Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-23
ROOT TREATY IDEA
ENDORSED IN PARTY
Republican Managers Agree
to Senate Reservations
on League Covenant.
By n. o. MESSENGER.

"Ratify the peace treaty with reser-
rations as to the covenant of the
league of nations"
This suggested program for repub-
1icans of the Senate, put forward by
Elihu Root, has the approval of re-
publican party managers outside of
the Congress. Chairman Hays of the
republican national committee. who
has been in Washington for several
days, is agreeable to it. In fact. it is
animated that Mr.. Hays is identified
with the latest pronouncement of the
distinguished ex-senator and former
Secretary of State upon the subject.
1t will be recalled that it was Mr..
Hays who engineered the statement
put out some time ago by Mr.. Root
recommending changes in the cove
nant OF the league. These suggestions
were cabled to President Wilson over
the White House wires before they
We're made public. The nesotiators of
the treaty did not see fit to adopt all
OF the suggestions, but did include
some modified forms of them.
Perfecting of Covenant.
The dominant idea of the republican
party managers. as so often stated. is
that the republicans should not oppose
the league of nations as a whole, but
should perfect the covenant. and now
since that is no longer possible, to reach
approxima tely the same end by making
reservations in it's application. This
policy, of course. is Numerically OPP
posed to that of Senator Borah. who
would make positive opposition to the
league a party policy.
Chairman Hays, speaking for his as
soclates in the national management
OF the party on purely political phases.
has felt that the national committee
mas right to counsel with the party
managers in Congress about vital ques-
tons Of legislation which might affect the
party's future So he has besought re-
publicans in the Senate not to take the
chance of defeating the treaty of peace,
IN opposing the covenant of the league
of nations. while at the same time regis
tering their objections to certain fea-
lures Of the covenant.
Elihu Roots influence in senatorial
councils is admitted to be weighty; he
is the "elder statesman" indeed, it is
said, and his advice is taken as the
ripe Judgment of long. experience 1t
Is entirely appropriate for him to offer
suggestions publicly to senators. while
Mr.. Hays might feel that the proprieties
limited him to suggestions made pri-
vately to individuals.
One feature of Mr.. Roots letter,
published in The Star yesterday. at
tracted further attention of senators
today-his claim that it will be en-
tirely feasible, practicable and ac-
cording to precedent to attach reser-
vations to sanction of the league The
main contention of Senator Hitchcock.
leading the administrations forces.
mas been that the alteration of the
crossing Of st" or the dotting of an
would hold up peace and send the
treaty back for further negotiation.
Presidents Threat.
Senators who agree with Mr.. Root
feel that while President Wilson has
carried out his threat of SO inter-
weaving the treaty of peace and the
covenant of the league of nations that
they cannot be separated any more
than the Siamese twins could have
been severed without bleeding to
death. the President has not made it
impossible for the Senate to declare
that 1t does not sanction the appli-
cauon OF certain sections in GER
tain circumstances.
These senators point out that the
proposed reservations apply to ques-
tions almost strictly American-with
the exception of article 10-and that
other nations would have to strain a
point to take exception to our reser-
vations. These senators do not believe
Tor moment that the other nations
would cavil at the reservations or
that peace would be delayed an hour
by their attachment to the treaty.
The belief is widely held among
senators that the treaty will be
promptly ratified after the reserva-
lions are added, and the best judg-
ment on Capitol Hill is that they will
be added after debate which is not
expected to be unduly prolonged.