The Washington herald., 1919-04-14
PREDICT CHANGE
|. IN LEAGUE WILL
KILL OPPOSITION
Senator Pomerene Says
Amendments Meet All Oh
jections to Large Extent.
ANTS CLAIM VICTORY.
One Bitter Opponent Says
Present Form1s Due to
Round Robin Of 80.

Friends Of the league Of nations
covenant yesterday predicted that the
amendments as outlined from Paris
last night would prove the Knockout
blow to senatorial opposition
The amendments seem to meet all
objections to a sery large extent. {"
said Senator Pomerene, who has been
a supporter Of the league from the
start
League opponents were Withholding
comment on the plea that they had
not yet had time TO thoroughly study
the changes.
A CIean-cat Victory.
Informally. however. one Senator who
had been bitter against the covenant
as originally submitted by the Presi-
dent said the changes, II they stood
as reported. were a clsen-cut victory
for the thirty-nine Senators who
signed the round robin pledging them
selves not TO support the league in its
original form.
! II is probable that the majority
of the round robin Senators will
not come out hat-footed for the
league-if they do change their po-
sition-until the japanese demands
for racial equality was settled
finally.
Senators See Csucessieus
In addition to the provision eI-
empting the Monroe doctrine Sen
ators saw several concessions to
their demands for changes in the
league draft
The principal ones were the pre-
servation OF the power Of Congress
to determine whether United States
would accept the leagues recon-
+ mendations for reduction of arma-
ments and the change in the man.
datory provision which apparently
makes acceptance of a mandatory
contingent on the willingness" Of
the nation concerned.
| Both of these changes were seen
by Senatorial opponents as an attempt
at least to meet the argument
that the league vitality affected the
sovereignty OF this nation as well as
the Senste's power over this coun-
/ try's foreign relations.
The unanimous consent requirement
that any decision on a matter "of
international interest or threatening
the peace Of the world must have
unanimous vote both in the execu-
| tive council and assembly was also
seen here as an attempt to meet loss
Of sovereignty objections.
study Withdrawal Proposition.
Senators were also studying the
withdrawal provision which gives
any nation the right TO withdraw from
the league on two-year notice to see
if it met demands.
'T think many of the men who
signed the round robin will be en-
tirely satisfied now" said Senator
Hitchcock. of Nebraska, retiring
chairman of the Senate Foreign Re
Iations Committee and supporter of
the league. The changes are very
satisfactory if adopted as reported
by the council"
Senator Lodge. Republican Senate
leader and originator of the round
robin on the league. was on his way
to Boston today. 1t was said at his
home that he expected to reach
there some time this evening.
Root Idea Dissipstes Opposition.
While no official statement was
forthcoming from White House or
State Department officials regarding
the amendments, it was plain. that
they believe the changes will dissipate
much Of the opposition to the league.
1t was felt that the adoption Of the
Root principle which provides that
any State, upon two years notice and
previous good record Of adherence
to the rules Of the league. may with
draw. will end whatever Republican
opposition there was based on this
point.
Senators johnson. of California, and
Kendrick of Wyoming, declined to
discuss the amendments. saying they
wished to reserve Judgment until the