The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-21

Wilson has not given up the treaty
fight. This was indicated today when
Il was announced at the White House
that there will be constant confer
ences at the White House with the
democratic senators relative to the
treaty situation.
President Wilson will take up the
whole subject of the treaty of YER
sailles in his message to congress
Dec. /, II was stated officially today
at the White House. Until then he
will have nothing to say concerning
the senate's action in rejecting the
treaty.
Before congress conyenes, it was
said, administration senators will
confer and 1T is probable the mild
reseryationists on the republican
side will participate with a view to
working out an acceptable compro-
mise on reservations.
Regardless of who is selected to
succeed the late Senator Martin as
democratic leader in the senate, there
will be no change in the leadership in
the treaty fight, it was said at the
White House. President Wilson
considers Senator Hitchcock. of Ne
braska. has conducted the fight ably
and sees no reason why he should
not again lead tho administration
forces.
Senator Underwood, of Alabama,
whose name has been mentioned
prominently in connection with the
democratic leadership. called at the
White House to see Secretary Tu-
multy.
Senator Underwood held a long
conference today with Secretary Tu-
multy and gave him much valuable
information for the guidance OF the
president in his preparations for
new fight for the life of the treaty.
When Dr.. Grayson permits, the demy
ocratic senators will confer with the
president himself.
Fulfilled Expect1tions.
Action by the supreme council at
Paris in fixing Dec. ! as the date FOR
formal proclamation of state OF
peace between the powers ratifying
the treaty OF Versailles fulniled tne
expectations ~of administration offi-
cinls. After the senate had ended
its special session without ratifying
the treaty the general fcelinr here
was that Europe would not wait
longer for this country's decision.
Under the treaty's provisions, the
g :change of ratificationj could nave
been made as soon as three OF the
great powers had ratified, but the
date was delayed, it was announced,
lars because ii was desired 10
have the United States a p rty from
the first. All four Of the other great
rowers--Great Britain, France, Italy
and Japan--now have ratified.
The effect of the PRONUNCIATION or
peace will not. it is held by the state
department, directly affect the legal
status of war existing between the
United states and Germany. but 1t
will mean that the important work
of rehabilitating Europe VIII begin
without the participation of this coun-
try. Besides bringing the league OF
nations formally into existence, the
event will bring into force prodl-
q. us list of obligations which must
be performed by { ermany. They
touch upon great and small matters
il, MANY parts of the world and are
subject to time limits ranging from
fifteen days to 4ifteen years.
No Definite Time Set.
For the establishment of the league
no definite time is stipulated in the
treaty, but the inference generally
d ..wn is that it will be set up at
once. There are mary references to
subjects upon which it must pass
within a few weeks from the coming
into force of the treaty.
Definite time limits to be reckoned
from that date are stipulated, how
ever for the execution of q great
many of the treaty provisions. Thus
various commissions. including that
which is to take charge of the Saar
basin and tina. which is to dellmlt
the Polish German frontier, are to be
set UP within fifteen days of the es-
tablishment of peace.
within three months the German
army must be reduced to 100000 ef-
fectjves, all unauthorized munition
plants must be closed, Germany must
hand over all of her military and ma
val aeronautical equipment, inolud-
ing the remnants of her proud Zeppe-
lin fleet, and must modify her laws
to conform with various treaty pro-
visions.
The time limit for reduction of the
German navy personnel to its pre-
scribed strength is two months, and
by the same date the German war
ships named in the treaty must de-
liyered to the allies. One month is
the limit for delivery of the last scrap
of submarine machinery, and Ger
mar forts which the treaty names
must be dsarmed within tvro months.
In matters relating to finance and
financial reparation, the dates for
the most part are fixed on the calen-
dar and the time of coming into
force of the treaty does not affect
them. No date is fixed for the ap-
pointment of the reparations COM
mission, but the presumption is that
it will begin work Immediately.
Other sweeping provisions are
definitely set forth as becoming eff
fective on the date of the exchange of
ratifications. Germany Immediately
loses legal title to all her colonies and
to all her surface warships not in
home ports. Shantung passes for
mally to Japan and Great Britain
protectorate over Egypt is legalized.