialiny necessity OF
going 10 the Allies asking their con-
sent .ilat VIC might now make Il
separate peace with Germany. This
consent waS readily Obtained as the
war had been Won and the purpose
of the pledge had been accomplish
ed. Accordingly separate peace.
formally negotiated. WAS duly sigh
ed last week. Il fact of which Sec
Rotary Hughes gave notice 10 The
country on the 18th.
The text WAS made public, fol-
lowed by Il statement in which The
Secretary summarized the provls-
ions of The treaty. which is a docu-
mcnt Of abou! 800 words:
The treaty is designed to rc-es-
iablish the diplomatic relations
broken oil February ). 1917, and
consists Of three articles and Il
prcamablc. Article guarantees
on the part OF Germany TO the
United States rights and privileges
reserved under the Porlcr-knox
peace resolution, including 'iall the
rights and advantages stipulated for
the benefit of the United States in
the treaty of Versailles"
Specific provision is made that
the United States shall not be bound
by the clauses in the Versailles
treaty providing for League of
Nations and that no action of the
league shall be binding upon the
United States unless the United
States gives special permission.
1t is also declared that The Unit
ed States cannot, without its con-
sent, be regarded as a party to COM
missions concerned in reparations
and other conditions growing out
Of the war.
These reservations are made in
article , in which the rights and adj
vantagcs for the United States. rs
set forth in the Versailles treaty,
are referred TO.
1t is made clear that while the
United States is privileged TO par
ticipate i'll the Preparations commits
sion" under the Versailles treaty. it
is moi bound 10 participate in it.
Article 3 provides for the ratif-
cation and exchange of the copies
of the treaty. The treaty provides
that the United States assumes no
obligation under those parts Of the
Versailles treaty relating to parts OF
boundrics of Germany; the polili-
cal clauses for Europe embracing
certain provisions with respect 10
China, Siam, Liberia, Morocco,
Egypt, Turkey, Bulgaria and Shan
tung.
1t is provided that the United
States shall not assume any obliga-
ton for that part OF Inc Versailles
treaty relating TO international Or
Saniza!ion of labor.
Thus our government, while hold
ing on 10 all the rights secured to
ii by the repudiatcd treaty of Vcr-
saillcS, wisgleS out of all the obi
gallons. SO Mr.. Harding ana his
party have scrappcd The League Of
Nations for the preservation Of
peace, SO far as the United States
are cOncerncd--a consummation
Christendom has hoped and prayed
for as Il splendid achievement Of
great war. The world will pro-
nouncc the verdict on the piiiabic
end Of il all: the work of petty,
vindictivc party politics and a VIC
ious determination TO humiliatc the
man they could not control.
But The League still stands for
The other members constituting the
greater part Of the civilized world.
If without the powerful influence
and and Of his. the leading power
OF the earth, the League can live
and preserve The peace, the time
Will come when America will sec
the folly of standing out. Friends
Of the League. like Judge Taft and
other leading Republicans. no doubt
sec now The folly Of their support
of MIR. Harding last fall believing,
as they said. that he would anchor
the nation safely rs Il member OF
the League. On this question Mr..
Harding, catering to both factions