The Washington times., 1919-01-26

until after the peace treaty had been
signed.
Administration Senators regarded
the action of the peace conference as
signal victory by President Wilson
on behalf of the United States-the
leading advocate among the nations
Gof the world for an international
covenant to prevent future wars.
Senators of the Knox-Lodge group
i said yesterday that the decision of the
/ peace conference will lead to long de-
lay in the signing of the peace with
Germany. They only hoped now, they
I said. that the character of the league
| decided upon would be such that the
Senate could 'ratify the peace treaty
J without surrendering some part OF
the sovereignty of the United States"
A large number OF Senate members
who have not definitely made up their
| minds on whether a league Of nations
is desirable found the resolutions
adopted today most unsatisfactory
because Of their generalizations.
Door Open to Germany.
The reference to admission into the
league of "every civilized nation
which can be relied on to promote its
objects" was generally regarded as
leaving the door open to Germany,
| should developments in the future
satisfy the peace commissioners that
that nation will hold treaty obliga-
| tions in higher regard than it has in
the past
There is at present a resolution
! before the Senate, Of which Senator
Knox is the author. that seeks to
have that body go on record as op-
posed to the formation of a league of
nations before the peace treaty Is
| signed. Senator Knox and Senator
Hitchcock. chairman Of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, both
were in New York last night attend
ing the dinner of the PENNSYLVANIA
Society and could not be reached. 1t
Is expected, however, that pressure
for the adoption of the resolution in
its present form will now be dropped.
This means more delay in the
signing of the peace treaty, and the
speedy conclusion Of peace with our
enemies Is the FIRST duty of the peace
conference" Senator Lodge comment
ed curtly.
Senator Lodge is opposed to the for.
nation of league Of nations, believ
] ing that the present alliance is DOW
erful enough to guarantee the peace
for centuries to come. Senator Knox
on the other hand, believes that a
league OF nations might well be con
sidered after the peace treaty is out
Of the way.
McKeliar's Opinion.
'"The action means that the allies
are going to force Germany to come
into the league OF nations before
agreeing to conclude peace with her.
Senator McKellar confidently assert
ed. Some way will be found to com.
pei her to become one Of the nation.
that can be relied upon to promote
its objects This could not be don,
II the allies had waited until aftel
the peace treaty were signed"
Senator Borah of Idaho, one of tn,
leading opponents of a league of ma
tions, found the Paris resolutions en-
tirely unsatisfactory.
THE statements are still too gen
eral to admit of any intelligent,.com
ment," he said.
II am unable to see that the reso
luton accomplishes anything at all,
Senator Johnson Of California com
mented.
Senator Kenyon lr Iowa said: 'Thi
does look like a step forward. but from
the resolutions it is impossible to tel
how long step forward it is"
II am glad" Senator Pomerene O
Ohio said, that the peace commission
ers have committed themselves to tn
creation of a Lea oP Natiops"