Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-21
SENATE FAILS To
RAT|FY TREATY
AND ADJOURNS
European Chaos Feared
Again-President to Issue
Statement - Treaty Will
Go to Congress

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 20
! After failing in three attempts to
secure ratification of the peace treaty
| Wednesday, the senate Wednesday
| night adjourned until the next ses-
sion of congress, which will begin De-
cember /.
Two ratification votes were taken
on the resolution drafted by the Re-
publican majority containing the
reservations which President Wilson
earlier declared constituted a nullifi-
cation of the treaty; and on each OF
| these votes the Democrats support
ing the treaty voted against ratifica-
ton.
The third vote was on straightout
ratification of the treaty, 80 sena-
tors voting for tatifica ton and So
against it. Senator McCumber of
North Dakota, Republican, was
among those voting for the treaty. A
two-thirds majority, SIS votes, is re-
quired for ratification.
National attention is now riveted
on the White House for the next
move in the treaty battle.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2O.-Presi-
dent Wilson will have no statement
to make on the failure of the senate
to ratify the treaty of Versailles,
1t was said today at the White
| House.
Senators Hitchcock, of Nebraska
the administration leader, and Under.
wood of Alabama, called at the
White House during the morning but
did not see Secretary Tumult--, who
was with the president on he south
lawn. They took philosophical
view of the action of the senate
Democratic leadership played it's
cards to the limit and for all they
were worth and lost--that's all,'r
said Senator Underwood.
Complete records today showed on.
ly three senators, La. Toilette, Re-
publican, Wisconsin; McCumber, Re-
publican, North Dakota. and Shields
Democrat, Tennessee, used the en-
tire, hour given each senator under
the cloture rule which was applied
| TO bring action on the treaty,
During the four days the rule was
in operation 81 hours, 3S 81. nutes
of the maximum 50 hours was used
| among 4Sj senator's, an average of
! about q minutes. FOrty-seven sena-
tors used none of their time
Majority Leader Lodge spoke only
Is minutes under the rule and Admin
stration Leader Hitchcock IS 10
minutes.
The senate's failure to act left on
the hands of the administration a
big collection of knotty problems,
4 chief among which is the question of
property rights in the German ships
and other property of enemy aliens
seized by the government in this
country The state department ex-
! ie
for retention of this property unless
the treaty, which contains a provision
legalizing it, is ratified.
Another Fight Probable
AS a corollary to this problem
| stands the question of what is to
become Of the vast American inter-
ests in Germany, especially if the
technical state Of war is to continue
and no American consuls or diplo~
matte representatives are to be sent
to take up the subject directly.
In these property questions Is UNI
derstood to lie one Of the chief OBJ.
jections Of teh administration to the
plan Of Republican leaders to declare
| the state of war ended by q resolu-
ton of congress- Without the treaty
provisions, officials say, a state Of
peace would leave this country in
an awkward position when it came
! to establish it's title to the German
| ships and the other German inter-
ests taken over and in many cases
liquidated by the alien property GUS
todian.
There is every evidence, however,
that the Republican leaders in con-
gress, anxious to get the country to
an actual peace basis so that the
many wartime legislative provisions
! may be erased and a more normal
| legal foundation placed under tho
| countrys trade, are going ahead
with their plan of declaring peace
by resolution as soon as the new
| congress meets.
resolution making such a dec
laration was introduced last night by
Republican Leader Lodge. after three
| attempts to ratify the treaty had
failed. Not only is 1t exepcted to
start another bitter fight in the new
session, reviving many issues Of the
peace treaty controversy, but If it
is passed the constitutional authority
of, congress to take such a step is
sure to be questioned. In the opinion
, of some officials a situation will re-
suit which only the supreme court
can untangle.
NO ACTION BEFORE January
Although not changing technicallS
! tie CXis ring status Of relations be-
tween the United States and Ger
many, the senate&, failure to ratify
the peace treaty at it's special ses-
sion is expected by administration
officials and diplomats to have an
indirect result Of some Importance
on the steps now being taken to
restore the world to a peace basis.
One of the first consequences, ac-
cording to the view taken here, is
likely to be the Fastening of the
negotiations in Paris, including pro-
mitigation of the process verbales
which will restore full commercial
and diplomatic relations between Ger
many and the powers which have
ratified the treaty. Paris dispatches
have said this step was waiting,
for one thing, on the action of the
senate, but it is thought there will
be no further delay now for that
| reason.
| The new congress will meet on Dee
cember l, but not even the most
CONTINUED on Page 8, Column 81
Stomach Trouble or Tape.