“ONCE BITTEN”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 21, 6 January 1928, Page 4

“ONCE BITTEN”

pRESS and other discussions, as cabled, of the proposel FrancoAmerican pact for the preservation of peace are following pretty closely the lines that have already been suggested here that they were likely to take. There is, however, a point that, according to one of yesterday's messages, was raised by the French Foreign Minister which is perhaps worth some little special notice. When he received the “Note” from the American Secretary of State embodying the proposals submitted from Washington he very pertinently sought information as to “what the position would be if the United States Senate refused ratification.” M. Briand has no doubt a very lively recollection of what happened to the Treaty of Versailles and the collateral joint Anglo - American guarantee to France against German aggression which President Wilson signed on behalf of the United States. Quite within its rights under the Constitution, the Senate, when these documents were submitted to it for legislative confirmation, incontinently threw them out, thus leaving France, and indeed all the Allied Nations, in an entirely false position. The American Senate then set to work and made a separate peace treaty with Germany under which all America’s rights and advantages under the Versailles Treaty were preserved, but none of its responsibilities were accepted. M. Briand evidently

realises the possibility of history repeating itself in this respect. That his doubts in this regard are not altogether without foundation is suggested by a communication sent to the London “Times” by its Washington correspondent towards the end of November. At that time the resolutions of Senator Borah and Senator Capper, to which we have already made separate reference, were under discussion, and of them the correspondent said that “enquiry among members of Congress served to deepen the impression that no such plans for the advancement of the cause of peace had any chance of favourable consideration by the American Legislature at its coming session. The most,” he added, “that is anywhere expected is that their discussion should keep the question alive, and help to a clearer understanding of the issues involved, but it is not even certain that, at a time when domestic problems and the impending General Election have to be considered, they will get much attention.” M. Briand is probably no less well informed than the “Times” correspondent, and so, in the light of past events, feels some very natural hesitation about committing his country to a pact which may never secure the formal recognition necessary to make it operative. It would thus seem quite possible that he may ask that the proposals submitted by the American Secretary of State should have the endorsement of the American Senate before being seriously considered on France’s behalf. In any event, this would seem to be a very prudent precaution for him to take.