The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-04
Senator Declares Administra-
ton Has Votes to Kill Oppo-
sition.
SAYS THERE MAY
BE RESERVATIONS
Non Ratification Would Mean
Isolation from the Rest Of
tho Werld4 Commercially.

Washington. Sept. 3.--Senator Hitch
cock, who has been leading the fight
for the league Of nations in the senate,
saw President Wilson late this after.
noon at the White House to exchange
views with the president on the con-
duct OF the fight while the president
is on his speech-making tour of the
nation
After his talk with the president
Senator Hitchcock saw representatives
or the newspapers at the Shoreham
hotel. He said the president had ex-
pressed great qualification with the
manner in which the fight for the
treaty had been waged in the senate
and great confidence in, the ratit,ear
tssn of Tire" treaty. = $50 = y - ~
The basis OF the presidents conn
dence was revealed in the statement
of Sepator Hitchcock that he had
given the president assurance that no
amendment to the treaty could be
passed In the senate.
I'VE have the votes to kin any
amendment" said Senator Hitch
~~ cock. and every amendment that
has been offered Is certain to be
killed The adoption of any ono
amendment would mean the defeat
of the treaty ii can be taken for
granted that the treaty will not be
defeated"
when you say that every amend
ment viii be beaten. you don't mean,
senator. that there will be no reserva-
tions. Senator Hitchcock was asked
No." he replied Il do not mean
that. An amendment to the treaty
would kill II and compel US to nego-
tiate separate peace VITA fiernsa., .,
but 1t ia possible to adopt reservations
In which the other nations party to
ntSsv y
depends upon the character of the
reservations when II comes to the
question of reservations we expect to
sit down with our Republican friends
In brotheriy love and persuade them
not to press any reservations which
we know beforehand the other nations
would not agree to. There are many
Of the Republican reseryationists who
do not want to have the treaty killed
On that point they are Of mind with
us. -Therefnre.-we think we viii be
able to get together with them.
THREE To SIGN.
You must remember that the
treaty becomes a living thing once
1t Is ratified by three nations, and
" IL now certain that II will be.
Therefore the question is whether
the United States viii be party to
the treaty or be left out OF II.
When the question presents itself
in that light to the senate, I am
sure there are many senators who
now raise objections to the treaty
who will consider their objections
OF much less Importance than the
prospect of isolAting the United
States from the rest OF the world.
For II we do not rattfy the treaty
we will be isolated from the rest
: of the world. politically. CONNER
cially and fndustrially"
what explanation, senator. will the
president and advocates OF the treaty
make of their refusal to provide az
many votes for the United states Ia
the council Of the league Of nations
as Great Britain will haver'
Il do not know that any explana-
ton Is called for: the position that we
take Is that all amendments to the
treaty must be beaten because the
adoption Of any single amendment
would defeat the, treaty This heinE
the case We are opposed TO all amend :
ments--good. bad or indifferent"
Senator Hitchcock was asked-wifeth-