Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-17
ModuS Vivendi to Be Declared
With Germany Which Will
End War While Senate De.
bates Terms of Compact.
NORMAL CONDITIONS TO
BE RESTORED TO NATION
Republicans Condemn Long
Delay in Making Actual
Peace With Central Powers;
Democrats Satisfied.
by Charles Nicholson.

querque Journal and New York
Worldly
Washington, March 1.-THE tid-
liminary peace treaty was nearing
completion which would contain only
incidental references to the league of
nations brought apparent satisfaction
to both pro and anti-leaguers at the
capitol
The exuberance OF the senator's who
were most emphatically against hav-
ing the league of nations plan EN-
bodied in the peace treaty at the
news suggests that they are quite will
ing to take any promising avenue that
leads out OF the position in which
they found themselves. They see in
the adoption of the preliminary treaty
defeat for the president In his con-
tention that the league must be an
integral part of the actual peace
agreement.
Supporters Encouraged.
The presidents supporters on the
other hand insist that though he
signs the draft now under way, and
with the spolsesmepa of the allies
prociaims peace under 1t, he will not
have retrcated step from his origi-
nal position.
The preliminary document Is ex-
pected TO carry a declaration that the
signat2ries approve the principle of
the league of nations and further to
embrace the pledge that the covenant
will be embraced in the final con-
vention. This final convention is the
real declaration of peace, they say.
and, as 1t will include the league of
NJ fpl ha st Ja has 81
contention.
Even such stout supporter of the
president as Senator Fletcher of
Florida expressed satisfaction with
the situation. He said the bald COM
bining of the peace treaty with the
league proposition would cause end
less debate In the senate, with posi-
bility of failure of ratification.
"The Lords Prayer" said the sem
ator piously, would be amended IL
presented to the senate"
The report thab the preliminary
treaty would be proclaimed without
being submitted to the senate puz-
zled most of the statesmen who were
inclined to believe that such proc
lamation would be without legal ef-
feet. Others spoke OF supreme
court decision dealing with the period
intervening between the signing of a
protocol and the actual ratification
Of a peace treaty as indicating a
precedent for the suggested course.
Assuming the preliminary treaty's
identity of effect with the protocol of
ordinary wars, some of them see how
such q proclamation might be possi-
BILE to establish u modus vivendi pend
ing the submission of the final treaty
for ratification.
1t is believed now that there will
be some changes in the constitution
of the league before It is finally in
cluded in the peace treaty. 1t has
never been definitely settled how far
the president went in his mention of
the possibility of amending the league.
The congressman who attended the
White House dinner are still discuss
ing that.
Borah Gives Views.
Senator Borah, who did not attend
the dinner, but who talked with prac-
tically everybody who did about what
happened there, is of the opinion
that the president expects amend
ments He said that was made plain-
er when President Taft, after confer
ring with the president, made state
ments to that effect.
Opponents of the league as 1t now
stands found much satisfaction in ex-
President Taft's statement that the
Monroe Doctrine must be protected,
and William J. Rryan's recital of the
three vital changes in the constitu-
tion he would make.
At the same time Chairman Cum
mings of the Democratic National
Committee gave out statement In
which he insisted the peace treaty
and league of nations should be
welded together
The general opinion of senator's
this afternoon was that the reported
decision at Paris would expedite an
early return to normal conditions and
make possible an international agree
ment for the promotion of peace lat
er.
Senator Borah put it this way to-
night
Common horse sense calls for the
separation of tie league covenant
from the general treaty of peace. The
league of nations is the most mo-
mentous issue ever presented to the
American people, and 1t should be
subjected to the most careful scruti-
ny and discussion. Time should be all
lowed for submitting the question To
a nation wide popular referendum.
The general peace treaty, which all
the world wants rat fled without de-
lay, should not he held up while we
are settling the ISSUE
Senator Fletcher said.ii
II am strong believer In the
leapua OF nations hIlt I helieve TINT