The sun., 1918-12-28
SENATE IN FAVOR
OF PEACE LEAGUE
Continued from First Page.

treaty is brought to the Senate for
ratification. is not committed to opposi-
ton TO such a plan as the Presidents
league OF nations to preserve the future
peace OF the world. Neither is the party
opposed necessarily, to some other points
TO which Senator Lodge objected as
parts of the peace treaty.
The position taken has been clearly
outlined. but generally Misunderstood
II is merely that the Senate has no in
tention OF ratifylng n treaty OF peace
with the Objectionable points included
IN II. The debatable points more prop
erly Should be made the subjects OF
future treaty or series OF treaties. The
peace treaty should prescribe the condi-
tons on which the war Is to be ended.
/. was explained. and not lay down a
definite programme for the future of the
entire world.
Not Disposed to Promise.
Cabled suggestions that the President
would be satisfied with definite
promise in the treaty and with the
Senate's ratification of this promise that
the league OF nations. the limitation OF
ornaments. freedom of the seas, the
abolition OF economic and trade barriers
and of secret diplomacy. would be sup
ported by the American Government
have not resulted in the shifting OF the
position OF n single Senator so lar as
can be learned. The Senate is not Will
ing to go that far. The Senate is will
ing. however, to ratify peace treaty
containing in II general Endorsement OF
the theories embodied In four or these
FIVE points. OF the removal OF trade and
economic barriers there is no possibility
OF favora Bile action.
The four points, other than the one re-
lating to trade barriers. are interna-
tional questions. 1t was pointed out, and
will require years to work out to perfec-
ton. They are not essential as part
OF the peace treaty.
The point relating to the removal or
economic and trade barriers, despite the
explanations which have been made OF
II. is regarded by the Republican Sena-
tors as a purely political issue. While
Mr.. Wilson has denied that this point
means a commitment to policy or free
trade there never has been satisfactory
explanation to the Senate Of the point
in its various phases.
Much confusion exists IN the Senate
concerning tine plan for a league OF ma
tons. and the confusion was increased
when the President recently Authorized
a denial OF the report that he is in ac-
cord with The programme of the League
to Enforce Peace. The only difference
discernible thus far between the Presi-
dents plan for an International league
and the plan OF the League to Enforce
Peace is that the latter provided an In
ternational police force TO back UP the
DEGREES OF the proposed league.
Sea Freedom Question.
Freedom of the seas" Is still n mys-
terry in many ways 10 the majority or
Senators. No authoritative definition OF
what Il means has reached them.
Limitation OF national ornaments is
not opposed by the majority OF Senators.
The opposition TO the Inclusion OF a def
mite provision for this in the peace
treaty is that Il IS not essential TO the
winding up of the war. and. like the
league OF nations nd the other points to
which objection has been made. must be
treated separately and exhaustiyely
after peace is established
The question Of open diplomacy is an
other OF the five objectionable peace
points" 10 which there is no defined con-
crete opposition. A majority Of the
Senators, or at least a sufficient numb
to force Il out OF the treaty OF peace.
thoroughly believe the point is not an
essential part OF the treaty whose main
and only object. they declare. should De
TO define the conditions winding UP the
world war.
Another OF pe Presidents fourteen
points unsa tistactory to the Senate is
that relating TO Russia. This point calls
for the evacuation OF Russia At the
time the President compiled the peace
points German troops TO q large extent
were in control OF parts OF Russia, As
il is now proposed 20 send American and
allied forces into Russia the substitution
OF reconstruct ion of Russia" or some
similar phrase is expected.