The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-11

clare the state of war at an end, al
though II 10 possible. according to Re
publican leaders that q resolution to
that end will be introduced before long,
possibly as the next step, IL IL shall
prove necessary. A long delay In get
ting action on the Knox resolution might
move the Republican leadership to bring
forward war ending declaration, which
they are now generally convinced they
have power to do. But that would have
to be a Joint resolution, and dealing with
tho House, which has not been keenly
interested nor nearly SO familiar with
tho peace situation as the Senate, ID
difficult affair The Knox resolution 10
merely a Senate matter, a declaration
from the Senate In It's capacity as part
Of the treaty making power, in which the
House has no part.
Senator Knox states His Aims.
Explaining his resolution, Senator
Knox said:
The purpose Of the resolution is 70
acquire for the people of the United
States opportunity to consider ana pass
upon the League OF Nations provisions
after having been placed in possession OF
all information respecting those provi-
this feature of the treaty has been dis
cussed very little except in the way OF
propaganda.
"It has not been customary In this
country to adopt measures anecting
established national Policies and inter
ests without careful elaboration. This
resolution IL aimed to make clear TO the
American people what an entirely rea-
sonable thing 1t 10 for the Senate to ask
A., Of an
plete and radical a departure from estab-
iished policies. 1t would not be dn-
fcuit to insert in the treaty provision
to accomplish what l propose; 1t could
be done in three lines which would de-
clare that any nation has che right to
reserve without prejudice to itself for
future separate and full consideration
by it's people, the question OF a League
Of Nations.
THE resolution in effect provides that
all European and other nations which
wish to adopt the league can do SO at
| once, so that no interference with the
proposal, as to them, is suggested. The
United States would. however, withhold
It's approval until the judgment OF It's
people had been ascertained.
THE third important proposal Is to
| serve notice on the Peace Conference
that the United States Senate Is not
prepared to asquiesce In the ratification
| Of a treaty containing the league, and
| that II such q treaty Is presented IT Will
| be subject to delay. 1t relterates the
proposition 1 advanced back in Decem-
ber that the primary and immediate
business of the Peace Conference is to
establish peace, and that the question
Of the League of Nations could be taken
up subsequently"
| Senator Knox was asked what course
| he would advocate in case the resolution
were adopted and then ignored by the
Peace Conference, He said the senate
would have no difficulty in separating
the Peace Treaty from the league con-
vention An apparent effort by the
Peace Conference, he said. to fcroe the
United States to take the treaty as 1t
has been written under the threat that
until it had been accepted the United
States would continue at war with Ger
many, need not give the American peo-
pie any concern. Such a situation could
| be dealt with in resolution OF Con-
gress. The President had declared re-
peatedly that hostilities have ceased and
Congress could declare that the state OF
war has ended.
I'VE are by no means helpless" added
the Senator.
Democratic Leader D1saErees.
Senator Hitchcock (Neb. entirely dis
agreed about the feasibility of separat-
ing treaty and covenant.
1T would be impossible for the Sen
ate TO divide them" he said 1.-The other
side will not be able to muster a ma
jority vote to separate them or mate
rally TO amend the treaty
Speaking of the publication Of the
. treaty. text he added:
'.Now that the Republicans have 1t
what are they going to do about st?
can't see what good 1t has done them &
make II public. II doesn't change ths
situation at all. A few weeks ago
would have regretted the publication
very much. as IL might have helped Ger
many; but I can't see what differenc'
II makes now"
The Senator said he had not examined
tho treaty carefully enough to discus:
the difference between the document anC
the published synopsis. He probabl!
would ask the Foreign Relations Com
; mlttes TO subpoena Frazier Hunt. for
merly on the stan OF TIE SON, but nov
on tho European stan of the Chicag,
Tribune, who brought the copy or tn
treaty from abroad, to ask Mr.. Hun
where he obtained his copy OF the treaty
) Senator Swanson (Virginia), anothe
, administration leader on the Foreigl
, Relations Committee. said he had gon
over the treaty carefully and found sur
prisingly little information not given II
7 the semi -offfcia summary .issued som
= weeks ago. One point of difference, h