New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-12-14
Hitchcock's Offer of
sSCive-and-Take'' Con-
ference Refused and He
Rejects Separate Peace
Deadlock Unshaken
In 3-HOur Debate
No Ratification Unless
President Reoffers the
Pact, Say Republicans
By Carter Field
NebO York Tribune
Washington Bureau

BY carter Field
New York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13.-The
peace treaty deadlock was discussed
for three hours by the Senate to-
day. The Republicans, when goaded
by the Democrats, demanded to
know why the President did not
withdraw the treaty, resubmit it,
and give some idea of what he would
accept in the way of reservations.
The Democrats insisted that the
Republicans should make the first
move, probably by the appointment
of conciliation committee, which
would meet representatives Of the
President and ascertain how far he
would be willing to go in accepting
reservations.
This effort did not succeed, but in
the debate Senator Underwood, DEM
ocrat, of Alabama, expressed will
ingness to support a proposal to
ratify the peace treaty in SO far as it
creates state of peace with Ger
many, leaving "to the people of the
United States to determine later
whether they would elect a Congress
that would act to admit the United
States into the league of nations"
Other important Developments of the
day we're:
Senator Hitchcock, Administration
leader, killed motion of Senator
Knox for ratification of the treaty in
SO far as it established a statue of
peace between the United States and
Germany. The Knox motion would
have lef the league of nations intact.
as it is now. but with the United
States out of it or acting only as
consulting member.
Peace Resolution Blocked
Ex-senator Hitchcock killed another
motion of Senator Knox for the
immediate consideration of rcso;u-
tion establishing peace.
Ex-senator Lodge, majority leader,
announced that the Republicans
were ready at any time to consider
any proposition President Wilson or
the Administration forces wished to
submit, but that the ire atty would not
be revived until a definite PROPOSE
tion was made or the President with
drew the treaty and resubmitted it
to the Senate.
A-Senator Hitchcock offered to go
into give and take" confer
ence with Senator Lodge on reserva
by himself and the majority leader
as the basis of a compromise. Il
offer the olive branch" he said. The
offer was not accepted.
E-Senator Underwood suggested
that a committee of concilia-
tion be appointed to settle the diff
ferences over reservations and that
when the committee reached an
agreement that would secure the
votes of sixty-four Senators for
ratification the President be notified
so that he could withdraw the treaty
and resubmit it to the Senate. Sen
ator Lodge rejected the suggestion,
declaring that "it is up to the Presi-
dent to act
Discussion of the treaty situation
was bitter on both sides and at its end
both sides admitted that they had
made no progress toward a compro-
mise.
Up to Senate, Says Underwood
Senator Underwood opened dis
cussion of the peace treaty by
sending to the desk an article
published in several morning news
papers, written by Carl w. Acker-
man, and asked that it be read. The
article recited that the fall in foreign
exchange was due to the failure Of
the peace trey in the Senate and de-
clared that the only way to prevent an
economic and industrial collapse was
for both sides in the treaty fight to
get together and agree npon reserva-
tions that would command wo-thirds
vote in the Senate, which is necessary
for ratification.
Responsibility for present conditions
rests with this chamber" Senator
Underwood declared. at rests with
the majority party at this time because
the initiative in taking up the treaty
again rests with the majority here.
"The treaty is in the Senate. Tech
nically, of course, il Is on the table
of the Vice-P President, but the majority
IN this Senate can at any time bring it
back.
Charges Laxity of Duty
you might say on the other side of
this chamber: What would it avail us
to reopen the treaty if we cannot find
the sixty-four votes with which to
ratify it.? A proposition was made by
Senator Pomerene of Ohio during the
closing hours of the last session of
Congress for the appointment of a COM
mittee on conciliation which would see
II we could not come to some agree
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