Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-11-07
Tells Hitchcock They Are Ac-
ceptable, Providing League
of Nations Covenant Is Not
Nullified
PROGRAM OUTLINED
TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Declares if Foreign Relation
Changes Are Adopted the
President Could pigeon
hole" Document

Washington, Nov. Z. - President
Wilson to-day told Senator Hitch
cock, of Nebraska, administration
leader in the Senate Treaty fight,
that he would be entirely satisfied
with any reservations which sup
porters of the Treaty might feel JUS
titled in accepting, provided they
tions covenant and were designed
for the purpose interpreting the
terms of the Treaty.
The President, Senator Hitchcock
said expressed "his very strong ap-
provaP' of what had been done to
date and agreed that no compromise
would be offered unless a deadlock
was reached on a resolution of rati-
fication.
Senator Hitchcock outlined his
program as first an endeavor to de-
feat the reservations reported by the
Foreign Relations Committee, and
if that failed, to vote down the reso-
luton of ratification containing
them. His next move would be to
present a resolution of ratification
and should a deadlock ensue, to at
tempt o compromise with Republi-
can opponents.
Threat of Pigeonhole
Senator Hitchcock said If a reso-
luton of ratification containing the
committee reservations were adopt
ed 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 probable course of the
President should the committee
resolution prevail.
Proppcd Up in Bed
Senator Hitchcock was with the
President for half an hour. Mr..
Wilson received him propped up in
bed. Senator Hitchcock said the
President showed keen interest
throughout the conference and eX-
pressed his judgments and opinions
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 sena-
tor said, "and expressed the hope
that we would be able to work out
some settlement between the reser-
vation senators and those who fa-
vor unqualified acceptance of the
Treaty whereby we could meet on
common ground"
Gives Present Status
Senator Hitchcock explained to
the President the present status of
the Treaty and expressed the opin-
ion that the Republicans could Sc
cure adoption of the committee res
ervations while the Senate sat in
the committee of the whole as only
q majority was required.
"Our intention then" the senator
said, 'if the reservations still are in
their present form, is to oppose the
resolution of ratification. Some
Democrats, of course, probably will
not line up with us on. that, but
I am confident we have enough
votes to defeat such a resolution of
ratification because two-thirds will
be required.
I'VE will then offer a resolution of
ratification ourselves which may be
defeated"
The senator was asked what the
next move would be and replied that
would be the point at which com
promise might be effected.
The senator said he found the
President much improved in health. |
but that the lines in his face show |
ed that he had endured great suffer-
ing during his illness.
The whole reservation program
was considered at a conferences Of
Democratic Senators last night but |
no decision was reached Mr., Hitch
cock expected to give the President |
the views of the Senator's as |
developed at the conference.
The meeting with Senator Hitch |
cock was the first personal confer |
ence the President had arranged |
since he was compelled by illness to |
abandon his western tour in the in
terest of the Treaty.
Reservations UD
With all. pending amendments to |
the Peace Treaty out of the way. the
II Foreign Relations Committee res
ervations and preamble were before
the Senate to-day for action. The
Treaty lineup of Senators was ex-
pected to be altered when the reser-
vations were brought up as some of
those who have been favoring amend
ments have expressed opposition to
reservations, while amendment on
were known TO look with IA
vor upon some of the reservations.
Prospects for final vote on rati-
fication of the Treaty remained
vague.