SENATE AND THE TREATY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 10

SENATE AND THE TREATY.

The vote in the American Senate on the Shantung question encourages the hope that the majority of the Republican members will after all refuse to take the responsibility of emasculating or rejecting the peace treaty. In spite of the bitter controversy which has raged in the country the real leaders of the Republican Party have maintained a cautious attitude, and have gone no farther than to suggest extremely mild reservations which would leave the treaty substantially unimpaired. The fire eaters have monopolised the platforms of America, but Republican opposition to the present form of the treaty i s by no means so unanimous or so violent as the speeches of the extremists would suggest. In the rejection of the Shantung amendment the treaty has negotiated a very awkward turning. America is deeply suspicious of Japan's intentions in regard to China, and in this division the votes of all Republicans who wish to kill the treaty would probably be reinforced by the votes of some Senators, who will be found voting with the Democrats against later amendments. Time is working for the treaty. It is easy to criticise its details. From the American point of view it is by no means difficult to detect ambiguities and blemishes. But the treaty is the considered judgment of the Allies, and means much to the world. On calm reflection few Americans can wi. h to see it destroyed or delayed.