The sun., 1919-06-27
SENATE TO REVISE
LEAGUE COVENANT
Republicans Will Amend It on
Lines Suggested by
Elihu Root.

wAsHrNoroN, June 2s-The League
Of Nations covenant will be revised ana
amended by the United States Senate
along the lines Of the reservations sug-
gested by Elihu Root. regardless OF the
insistence of its principal author that
the instrument as now welded into the
peace agreement with Germany 10
ment or alteration.
Tho Republicans Of the Senate to-
sether with q small group Of Democrats
who see in the League covenant
menace to the future peace of the world
rather than an insurance policy against
war, have the power to amend, revise
and reserve against the operation OF
certain of the embarrassments OF the
covenant which President Wilson plans
to lay before them. It Is for the pur-
pose OF consulting with the Republican
Senators from the leaders down to the
junior members Of the upper House
that Will H Hays. chairman OF the
Republican National Committee. has
come to Washington.
1t 10 Mr.. Hayes hope that COM
mon ground OF constructive opposition
to the League as II now stands and q
concrete programme Of revision. with a
view to making a workable instrument
out of the pact, can and will be found.
He set about the work OF drawing the
loose ends together Immediately after
his arrival in Washington and at the
close OF his FIRST day seemed greatly
encouraged by the progress he had
| made.
Regarding tho attitude OF the Repub-
lean chairman toward the League OF Ma
| tons, little was to be learned from him
directly. He made It clear to the news
paper correspondents who sought an ex-
preston from him that he did not pur-
pose to discuss the League Of Nations
programme of the Republicans while
| that programme was in process of Gre
! alton. His former statement, made at
Fort Wayne. Ind. moro than a week
ago. he took pains to correct in a de-
tail. He said that he had stated that
he did not consider the League Of Ma
lions q partisan question" The i'm
preston had gone forth that Mr.. Hays
had asserted that II was not a party
question"
| Following the visit OF the chairman at
the Capitol to-day Republican stock be-
gan to look UP. The murmurs of dis
harmony which have been growing
louder during the days that the party
in the Senate has been drifting through
the doldrums OF waiting for the actual
signing OF the peace treaty ceased alb
ruptly.
1t has become recognized. even by
the bitterest opponents of the League
of Nations principle. that the public mind
in the United States is prepared to ad-
NIT that growing out OF such a convul-
sion as that through which the world has
passed during the fifty-eight months
| that have elapsed since the outbreak OF
| the European war some sort Of documen.
tary assurance, some written promise OF
q faith to maintain peace Is expected
not only throughout Europe but III
| America as well.
That President Wilson went altogeth
| er too far In embarrassing the peace
pact with Germany by weaving his owl
| altruisIc views into the complicatinG
covenant no Republican will deny, ant
many Democrats secretly admit this 4
be the fact, but the league covenant
very much like an unwelcome founding
is on the Senate doorstep and II Is VI