New-York tribune., 1919-12-22
Senator Announces Plan
to Reach Agreement on
Reservations in Recess
Despite Wilson's Stand
Vote Is Hoped For
Early Next Month
Bryan Will Use His Inf1u-
ence to Bring About
a Compromise, He Says
NeW York Tribune
Washington Bureau

w WAou4NGION, Dec. 21.--Ad-
mlnistration forces in the Senate
will make an effort during the holi-
day recess of Congress to obtain q
compromise on reservations so the
peace treaty with Germany may be
ratified some time in January.
OvertYres will be made to Re-
publican Senators who favor ratifi.
cation with reservations, regardless
of President Wilson's announce
ment that he has no compromise
t" offer the Republicans, Senator
Hitchcock, of Nebraska, leader of
the Administration forces. an
nounced to-day.
Senator Hitchcock said he would
remain in Washington to trv to
effect an agreement on reservations.
He would proceed without consider
ing whether the President would
accept the compromise if it could
be worked out, he said, but he added
that he was hopeful the President
would complete ratification by ac-
ceptlng whatever reservations the
Senate might agree to.
Declares Treaty Still Alive
"The treaty is still in the Senate. :"
said Senator Hitchcock, land the Sen.
ate should dispose of it. After the
Senate has ratified the treaty, it will
be up to the President to act.
Il will remain in Washington during
the recess and will discuss reservations
informally with Republican Senators
who are in favor of ratification, but
who want reservations attached. l am
hopeful that a compromise can be ar
ranged before the middle of January,
but nothing definite has been accom-
plished so far..''
Senator Hitchcock said the plan he
will follow will be TO endeavor to ar
range compromise with from twenty
to twenty fives of the mildest reserva-
tionists on the Republican side. He
will not go to Senator Lodge, chairman
of the Foreign Relations Committee and
majority leader, and recognize Senator
Lodge as spokesman for all the Repub-
llcans who want reservations, he said
Differing Views an Obstacle
ut is difficult task to reach an
agreement with twenty or twenty-five
individual Senator's" Senator Hitch
cock continued. "In the informal dis
cussions | have already had with some
of the Republicans l have found that
one would refuse to compromise on the
Shantung reservation, another on Arti-
Gle reservation, and SO on.
"But l hope that we can secure an
agreement with the necessary number
Of Republicans to ratify the treaty
The twenty or twenty-five Republicans,
with the forty or more Democratic
Senators who will vote for ratification,
will be enough to ratify."
Senator Hitchcock said he has not
talked with Bernard NJ. Baruch since
Mr.. Baruch discussed the treaty situa-
tion with the President at the White
House last Tuesday. The Adminstra-
tion leader said he was not aware of
Mr.. Baruchs conferences with the
group Of mild reservationists" on the
Republican side, and that he agreed
with Mr.. Baruch that the President
self and that he is strongly opposed to
any compromise.
Duty of Senate to Act Declared
"The President will not propose any
form of a compromise" said Senator
Hitchcock. II feel, however, that it is
up to the Senate to take action. After
we have ratified the treaty, then the
President must decide whether the res
ervations are acceptable to him.
William Jennings Bryan, who is COM
ing to Washington to attend the Jack
son Day dinner on January 7, will use
his influence toward working out a
compromise on reservations, Senator
Hitchcock said
"Mr. Bryan has been deeply inter
ested in the treaty and wants to see it
ratified" said the Senator. "He has
many friends in the Senate, and | un-
derstand that he expects 70 discuss
with them when he returns to Wash
agreement. | have heard also that Mr..
Taft, and possibly others who want to
see the treaty ratified, also will come
here after the Senate reconvenes."
Senator Hitchcock said his efforts in
the immediate future will be devoted
to finding out how much the group Of
twenty or twenty-five Republicans to
whom he will make compromise oyer
lures will concede in the way of reser
vations.
81 have not been able so far to learn
Just what concessions the KepubllcanS
are willing to make" said Senator
Hitchcock. "Until we can learn that
there is little prospect of a compro-
mise"
The Administration leader added
that he expects to receive word from
enough individual Republicans during
the recess, however, to be in posi-
tion to propose definite compromise
on the reservations soon after Janu-
ary 5. when the Senate reconvenes.