The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-20
NO COMPETITION
FROM THE u. S.
Great Britain, France
and Belgium Would Be
in Better Position to Lay
Their Plans for Control
ling Markets Without
u. S. in the Way.
BY JUSTIN MGRATH.

Washington, aug. lS.--1CW Will the
senate's attitude on the peace treaty
be effected by the conference between
President Wilson and the senate for
eign relations committee held today in
the white house?
This will be the question of prime
importance to the whole country.
Those who took their Impressions
wholly from what they heard. saw
and felt in the white house were con-
WINGED that the result Of the confer
ence would be the early Ratification Of
the treaty with merely interpretative
reservations
That was certainly the impression
that l received and found by talking
with many OF the other correspond
ents that 1t was the impression that
every one OF them had received
Feeling that that impression wal
/ ased upon a one-sided view I sought
out some Of the Republican senators
~ho have been foremost in opposing
the league Of nations covenant and
the treaty and asked them bluntly II
the white house impression was justi-
ned .s
They admitted that the i,rst psyche.
logical impression Of the country un'
doubtediy would b that the preaidNnt
senate ana w3tAx sasA = s1tuAtry. i5sr
they expressed hope that thit Mr.
impression would soon BE- dfseipAted b,
| what would transpire In the senate ans
the reaction that would come from
abroad.
Members Of the presidents entour.
age were all joyful. They felt and
said they thought the honors wert
completely with the president and pre-.
dicted confidently the result Of the
conference would be the early ratin.
cation of the treaty with merely in.
|terpretative reservations.
They gave SPECIFIC reasons for their
belief
They thought the president ha.
scored a big advantage by issuing his
statement at the opening at the con.
ference, answering most Of the objec-
tons which had been raised by this
opponents OF the treaty
In his statement the president
reiterated and strengthened his
argument that delay in ratification
OF the treaty would seriously in
terfere with normal conditions of
life and industry.
In this statement the president
took occasion TO point out that
mines in Missouri and Idaho. as
II
operated at about onehalf their
capacity
Senator Borah, Of Idaho, and Sena-
tor Reed. OF Missouri. are two OF the
bitterest OF the opponents OF the
treaty.
The PRECEDENT said further that
hardly a single raw material. a
single important foodstuff or .
single class of manufactured
goods" could be normally pro-
duced until peace was aligned.
He pointed out also that Great
Britain. Belgium and France would
be In q position to lay their plans for
controlling the market OF Central Eu
rope without competition from the
United States IL there Was not quick
action on the treaty. Then he under
took to answer the arguments made
against specific provisions Of the
treaty.
OPPOSITION STILL ON.
Washington. Aug. 1.-THE out.
standing result OF the conference to-
day between President Wilson and the
foreign relations committee on the
peace treaty u that opposition In the
senate to the treaty in Its present form
Is undiminished and unyielding.
II was author itativeiy stated that
when the committee begins the actual
work Of passing on amendments Of
fered to the treaty will adopt =
large number OF the amendments
prepared by Senator Fall which will
take the United States out OF the
treaty arrangements and leave the
nations Of Europe alone to enforce
the engagements against Germany
The republican members Of the
committee. among whom are some Of
the most uncompromising opponents
Of the league of nations IN the senate
declared that the presidents explana-
ton had failed 10 satisfy their OBJ
jections to the covenant ana that
ratification Of the treaty without
d reservations has less chance now
than 1t had some time ago. There
Is a general belief that the president
will md II necessary to accept some
CT the senate.s reservations Ii place
Of the mild interpretations which he
had suggested.
MORE WITNESSES
The foreign Relations COMMITTEES
tomorrow will 80 on with IT. hear
ings.
John c. Ferguson, Professor e. 4,
Williams and Captain Hornbeck ars
the witnesses who viii be heard. All
were connected in one caracity 81
another with the American. peace
tContinusn On psss IS