The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-11-07
President Wilson Approves Ac-
ton on Peace Treaty.
viii Not Oppose Reservations
That Supporters Accept.
OFFER NO COMPROMISE NOW
Must Not Weaken Unless Dead.
lock Is Reached.
First Personal Conference Is
With Hitchcock Today.

Washington, Nov. T. President
Wilson today told Senator Hitchcock,
of Nebraska. administration leader in
the senate treaty fight. that he would
be entirely satisfied with any reserva-
tions supporters of the treaty might
feel justified in accepting. provided
they did not nullify the league of ma
tons covenant and were designed for
the purpose of interpreting the terms
of the treaty.
The president, Senator Hitchcock
said, expressed his very strong APP
provaF' of what had been done to date
and agreed that no compromise would
be offered unless a deadlock was
reached on a resolution of ratifica-
ton.
Senator Hitchcock outlined his pro-
gram as first an endeavor to defeat the
reservations reported by the foreign
relations committee. and if that failed,
to vote down the resolution of ratifi-
cation containing them. His next
move would be to present a resolution
of ratification anF should a deadlock
ensue, to attempt a compromise with
Republican opponents.
Wilson Could Pigcon-Holc.
F.. Senator Hitchcock said if resolu-
ton of ratification containing the COM
mittee reservations were adopted that
would settle the fight so far as the
senate was concerned, but that the
president could 'pigeon-hole the
treaty. He declined to speculate as
to the probable course of the president
should the committee resolution pre-
! vail.
The meeting with Senator Hitch
cock was the first personal confer
ence the president had arranged since
he was compelled by illness to ADAM
don his western tour in the interests
of the treaty.
| Eliminate G. o. T.. "Poison."
| After the conference Hitchcock, de-
clared that his forces in the senate
would vote against any resolution OF
peace treaty ratification if certain OF
/ the Republican reservations in their
present form are attached to it.
/ He did not say which reservations
/ were specifically Objectionable.
'sS' President Much Improved.
| Hitchcock said he found Wilson
| much improved"
'"The president sat propped up with
pillows thruout the interview" Hitch
. cock said. He seemed keenly inter
ested, putting and answering questions
with his chara cteristic energy"
Wilson agreed with Hitchcock, the
senator said. that the pending Lodge
reservations would be destructive"
and therefore unacceptable.
Hitchcock informed the president
that the Lodge obstructive" reserva-
tons probably would muster forty
necessary two-thirds when they came
before the senate from the commit
, tee of the whole.
! Approves Deadlock.
He approved heartily" said Sena-
tor Hitchcock, The plans of the friends
of the treaty to bring about dead
lock to negotiate compromise. The
president indicated that any compro-
mise we thought necessary which
would not serve to destroy the treaty,
would be satisfactory to him, even of
the compromise reservations are en-
bodied in the resolution of ratifica-
ton
Should the treaty's friends be doubt
full on some particular point in the
compromise negotiations, President
Wilson said he would be glad to dis
cuss the question later.
Senator Hitchcock said he advised
, the president that he expected "a great
parliamentary battle" over voting on
resolutions of ratification. But was
confident that majority of the sem
ate was against killing the treaty
The senator was asked what the
next move would be and replied that
would be the point at which compro-
mise might be effected.
Senator Hitchcock did not go over
the committee reservations with the
president in detail but will send a copy
of them to Mr.. Wilson, who will study
al. IL III.