The St. Charles herald., 1919-10-04

the other nations would have to be
asked to accept the language CT the
senate as the language Of the treaty;
it would be especially humiiating to
have to ask the assent of the German
national assembly. Senator FAN
called the presidents attention to the
fact that Germany is not to be an
original member Of the league and
consequently any amendments to the
covenant proposed before her admis-
sion would not be submitted TO her.
Mr.. Wilson admitted this was true
and that the point had not occurred
to him, but he insisted that Germany
already has a relationship to the
league and that it was the plan to
admit her Immediately.
AS for article 10. the crux of the
whole fight, President Wilson inter-
preted it as follows: If the league
calls on the United States to send
troops abroad to preserve the terri
torial integrity Of another member
state from external aggression, the
United States will be under an abso-
lutely compelling moral obligation,
though not legal obligation, to COM
ply. But the league cannot call on
the United States for such aid unless
the American member votes his ap-
proval In accord with American pub
lie sentiment.
After 1t was all over. Senator Hitch
cock said the president had clarified
many involved questions in wonder
full manner and that speedy ratifica-
ton would be the result. Senator
Lodge said Mr.. Wilson had not given
them much real information and that
the admissions he had made had vim
dicated the criticisms leveled at the
league covenant. Between these ex-
tremes stand the mild reservation
ists.' To capture their votes. Senator
Pittman of Nevada took the reserva-
tions they advocate, called them "in-
terpretations or understandings" and
put them into q resolution which he
presented to the senate for its adop-
ton apart from the resolution of rati-
fication. He asserted that he was act
ing with the presidents approval.
whereupon Senator Hitchcock, admin
istration leader. felt himself ignored
and showed that Pittman's resolution
was not much to his liking. The op-
ponents of the covenant were brutal
ly outspoken In condemning the reso-
luton. In the course of the lively de-
bate Mr.. Pittman admitted that the
League Of Nations was hardly more
than meeting place where the con-
sensus of the civilized world may be
obtained and Its moral force brought
to bear"
IF you'll write that into the league
covenant there will be no difficulty
about Its ratification" interrupted
Senator Reed Of Missouri CDem.).
Paris correspondents predict that
the peace conference will adjourn
within two or three weeks and that
when 1t reassembles in November or
December the United States will not
be represented unless in the meantime
the senate shall have ratified the
treaty and decided that we shall ac-
cept mandates. The work for the con-
ference after 1t reconvenes will be the
partition Of Turkey and the settle
ment Of the Thracian and Adriasic
questions. II the United States does
not take part in these. both Italy and
Greece expect to win their demands,
for the Americans are now their only
opponents. As to Thrace, the Amer
ican delegation insists On the creation
Of buffer state that will give Bull
garia access to the sea. The Greeks
and Turks, who make up the bulk of
the population of Dedeagatch dis
trict. involved in this plan, are bitter
ly opposed to the continuation of any
thing like Bulgarian rule there and
are reported to be preparing to resist
it by arms. 1t is not the intention of
the peace conference to leave any part.
of Thrace in the possession Of Bull
garia.
The council Of FIVE hopes that the
Austrian treaty will be signed within
week. 1t also is feeling optimistic
about hungary, where new coalition
cabinet has been formed. and thinks
1t may soon be able to recognize the
government at Budapest and present
the Hungarian treaty for signature.
The weeks news from Russia was
somewhat more encOuraCi for Al.
miral Kolchak appeared to have
stopped his retreat and to have
checked the pursuing boIsheyists.
The red forces were ousted from
Odessa. and lost ground In some other
regions. In the Gulf of Finland
British Feet encountered u n.n:.,-r ci