Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-25
Some Fruits of Isolation

| Nv
M claim that the expenses of the
! American forces in the Rhineland,
amounting to some two hundred and forty
million dollars, should be repaid out of Ger
man PREPARATIONS to the Allies, it can hardly
| be refuted that the embarrassments of the
| issue are chargeable to our separate treaty
with Berlin. Had the United States been
party to the pact of Versailles no such contro-
versy could have risen; as one of the asso-
ciated Powers she would have been obviously
entitled to reimbursement from the repara-
| ton fund But having rejected that treaty
and thus being outside the circle of those
holding common claims for COSTS her
right to collect through the Allies is ques-
toned Indeed, the same Senate that reject
ed the Versailles treaty froWned down the
proposal that America be represented on the
Allied reparatiOns commission, notwithstand-
ing the vital interests involved therein for
this country. Deliberately and against all
that President Wilson had done and had
counseled, the faction of whom Mr.. Lodge
was then leader, and Mr.. Harding himself
member, committed the United States to in
ternational isolation. And now we reap what
they have SoWn.
Their separate treaty with Germany which
they assured us was far preferable to joining
world league for justice and peace, is evil
IDENTIFY not the adequate instrument they sup
posed. 1t is at least two hundred and forty
million dollars inefficient, inasmuch as it
makes provision for payment of the
penses of army of occupation on the
Rhine, but leaves us looking to the Allies for
recompense. This is far from graceful pos
ture. To those with whom we refused to CO.
operate, we now must turn for help in COL
Letting our bills We would not risk the cen
tanglements" of the Treaty of Versailles, nor
drop our superior aloofness to the extent
even OF taking seat on the reparations COM
mission. But when find that Senatorial
wisdom and Republican astuteness has left
us unprotected in the sum of two hundred
and forty million dollars, then we call briskly
enough upon London and Paris for aid
An awkward situation 1t is, and anything
but pleasing to our pride. But we shall be
fortunate if it is the only one to arise or the
least troublous. For when nation chooses
to live to itself alone, it may expect difficult
ties, not only in the realm of diplomacy, but
as well in trade and finance and all the sub
tie relations by which mankind today is
bound together. Because of a short-sighted
Senate, the non-partisan Milwaukee Journal
reminds, 1--WE today occupy the ignominious
position of saying we can dwell in splendid
isolation, so far as cooperating in world
peace is concerned-but we should like some
cooperation where our possessions in the
Pacific may be threatened, we should like
some concession in Mesopotamia, where we
can demand nothing of what President Will
sons treaty assured to us, and in addition we
should like some aid from despised Europe
when it comes to collecting the bill
1t will not mend matters, however, merely
to brood upon the errors and mischiefs done.
Recognized they assuredly ought to be, for
only then can they be righted. But the con-
structiVe need is to see to it that the narrow,
petty, selfish, and therefore hazardous policy
pursued when the Treaty of Versailles was
pending, shall not be re-followed in the case
of the Four-Power pact and the other states
manly agreements the Washingt Confer
ence. The mistakes in the former instance,
whose consequences are plaguing us, make it
the most imperative that they be not re-
peated.