New-York tribune., 1919-02-17
" iilson Plea
May Modify
Senate Debate
Party Men Say President
Piansto strengthenLeague
Position While at Home
By Carter Field
Neso York Tribune
Washington Bnre0u

I
/ Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-In the
opinion OF ms ny leaders of both parties
here tonight, President Wilson hopes
to go back to France on March 6 in 2
much stronger position, as the spokes
man for the United States, than he
held on the trip now ending.
Administration leaders who are snn-
porting the league of nations plan
such as Chairman Hitchcock of tho
forelgn Relations Committee, do not
think that the President will attemnt
to have resolution put through
elohcr the Senate or both houses of
Congress indorsing the proposed con-
stltutlon of the league of nations. They
point out that even two or three vieor-
Gus opponents could prevent, in the
short time remaining to the present
congress- the passage of any such
resolution.
81 have no advices as to what the
7 President desires" said Senator Hitch
cock to night, "but it would be impossi
pie to pass resolution indorsinp the
Zen commandments before March L."
MI Hitchcock speaks from sad ex-
perlence. Two yeays ago in the clos
ing hours of the SiNIy-fourth Congress
ne led the fight to force through the
armed neutrality bill, which was de-
feated by the "Wilful Twelve"
Counts on Tacit Approval
Democratic leaders, therefore, expect
that the President is counting not so
much on any positive action as on q
taclt approval of the proposed league
Of nations.
In the meantime the Presidents
request for silence until he gets the
chance to 90 over the constitution
section by section with the Senators
and Representatives will have certain
effect. 1t will not head off all discus
sion OF the league of nations idea.
There will certainly be some probably
a great deal. But there will be less
than if he had not made that appeal.
The INVITATION of the full member
ship of both foreign relations com
mittoos to dlnrer, while it would have
created scarcely a ripple in the Roose-
Velt or Taft administration is dis
tlnctly an event in che Wilson regime.
1t Is the first time Mr.. Wilson has done
anything of the sort. The nearest ap-
proach to it was during the Panama
Canal tolls fight, when ali the mevbers
or the Senate committe were invited
TO the White House. That was a night
conference rather than a dinner, how
ever, and the House committee men,
hers we're not invited.
Leaders here believe that the Presi-
dent expects TO bring the full force Of
his admitted ability to persuade men
TO his way Of thinking to bear during
that dinner, with the result that the
criticism of the league of nations
plan, and of President Wilson himself
will be SO soft and docie that it will
not spring up to embarrass him in his
hight to obtain final approval for the
plan from the peace conference on his
return.
Points TO Clemenceau Conflicts
1t is pointed out that virtually every
dispatch from Paris tells of the CON
stant conflict between the President
and the French Premier. Clemenceau
not only on the league itself but on
the economic blockade Of Germany
and other very important points to be
determined by the peace conference.
Evidently the President. just before
leaving Paris, discussed very frankly
this difference with NJ. Clemenceau.
telling visitors that Clemenceau had
called HIM the most stubborn man" he
had ever met. At the same time the
President made it clear that he re-
garded this economic question of rails
ing the blockade on Germany AS of the
highest Importance. The dispatches all
agree that he spoke of it with the ut
most earnestness.
Men reaching Washington from
France i'll the last few days say that
Continued on nert paoe