The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-12-18
Treaty Talks Get
Kindly Hearings
On Senate Floor

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-Expres-
sions that seemed to point toward a
re-opening Of the peace treaty fight
within a few weeks were voiced on
the Senate floor yesterday when the
subject bobed up in the midst of con-
sideration of the railroad bill.
The symposium of views that went
into the record during the drief de-
bate included opinions from virtually
all factions Of the divided Senate mem
bership, but they all struck note Of
conciliation Differing widely in their
suggestions for solution, they stood
together on the general proposition
that politics ought to be forgotten and
that the Senate, acting independent
of executive opinion, ought to do
something promptly to end suspense
and establish state of peace.
The discussion reflected the trend
of negotiations whicsh have been in
progress privately among Senators
for an agreement that would get the
question finally out of the way. There
was increased activity in that direc-
ton during the day and some of the
leaders predicted some formal action
carly in the new year.
Senator Knox, of Pennsylvania, a
leader in the irreconcilable repuhli-
can group of treaty opponents and y
member of the foreign relations COM
mittee, brought the subpect to the
floor by another attempt to get be-
fore the Senate his two resolutions
to establish a state of peace. The
effort was blocked, but he obtained
consent to send the neas-
ure to the committee, where he ex-
poets to renew his request for action.
A plea by Senator Knox for some
sort of settlement was seconded by
Senator Smith, Of Georgia, a reserYa-
tion democrat who declared the tine
had come to stop academic discussion
of who held up the treaty and get to-
gether in give anu take effort for
compromise. Action also was urged
by Senator Nelson, of Minnesota,
one of the mild reservation repub-
licans, and by Senator Myers, Of Mon
tana, a democrat, who voted last ses-
sion for some reservations and also
for unreserved ratification.
In the compromise negotiations pro-
ceeding at private conferences among
senator's the principle activity seemed
to be among the democrats, the re-
publican eservationists indicating
that they awaited some concrete pro-
posal from the other side. The demo-
cratic managers were hopeful that
such an agreement soon would be
reached, but they predicted it would
not take tangible form dntil after the
Among the democrats there was
much discussion of the possible effect
Of the compromise negotiations on the
contest between Senator Hitchcock,
Of Nebraska, and Senator Underwood,
of Alabama, for election as democrat
ic leader of the Senate. The negoti-
ations started yesterday with the mild
republicans were conduct
ed by Senator Underwood's support
ers, but he declared last night that
while he stood for some sort of COM
promise he was not in revolt against
President Wilson nor leading any sort
Of opposition to the treaty.
Knox Resolution Blocked.
Consideration of the first of Sem
ltor Knox's resolutions, which would
ratify the treaty in so far as estab-
Iishment of a state cf peace is con-
was blocked by Senator Me
kcllar, democrat, Tennessee, while
Senator Nelson stopped the second
one, proposing merely to declare that
a state Of peace exists.
nview of the attitude of President
Senator Knox declared, the
Senate should proceed in its own way
10 secure formal peace status, work
ing out the best solution it could at
lnce.
Responsibility for the delay was de-
,lared by Senator Smith to be "about
$3.50" between the two parties. 1t
was only a waste of time to try to /
tx the blame, he asserted, adding that
n his opinion more than two-thirds
# the Senate favored ratification with
reservations of certain kind, the
ohraseology Of which coud easily be
worked out If the real friends Of the
reaty were to come together in con-
'eTsnce.
I'VE win make no progress by Grim