Evening journal., 1918-12-30
WILSON facing
fight TO FINISH
Declaration for Group OF
Nations May Delay Rati-
fication of Pact
ALL WARNINGS
ARE IGNORED

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3O.--A fisht to
the finish between the President and
the senate over the peace treaty Is
looked upon here now as certain In
view of the developments Of the last
2l hours.
President Wilson's Guildhall speech
on Saturday, in which great emphasis
was laid on the necessity for abolish
| ing the balance OF power" and sub
stituting for IL "a single, overwhelm-
ing. powerful group Of nations and
! the Presidents frank statem-nt that
I his paramount purpose in breaking all
precedents and going 70 Europe was
in the interests OF league OF nations,
have made 10 clear to leaders in the
senate that the warnings uttered by
senator Lodge lMass) and senator
. Knox Pa that no p.ovision must be
included in the peace treaty for a
I league Of nations. disarmament, free
dom OF the seas, removal OF trade bar
riers and open diplomacy have been
ignored by the President, or he has de-
cided to try 20 force ratification OF a
treaty containing these provisions.
Cabled reports that IL IS the Presi-
dents plan net only to include in the
peace treaty. which will be sent TO the
senate for ratification, provision for a
league OF nations, but that 10 is in
iendcd { make that provision the very
basis Of thet treaty. are added conflr-
nation in the minds Of senate leaders
here Of President Wilson's determina-
ton to fight 20 the last ditch 10 try 10
force inclusion Of all Of the fourteen
points which remain in the peace
treaty.
As has been stated repeatedly. unless
there is a very radical shift OF position
and Of sentiment in the Senate, a peace
treaty including i've points. not con-
sideled Dy Republican Senators and
many Democrats as essential 70 estsb-
fishing peace. viii be amended before il
Is ratified. or else delayed until some
compromise IS reached.
Until recently cable dispatches from
Paris and London led Senator's 10 be
lieve that the President was willing TO
have. the treaty 90 10 the S-nate for
ratiheation with only a statement In
II which would place the senate on rec
ord as in favor Of The principle Of a
league Of nations.
As recently pointed out there would
not have been sufficient objection 10
this course 10 jeopardize the chances
of ratification Of the treaty
II when the treaty finally Is drawn
and CONES to the Senate for action the
whole instrument has as its base a
league Of nations. bitter and prOtract-
ed tight over ratification is certain. with
tn odds largely in favor Of the Senate
winning its contention.
Members or the administration here
are counting 10 a large extent on the
effect on the mind Of the Senate Of hav-
ing presented for ratification a peaoe
treaty agreed TO by the delegates Of the
great powers Of the world. u Is ex-
pected the President will bring to bear
the strongest pressure his ONCE COM
mands 20 force Senators into line when
the time for ratification comes.
10 is foreseen by some Senator's as the
result Of developments IN the situation
that the question Of ratification may de-
velop into nothing short Of an endur-
ance contest between the President and
the Senate That Senate. Lodge is quail
ifed 10 express the attitude Of al least
half OF the Senate there IL little doubt.
While many Senators are as yet un-
Wlllll- PUBLICLY 10 Ifuut iilrA ftoibltu
on this m0mentous question the point
was stressed by Senators who support
the Lodge attitude that only 80 Of the
20 members Of the next Senate win
have 10 stand by the Lodge plan TO
block ratification Of the treaty.
On this subject the Presidents state
ments in his Guildhall speech virtually
prophesying substitution Of an asso-
ciated and very powerful group Of na-
hons for the balance Of power Is
regarded here as highly significant aside
from rs bearing on the proposed league
OF nations.
Taking cabled reports of Saturdays
developments at their face value. Il is
the view here that some solution %
this problem was worked out by the
President and Premier Lloyd George in
their conferences and there Is strong
desire on the part Of the senate to
learn The "details Of this agreement.
Onlcial expression Of this desire on
the floor Of the senate when it again
resumes regular sessions is 20 be ex-
pected
drove bark 10 the Crown and NIitrc
Hotel. Here he remained until \