New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-12-07
Won't
Recall Treaty
From Senate
Hitchcock Says President
Holds Lodge Reservations
Alone Are Dead, and Pact
Need Not Be Resubmitted
By Carter Field
NeW York Tribune
Wdshtn 0tOn Rurenu

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. g. President
Wilson does not intend to withdraw
the peace treaty from the Senate and
then resubmit it, Senator Hitchcock,
Administration leader, announced to-
day. This statement goes much fur
ther than the Nebraska Senator indi-
Gated yesterday, when he gave the i'm
preston the President would allow the
treaty to remain in the Senate for
some time, then withdraw it and later
resubmic It for ratification.
The President was said to take the
position that failure of the treaty to
obtain twothirds majority with the
Lodge resolutions attached did not kill
the treaty, but did kill the Lodge reser-
vations.
Majority Leader Lodge, when told of
Mr.. Hitchcock's statement, took very
different view of the situation. He
asserted emphatlcally that the treaty
was dead" Mr.. Lodge plainly was
surprised at the stand taken by the
President.
"Bluffing," Say Republicans
Senator Hitchcock's statement as to
the Presidents plans caused some of
the Republican leaders to feel that
perhaps the Administration Senators
are doing little bluffihg in the hope
of frightening the so-called mild res
ervationists" into talking compromise.
The President" said Senator Hitch
cock, told me yesterday that it was
up to the Senate to take action on the
Senate, he said, and the Senate must
dispose of it.
eve will continue in a state of war
until the Senate has ratified the treaty.
The Lodge peace resolution is dead
Republican opposition to it is too
strong for its adoption in the House.
and the Republicans in the Senate are
split on it. 1t never can pass either
House"
The President, according to Senator
Hitchcock, is relying on his belief that
the treaty automatically remains be-
tore the Senate until it is either rati-
fled or rejected by a two-thirds vote.
Vice president Marshall made a ruling
to this effect the last day the Senate
had the treaty under consideration and
three times was overruled by vote of
the Senate. Senator Lodge said the
President certainly could not expect
the Senate to reverse itself merely to
get the treaty actively before the Sen
ate again.
All Waits on Wilson
Nothing has been done toward work
ing out compromise set of reserva-
tions. Administration leaders cannot
hope to get any support from Republi-
can friends of the treaty until thew
get some assurance as to just what the
President really will accept in the way
of reservations. The opinion among
most of the Republicans is that it is
useless to talk compromise unless the
President withdraws his objections to
the reservations on Article X and the
British voting power
Senator Hitchcock has attempted to
sound out some of the "mild reserva-
tlonists," but has been told to wait until
the railroad bill has been disposed of
There is no hope of getting anything
done with the treaty before Christmas,
With the President taking the position
that it ~ the Senate's business to re-
vive the treaty, it is thought possible
it may be monthr before the pact is
ratified by the United States.
Some Of the Republican friends of
the treaty said the way not to get .Ae
treaty ratified at all is for the Presi-
dent to get into quarrel with the
Senate over whose duty it is to put
some life in the document again, and
that q compromise never will be
reached until the administration ap-
proaches the Republican leaders with
willingness to give more than it
takes.
Indefinite Delay Probable
Meanwhile, action on the resolution
establishing peace between the United
States and Germany seems to be in fol
an indefinite delay. Republican leaders
in the Senate and House have can
vassed the situation carefully, and have
decided that the Lodge resolution de.
claring the existence of status OF
peace between this country and Ger
many, introduced during the closing
hours of the last session of Congre IS
will not be pressed to vote for the
time being.
The situation in Europe had a biz
influence in the decision of the Re
publican leaders. they said. With Ger
many refusing to sign the protocol t.
the peace treaty and the Allies pre-
pairing to send Marshal Foch into Ger
many at the head of ar army to force
Germany to sign, the Republican lead
ers in Congress do not want to take the
responsibility for Withholding Amer
lean aid in the crisis.
Senator Lodge and his associates il
Congress are willing to accept Presi
Continual ~, mart NAME