New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-08-17
Fate of Shantung Amend
ment Said to Depend on
Three or Four Votes.
With Result in Doubt
Lodge Draft Prepared
Republicans Busy Devisins
Questions To Be Put to
President AT Conference
BY Carter ield
Ne~ York Tribune
y GShlr0to7l Bureau

WASHINGTON, Aug. l6.-A canvass
.: the Senate to-day. following Presi-
dent Wilson's opposition, as expressed
Yesterday. to Senator Hitchcock. not
only to amendments to the peace
treaty. but to reservations as we'll.
disclosed the following situation:
A clear majority obtains in the
Senate for four reservations along
the line Of those drawn by Elihu
Root.
Senator McNary's twenty to twen-
ty.fve' Republicans who would vote
ior the treaty with reservations
dropped to eighteen when he at
tempted to-day 10 enumerate them.
and this eighteen included Senators
Lodge and Harding.
The "irreconcilables' profess to be
much encouraged in the hope Of beat
ing the treaty altogether
Adoption Of the Shantung amend
nent depends on three or four votes,
which may swing either way. Repub-
lean leaders confidently claim a ma
jority. Democratic leaders are hope
full Of beating 1t, but little anxious.
q an glad 10 see the Presidents
spine is stitfening," commented one
Republican Senator who is classed
with the "irreconcilables" Il hope it
becomes rigid. | would much rather
break it than bend it"
Johnston Answers Threat
On the Presidents threat 10 Senator
Hitchcock that il the Republicans
forced direct amendments he would
send Senators Lodge and Knox TO Ber-
lin to negotiate new treaty with Ger
many. Senator Hiram Johnson said:
Il cannot believe he said |. but if
he did send Senators Lodge and Knox
to Berlin we would get treaty better
for the American people than this
treaty negotiated il the ar at Haris."
Two developments of the day re-
garded as significant centred about
Senator McCumber, is the stanchest
among the Republicans. Senator Nc
Nary said he approved the draft of
reservations which Senator Lodge has
been showing TO Senators III the last
few days This draft consists virtually
Of the four Root reservations and an
other proposal not IN the nature Of q
reservation which would place limita-
ton on the power Of Americas repre-
sentatives i'm the league council and as
sembly. Senator Lodge has not per
mitted the text OF these reservations
70 be made public.
McNary Estimate Shrinks
The other McNary feature was that
".wen-y to twenty five" Republican
Senator's who would vote for the treaty
with reservations. This number was
regarded as so important by Senator
Hitchcock yesterday that he told the
President about IT, Mr.. Lodge, whom
Senator McNary Included in his list,
has sad within the last few days that
there must be a direct amendment IN
Shantung. and friends Of Senator
Harding, VINO was also included, say he
mas almost reached the point where
he would vo-e TO kill the league of
nation. no matter what reservations
were adopted.
Actually. however, there were very
few Senator's to-day who believed that
the President would maintain his
stand OF opposition TO reservations.
Democratic Senators carefully closed
the doors, pledged newspaper men not
TO mention their names, and then sad
me PRESIDENT eNensuaily "oulo Eis.u
III iese'E a 'io-ls s'licieilliS S'lo"- "
WI. M.n d. sue hgg M cans ~ e,l7
hleeo'i. ii'i'les ne ~ ~
"u,es ''''i,'.i' = No' p,l,.
y rioiS ~" '''e $500 +no,'
5es.;r. ' ,s +,.o~' 90 4'''e''' '''0'''
% "a, ,.s.,,1,4 o,,.c ms three
montLs ,,o,o ;, - ana of 4oor, I've
would b.,., H., o,o,,,,i, ,o,os 10
re;ac4 ~ 10 CIV 's,tatbo~ va
bresl he brar+ IF t6a no,.Id, ~. moi ,,
~ o - ''V - NV
Prepare questions Tor wilson
Republican members of the commit
tee are working on questions which
they propose TO ask the President. Now
that the President has agreed to an
open meeting, with stenographers pres
the Canifol the Rannh1ican Senators