Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-12-23
PACT PROSPECTS
Brighter with Appar-
ent Earnest Efforts
Republican and Democratic Senate
Leaders Sounding Sentiment of
Various Factions - Gloom Artists
Still in Evidence. Howeve,

" dS4liliS lOll- Lee ,-~-thS the AS
soclated Press)-Compromise. efforts
for ratification of the peace treaty
moved forward with increasing i'm
petus today when the leaders OF both
parties in the Senate. released from
legislative duties by the holiday re-
cess OF Congress. came actively into
the negotiations for an agreement on
reservations
Notable in the days long series OF
cancellation conferences was a meet
ing between Senator Lodge of Mas
sachusetts, the Republican leader.
and Senator Underwood of Alabama.
d prominent Democratic advocate of
a speedy compromise. They are said
to have discussed the whole range OF
possibilities for bringing together on
q common ground enough senators 10
insure ratification.
Meantime the acting Democratic
leader. Senator Hitchcock of Ne
praska. canyaSSed sentiment on both
sides of the controversy and arranged
during the coming week TO see every
Republican senator who remains in
Washington over the HOLIDAYS. As
soon as Congress assemblies he
plans TO have a general conference Of
those who favor ratification with or
without reservations.
In his talk with Senator Under
wood Mr.. Lodge had before him the
views OF the mild reservation group
or RepubllcanS- who presented 10
MIN 1T 4 conference yesterday a plea
tor support Of the compromise ne
goilations that have been proceed
ing ever since the treaty failed OF
Congress.
Notifications in the language OF
the reservations as agreed on by the
Senate majority are understood TO
nave been suggested by the mild
reservationists. although if was said
the question of the language TO be
adopted would be left open for the
present. Re-drafts of some of these
observations have been submitted to
various senators by prominent Re
publlcans outside Congress. while
many suggestions for changes have
come from other sources. All of
| these. IT IS understood. Will be taken
INTO consideration as the negotiations
proceed.
II was not revealed which OF the
IA majority reservations the mild
group would be willing 10 modify
put compromise discussions hereto
lore have eentered about the Arri-
cle Ten qualification and the pre-
ambie, which requires that the rese,-
| Vatlons must he accepted nv three
OF the great powers before the treaty
becomes binding. There also has been
talk of changes in regard to shan
tung and several other subjects dealt
with in the majority program.
A protest against the action OF the
foreign relations committee in report
ing Saturday the resolution OF Sem
ator Knox, Republican. Pennsylvania
( TO declare state of peace also is
said 10 have been made to the Re-
publican leader yesterday by the mild
reServationists
They are understood 10 have re-
moved all possibility OF Senate action
on the measure in the near future by
serving notice that they would not
support II unless and until il became
certain the treaty could not be rati-
fed with reservations.
As Il result of the conference and
OF activity among the Democrats, the
whole subject of reservations SEEM
ed tonight TO have been opened wide
with both sides processing a willing
ness 10 enter whole heartedly into an
energetic give-aI1d- take effort at
compromise. Predictions of early ac-
ton on the treaty multiplied. many
senators declaring action was likely
before the end Of January.
There were other senators. how
ever, who took less stock in the COM
promise movement. predicting that in
due time il would collapse like all its
forerunnefs. Senator Hitchcock said
he had no appointment with the
President and Indicated that he did
not now intend 10 seek one.
There was wide discussion today of
the activities of Bernard NJ. Baruch.
OF New York. a financial advisor to
the peace commission at Versailles.
who has seen several senators Dur
ing the past week anu is said 10 have
discussed the treaty with them. SEN
aror Hitchcock said. however. that he
did not regard Mr.. Baruch as speak
ing for the President. with whom he
recently had a confer ence.