The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-11-08
PRESIDENT WILLING
TO ACCEPT LEAGUE
INTERPRETATIONS"
TELLS SENATOR HITCHCOCK, IN
INTERVIEW IN SICKROOM, ANY
RESERVATIONS INTENDED TO
INTERPRET AND NOT TO NULLH.
Fly COVENANT WILL BE ALL
RIGHT.

Washington. Nov President Viii
son today told Senator Hitchcock of
Nebraska, administration leader in the
senate treaty fight, that he would be
entirely satisfied with any reservations
whicn supporters Of the treaty might
feel justified in accepting, provided
they did not nullify the league of ma.
tons covenant and were designed for
the purpose Of interpreting the terms
Of the treaty.
The president, Senator Hitchcock
said, expressed his very strong ap-
proyal" of what had been done to date
and agreed that no compromise would
be offered unless deadlock was reach.
'ed on a resolution Of ratification.
Senator Hitchcock outlined his pro
grams, first, an endeavor to defeat the
reservations reported by the foreign
relations committee, and, if that failed,
to vote down the resolution of ratifi-
cation containing them.
HIS next move would be to present a
resolution Of ratification, and, should
a deadlock ensue, to attempt to compro-
mise with republican opponents.
of ratification containing the commit
tee reservations were adopted, that
would settle the fight so far as the
senate was concerned, but that the
president could 'pigeonhole' the treaty.
He declined to speculate as to the prob
able course Of the president should the
committee resolution prevail
Wilson Shows Keen Interest
Senator Hitchcock was with the pres.
ident for half an hour. Mr.. Wilson re-
ceyed him propped up in bed. Senator
Hitchcock said the president showed
keen interest throughout the conference
and expressed his judgments and opin-
ions energetically. The senator outlined
the plan to be followed in consideration
OF the committee reservations and the
president gave general approval.
He was laudatory of the success we
have achieved so far" the senator said
"and expressed the hope that we would
be able to work out some settlement
between the reservation senators and
those who favor unqualified acceptance
Of the treaty, whereby we could meet
on common grounds"
Senator Hitchcock explained to the
president the present status of the
treaty and gave it as his opinion that
the republicans could secure adoption OF
the committee reservations while the
; senate sat in the committee of the
whole, as only majority vote was re
quired.
"Our intention then" the senator said
"if the reservations still are in theil
present form, is to oppose the resolution
of ratification Some democrats, OF
course, probably will not line up witt
us on that, but ! am confident we have
enough votes to defeat such a resolu
ton of ratification because two-thirds
will be required. We will then offer a
resolution of ratification ourselves
which may be defeated
The senator was asked what the mex
move would be and replied that would
he the point at which compromise might
be effected.
Senator Hitchcock did not go over the
committee reservations with the presi
dent in detail. but will send copy OF
them to Mr.. Wilson, who will study
them at his leisure
The Nebraskan said he found the pres
ident much improved in health, but thai
the lines in his face showed that h,
had endured great suffering during his
Illness
Holds Reservations Destructive
The president, Mr.. Hitchcock said
opposed the committee reservations
and also the preamble under debate il
the senate as obstructive The pre-
amble, the president said, would b'
very embarrassing.
He approved heartily" said Senator
Hitchcock the plans of the friends o
the treaty to bring about q deadlocl
10 negotiate a compromise The presi
dent Indicated that any compromis'
we thought necessary which would no
serve TO destroy the treaty would b
satisfactory to him, even if the com
promise reservations are embodied II
the resolution of ratification.
Should the treaty's friends be doubt
ful on some particular point in th'
compromise negotiations, Presiden
Wilson said he would be glad to discuss
the question later .
Senator Hitchcock said he advise'
the president that he expected "a grea
parliamentary battle" over voting ol
resolutions of ratification, but was con
fident that q majority of the senat
was against killing the treaty
The meeting with Senator Hitchcocl
was the first personal conference th
president had arranged since he wa
compelled by illness to abandon nj
western tour in the interest OF tn