Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-20
Circulation Every 10707
Evening Yesterday XOSES
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 20. 1919
Now Realizing the Situation

Predictions that the Senate failure to
rat,fy the Treaty of Peace would disturb
and depreSs business IN this country and
retard Reconstruction" IN Europe arc
boinr fulfilled in way that is alarming
Rc,,,bbcan Senators. The steady de-
yrrcistion of foreign exchange, with IFS
,brcst OF curtailing the expectation Of
american products which Europe needs
md which the exporters Of this country
must sell. if production is 10 continue, IS
but ono effect Of the Trcaty's defeat hy
nc Senate.
among the signs of fear among Re
,,nbG,an senator's Who had the principal
rart in the smothering Of the Treaty IS
senator Knoxs proposal 70 ratlfy It now
n III details, but after separating II from
H., caovenant Of tho League Of Nations
~ Ifs fsc,. this would no; appear to be an
evidence Of weakness or surrender on the
oart ~ Senator Knox. but those who have
Io2os-e.i his course while the Treaty VAS
before the senate regard II SIS concession
h,rD of conviction that further delay IN
-.tIfylnr the Treaty viii bring calamity
~ American business and day Of reckon
;ng FOR the Republican cabal IN the Senate,
senator Knox opposed not only the
League Of Nations but the Treaty itse't
In formal speech carefully prepared ~
advance Of delivery, Mr. Knox declared
the provisions of the Treaty 70 be harsh
and cruel to the German people Prev
o,Islv he had sought the passage q . reso-
lut,on 70 dissociate the Treaty from the
covenant Of the League Of Nations
In addition to his change Of view with
reea-d 10 the Tresty-which he Is now
willing IL accept II all It's prescriptions
~cpator kno> hs~ moved far enough from
h.s former position to suggest that inc
rl,.yl states iecomc i consulting Nom
bc- ~ tho / eag7Ie IF Nations. Demo
rratrc commentators % not regard MS Is
, h,r CONCESSION. az course. but they ap-
prrc,ate Is Importance when read IN con-
7ectlan with the senator previous hes
tili;v 10 both the Treaty and the League.
No ono expected Mr.. Knox 70 reverse
himself over night, or at all. He hasn
ve, about faced, but he has certainly
executed a right face with his eyes In
lo direction Of full turn Senator Lodge
continues to employ the language Of OF
.,asltlon. but his manner Is that of one
rho ha. concession III the back OF his
mind. IN the opinion al those who have
watched his recent man9uvres In ono
4 the latest discussions Of the Treaty IN
he senate, Mr. Lodge affected 10 scout
the connection between the rejection OF
he Trcstv and the decline OF foreign
crchancl bu, il wss apparent that h"
fcah,ed the result 10 himself and others q
popular belief that there Is 2 relation
hetV cen the two
other Republican Senators appear to
~ disconnected by the rulnous fsli IN the
vslue of foreign money and ioresee us
fleet ou American business. It Is believed
thew arc aware that # the Senate 5 re
:,Isal 10 ratify the Treaty Is not the sole
rause. II IS principal factor ia the present
demorsizlng discount Of sovereigns,
francs. lIre and marks They seem 10
understand that further depreciation of
turoye's money viii prevent buying here
md that American production will slack
N and beget Unemployment and financial
depression in the United States.
II would be too much 10 say that the
Repubhcans are showing signs Of full re-
reat from their former position, but i L
within the truth to say that they are
planning for strategic retirement
They are beginning to rea lze the trouble
their hostility TO the Treaty has brought
about And thew cannot help knowing the
Republican party viii have heavy handi-
cap 10 next years campaign by reason Of
Their unpatriotic and unjustifiable course.