The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-12
U. S. PRESTIGE IN
PERIL IF PEACE
TREATY FAILS
Refusal to Sign Own Pact
to Make Nation World
Laughing Stock.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMS

BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMS
Foreign Editor, Scripps-Howard Newspapers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Failure
to ratify the Kellog treaty to out
law war will deal sledge- hammer
blow to Americas prestige abroad.
Not only that, but it would re-
duce Americas voice to a mere
whisper at the peace tables of the
world. Any American diplomat who
in the future might have the te-
merity to suggest an anti-war meas
ure would be laughed out of court.
At the signing of the treaty in
the cloakroom of the French for
eign Office on Aug. q stood by the
side of one of the most brilliant
editors in Europe, M. Auguste Gau-
vain, of the Journal DIES Debats.
AS Secretary of State Kellog adj
vanced to put his signature to the
famous document with the spotlight
of the world beating down upon MIN
the editor whispered to me:
eyes, but will his signature be
honored? Will your senate ratify?"
Europe Has Doubts
The same doubt I found existed
pretty generally all over Europe.
Recently, on the Hoover good will
tour through Central and South
America, members of the party fire.
quently we're asked the same ques-
ton.
When the conversation was pur-
sued-whether Europe or in Latin
America, it was the same-I found
well-defined skepticism existed
whether the American government.
taken as whole, really is ready to
assume leadership in preserving
world peace.
Foreigners readily admit that
many individual American states
men possess the necessary vision,
but doubt is expressed that the views
of these men, if put in the form of
international treaties, would receive
the necessary two-thirds vote of
appreciation when submitted to the
senate.
1t is pointed out that President
Wilson signed the treaty of YER
sailles, only to have his action re-
pudiated, and that he gave the
world the covenant of the League
of Nations, only to see his own
country refuse to be a party to it,
after every other important nation
in the world had joined.
Furthermore, it is recalled that
President Coolidge, in a message to
congress, announced what was
tantamount to his adherence to the
world court, only to see his wishes
scorned by the United States senate
Would RidicuIe America
Now comes Secretary Kellogg
with pact to outlaw war which
virtually every nation in the world
has signed at his earnest request.
Reputation of this latest American
peace plan, under the circum-
stances, would not only make the
United States the laughing stock
of the world, but undoubtedly would
deal body blow to American lead
ership in international affairs, even
in matters where the President him
self assumes the initiative. Foreign
ers simply would refuse to take this
country seriously.
IF the senate were to repudiate
the treaty signed in Paris by it's
own secretary of state and offered
to the world as Americas contri-
button to world peace" says the
Daily News, of London, eve should
have to wipe America definitely off
the map as an active ally in the
cause of international progress"
If the writer's personal observa-
tons during the last six months in
Europe and South America count
for anything, the above is mild
and polite expression of foreign
opinion generally. The good faith
Of America would appear to be In
the balance.