The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-01-04
- By DAVID LAWRENCE.

80 BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer.
Copyright 1922.
WASHINGTON, Jan. An alliance
of all or none. This is the slogan which
reflects the attitude of a bipartisan coal
ition whose principal object will be the
defeat, if possible of any treaties which
set up the United States as a potential
foe or opponent of any group of nations
The issue is not to be as had been sup
posed the phraseology of the treaties now
being drafted at the arms conference but
the broad principle Senator Borah on
the Republican side has fired the opening
gun by demanding that the United States
shall not enter an alliance with tbref
other nations for the protection OF certain
rights in the Pacific as against another
group of nations which are admittedly
weak On the Democratic side the in
fluence of former President Wilson is be
ginning TO be felt in the revival of the di-
rectness he preached on his first trip to
Europe.
4 paragraph from the famous MancheS-
ter speeches delivered by Mr. Wilson as
a reply to Premier Clemenceau's first
thrust against the league of nations idea
is being circulated among Democratic sen
she of balances OF power a a means OF
fighting the new treaty policy on which
the United States has embarked.
Like Position in Paris
There is a curious parallel between the
situation that exists today at the arms
conf ,rence as between Premier BRAND
on the one hand and the American and
British delegations on the other, and the
situation that prevailed in January 1919.
nh haI = In
of Prime Minister Lloyd George and the
British delegation and found himself OPP
posed by the French. NJ. Clemenceau
was dema nding a defensive alliance as
the best insurance of peace in Europe
Mr. Wilson fought the idea but finally
agreed to submit TO the American senate
such a pact, feeling that it would un-
questionably be rejected as Inconsistent
with American tradition which has al
ways opposed special alliances of a mill
tary character. The news today from Flu
rope. particularly the interview given BY
Premier BRAND to q London Daily Mail
correspondent in Paris, reveals that the
French have not given up hope of getting
q defensive alliance with England n
against Germany and that if they get
that alliance they viii recede from the
extreme naval demands and play ball,
at the Washington conference. The Brit
Ish thus far have given pledges in
Speeches of their officials and statesmen
but have not been ready to write their
promises into treaty. This. the French
believe is, essential, In the desire foI
that guarantee as against German aggreS.
sion may be found the key to French pol
icy at the Washington conference. Sc
fer as the United States is concerned. il
is not party to the negotiations as it has
been Enthusiastically plain to the French
that America will not enter any tri-
Tarty agreement for the peace in Europe
q n in
French circles where the argument i
Iaade that if the United States is willing
to enter a fOur-power treaty to preserve
the rights of European and American ma
tons 1000 miles from the homeland
what possible objection can there be &c
the making of a similar entente for the
preservation of peace in Europe. only
1900 miles away.
To Fight All Special Treaties
But the Democrats controlled by the
Wilson influence are preparing to fight
the whole idea Ofspecial treaties and al
dances and the argument they will use is
best summed up in Mr.. Wilson's speech
at Manchester, England, in which he saC
in part,
always felt from the very beginning of her
history that she must keep herself from
any kind of connection with EUropeaI
policies, and I want to say very frankly
European politics. But she is interested
in the partnership of right between Amer
lea and Europe. If the future had moth
ing for us but new attempt to keep the
world at a right pOise by a balance OF
power. the United States would take ne
interest. because she will Join no combina
ZION of powers which is not the combina
tion of all Europe. She is not interested
I"erely in the peace of Europe, but IL
the peace of the world.
i Although three years have passed since
those words were spoken. the situation
has changed very little. The French were
eheckmated then but are now asking foi
balance of power in Europe once more
Premier BRAND says today, Let there
first be pact or alliance between Great
Britain and France pact which we of
fered and asked for but have not obtained
Such a pact would be the platform OF
which the reconstruction of Europe
could best be built 1t would be the beS
proof that our naval building program is
not, and never can be, directed agains
our English friends
Question in Washington
But in Washington official circles. thu
question Is asked
Against whom would such an alliance
be directed? Is reconstruction best OBJ
tanned by revival of the balance Of
power in Europe and viii America b,
benefited or harmed economically by
such policy IN Europe. ....
: Ambassador Harvey's instructions from
President Harding are to listen to the
European proposals and refer. them t.
Washington for decision. The United
States will lend her moral support to any
project looking toward economic recon
struction provided it doesn't involve
America politically. But while the Eu
ropeans are discussing alliances and bal
ances of power, the bipartisan coalition
in the American senate is preparing tx
carry to the American people a program
of opposition. TO all treaties which imply
protection of one group of nations rs
AGAINST anothar and will -oefar o., an, 49,