The Dominion MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1920. AMERICA AND THE TREATY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 270, 9 August 1920, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1920. AMERICA AND THE TREATY

It was after long hesitation and delay that the United States declared war on Germany and gave the Allies effectual aid in winning victory. Possibly history may repeat itself where American participation in the formidable task of reestablishing _ and consolidating world peace is concerned. At all events it now seems certain that in the impending Presidential contest the American peoplo will be enabled to pronounce a clear verdict upon tho humiliating policy of detachment :from international affairs which has been imposed upon them as the result of a political wrangle in which tho actual merits of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations Covenant were to a great extent ignored. It is no longer in doubt that Treaty ratification will stand out as a cardinal feature in the election, and there are some grounds for holding that recent developments, as they bear on divisions over domestic questions, are in favour'of those who advocate or support international co-operation. One of to-day's cablegrams reports a speech by Governor Cox, the Democratic nominee for the Presidency, which is noteworthy as an effective statement of the peace issue. While the Republican Senators and a strong section of their party have striven to wreck the Treaty by loading it with reservations, they have shown themselves disinclined to their attitude to its logical conclusion. Governor Cox goes to the heart of the matter in stating that the peace proposals of Senator Handing (the Republican nominee) mean a separate peace with Germany. As he further observes : "Senator _ Harding proposes that we remain out of the League. lam in favour of going in." Little as they may relish this pithy statement of essentials, the Republicans and their Presidential candidate, are hardly in a position to condemn it as inaccurate. At the same time Governor Cox has common sense and reason on his side in brushing asido the Republican contention that League membership would compromise the national independence of the United States. In this connection the just comparison he institutes between Article 10 of the League Covenant and the Monroe Doctrine ought to appeal with force to his countrymen. It has been argued that Article 10, which guarantees the independence and territorial integrity of League members, might involve tho United States indefinitely in external quarrels. Obviously in a similarly . strained interpretation as much; might be said of the Monroe Doctrine. So far as international policy is concerned, tho general <sfcct of the proceedings at the national conventions of the two great parties and of subsequent authoritative utterances has been to demonstrate that the Democrats alone are offering the country a positive and courageous lead. Set in contrast to their straightforward advocacy of League membership, tho ill-defined attitude of the Republicans and their selection of a somewhat undistinguished Presidential candidate alike appear to less advantage. It is admitted even by Republicans that'their convention passed over much abler and mprc distinguished men in selecting Senator Harding to contest tho Presidency. Well-informed commentators' declare that ho owes his selection to tho determination of the Republican Senators to impose their will on the party, and their belief that his theory of the Presidency is in harmony with their own. Tho Spriii;/ficla amongst other newspapers of standing, agrees that Senator Harding's nomination will he taken to mean that tho Senate is reaching out to control the Presidency. It is strongly emphasised by his opponents that Mr. Harding's claims to consideration rest chiefly on his being "a welltrained and well-disciplined party servant," and that the nation needß a man of a very different stamp as President. *

A Democratic victory which would bring the United States into the League of Nations cannot be confidently looked forward to, but it is by no means unlikely since of tho two main parties the Democrats aro snowing themselves to_be decidedly the more progressive in their general aims. This is made particularly clear in the attitude taken up by Mr. Samuel Confers, still the most influential figure amongst those who lead organised Labour in America. Mr. Gompkrs has expressed a distinct preference for tho Democratic Party, _ and definite grounds for this preference exist, though they arc at best vaguely indicated in the respective party platforms. It is generally agreed that the recent Republican convention was dominated by the conservative elements of the party, and sotti* observers aro of oninion that this state of affairs will be maintained. Thus the Des Moines Rcpizte.r, an Independent Republican newspaper, observes that:

Since the Republicans have registered n distinctively conservative party character, the Democrats are likely, despile their own southern conservatives, to become more predominantly the party of liberalism, courting the vote of Labour for one thing.

The most conspicuous evidence of conservative tendencies in the Republican Party is, of course, the selection of Senator Harding, an ultra-Conservative, ae a Presidential

candidate, and it is said that his selection not only affronted Labour, but was received with frank dismay by the Progressives, who constitute an important section within tho Republican fold. Striking developments may yet be witnessed as the election campaign progresses, but on the whole the outlook is reasonably hopeful from the standpoint of those who wish to see the affairs of the United States put in such order as will enable it to play; a part worthy of a great nation in the international field. Of the two Presidential candidates, Governor Cox is decidedly the_ more commanding figure, and he is likely to appeal much more effectively than his opponent to the voting rank and file.