The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-07
10. KS CERTAIN
RESERVATIONS
Wilson Will Accept Interpre.
tations Not NuIlifying
League of Nations.
LAUDS SUCCESS TO DATE
President Talks With Party
Leader for First Time
Since His Illness.

washington, NOV. 1.-Senator
Hitchcock, of Nebraska, the admin
istration leader in the treaty fight in
the senate, was summoned to the
White House today by President Will
son to discuss the program of reser-
vations now under consideration by
the senate.
Senator Hitchcock said the treaty
situation In the senate would deter
mine the time of his visit to the
White House. The senate was as
sembling when the presidents invi-
tation reached him. Mr. Hitchcock
desired to be present at least during
the early stages of the days debate.
The whole reservation program
was considered at a conference 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 devel-
oped 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 aban-
don his western tour in the interest
of the treaty.
Threatening CIoture Rule.
With administration leaders threat
ening to invoke the cloture rule to
curb debate, the senate today pro-
ceeded with the consideration of the
drastic reservations to the peace
treaty reported out by the majority
of the foreign relations committee.
Democratic senators in the CONFER
ence last night devised means for
speeding the consideration of the
treaty, and Senator Hitchcock, of Ne
braska, administration leader, stated
today that If ceaseless debate con-
tinued the minority party would in
woke the cloture rule. With the pres
ident's attitude clearly defined 1t was
believed that the administration SEN
ators would resort to every possible
means for quick action.
The majority reservations were be-
ing taken up today with the posi-
fore the day closed, although consid-
cradle debate was promised.
Republican leaders, who were
thrown into furry yesterday by the
precipitate action of Senator Hitch
COCK in asking for an immediate vote
Tor ratiffcation, were still certain to-
day that the treaty will be disposed.
of by the end of another week.
Senator Hitchcock arrived at the
| White House shortly before 1870 and
was taken to the presidents sick
room. W.. I
o. X. Of Interpretatfve.
| President Wilson today told Senator
fHitchcock That he would be entirely
satisfied with any. reservations sup
potrers OF the treaty might feel JUS
tif1ed in accepting, provided they did
not nullify the league of nations cove
| nant and were designed for the mr.
pose of interpreting the terms of the
| treaty.
The president, Senator Hitchcock
said, expressed his very strong an
prova" of what had been done tc
date and agreed that no compromise
would be offered unless a deadlock
was reached on resolution of ratifi-
| cation.
The president was laudatory of the
success we have had so far and ex-
pressed hope that there might be
found a common ground for a settle
inent between those who are for
| reservations and those who desire the
treaty ratified without reservations.
| The president appears to have under
| gone considerable suffering" SenatCy
hitchcock said, although he was sur.
pfsed to find the president in q state
or such improvement. He asked
questions and replied to questions
with very keen interest and dis
cussed the treaty in a very decided
manner Senator Hitchcock said.
Senator Hitchcock outlined his pro-
gram Is first an endeavor to defeat
the reservations reported by the for
eisn relations committee, and, If that
lalled. to vote down the resolution Of
ratlfication containing them. His
next move would be to present a res
| Of
| deadlock ensue, to attempt a compro-
mise with republican opponents.
Senator Hitchcock said If resolu-
| tions of ratification containing the
| committee 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 probable course of the presi-
| dent should the committee resolution
prevail.
Senator Hitchcock was with the
| president for half an hour. Mr.. Will
son received him propped up in bed
Senator Hitchcock said the presi-
! dent showed keen interest through
| out the conference and expressed his
| judgments and opinions energet-
| ically.
The senator outlined the plan to
be followed in consideration of the
committee reservations and the pres
ident 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 reserva-
tfon senators and those who favor
unqualified acceptance of the treaty
whereby we could meet on common
ground"