Evening journal., 1919-12-18
KNOX PRESSES
Peace TREATY
Would Ratify Without Con-
sideration of League of
Nations
MORE DEMOCRATS
DESERT WILSON

WASHINGTON. Dec. is-In It's impa
thence to promote any move that may
lead to an early peace by comprom s.
or otherwise. the Senate agreed yestcr'
day 10 the reference Of the two KnoA
resolutions 10 the Foreign Relations
Committee. Unanimous consent TOT
theirImmed' ate consideration had been
repeatedly refused
Senator Knox. 10 making a plea for
the reference OF the measures, frankly
admitted that it was apparently lmpos-
sible TO get the Senate's assent TO any
other course. and sa II compromises
were 10 be- further considered, n0twith-
standing the Presidents refusal to make
concessions. the Foreign Relations Com
mitiee was the only quarter in which
action could be undertaken
Incidentally two more Democratic
Senators came out in the open for a
compromise on the pending reserva-
tions Senator Hoke Smith, Of Georgia,
who discussed with Senator Knox the
tangled peace situation, read a care
fully written declaration in favor Of inn
mediate efforts 10 reach an agreement,
expressing his wililngne TO meet the
opposition more than half way II need
be.
my conviction is, said' Senator
Smith. that this Senate can find "a
basis OF agreement within as hours if
we proceed earnestly 10 that end am
assured that not more than 10 Sena-
tors VIII fall 10 accept some rescrya
tions and not more than i5 will vote
against ratification, reservation or no
reservations We are not far apart, We
are very close together. In fact, and
4 will be a national misfortune II for
any reasons we continue TO blcker
when we might be accomplishing sub
slantlal results"
Senator Myers. Of Montana, Joined
Senator Smith In an appeal for action
regardless Of the Presidents stand; re-
gardless Of blunders made In the last
session and REGARDLESS OF politics. parti-
sansh p and an e'se lie sad that he
was prepared 10 vote for compromise
reservations and believed the Senate as
a whole was In somewhat the same
mood If by some process the Serai'
leaders would offer the Senate a sat-
tlement.
This comment and that OF Senator
Smith followed the brief but signln-
cant statement by senator Knox in
which he abandoned an hore OF pur-
suadlng the $ note 10 act on either OF
his resolutlors; In which he charged
that the President had undertaken TO
close the door against possible COM
promise and In which he said That the
state OF world affairs was such that the
Senate must act on It's own RESPONSE
biliiy.
Not many days ago." said Senator
Knox "ihe two leading members on
The Democratic SIDE OF this chamber
made impass'oncd appeals TO us for a
compromise They reminded Of the
heartrerd'ng conditions which the
world faces as an argument why The
opposing elements IN The Senate should
come together. But these appeals had
scarcely been uttered when the prcsi-
dent OF his own vOlilion refused TO
give any encouragement whichever TO
any undertaking promising an agree
ment.
Meantime ! have sought TO secure
the unan nous consent Of this Senate
for the immediate consideration Of my
resolutions. but I am now convinced
that ! canrot gain this But there is
one other avenue TO an agreement open
to us That lies In the direction OF
the Committee on Fore gn Relation. and
] therefore ask The Senate TO ref
these measures 10 The comm tiee. shar-
ing with me the hope that a plan OF
oaffnn NOV ho Tn,-feaF I,,r fI,f h,T,.
The FIRST Of The Knox resolut 'ons pro-
vides in effect that the state Of war b.
tween the United States and Germany
no longer exists. 70 Is a declaration OF
peace without a treaty. without any
any understandings with Germany
without any concessions whatever from
the enemy and without any obligations
on the party Of either government This
measure Is much the same as that Of
fered by Senator Fall in the clos IN
hours OF the last session and subse-
quently championed by senator Lodge ]
The second OF the K"oX resolutions
provides for the ratification OF the
peace treaty with the League OF Ma .
ti0ns covenant omitted This Is mere
~ a revamp OF the measure offered by
Senator Knox about four months AGO.
What The Foreign Relations Commit /
tee viii do with those two resolutions
is rrob'ematiral There seems little
likelihood that the passage OF either.
in IFS nresent f0rm viii be recommends
ed. Senator Nelson Republican Of
Minnesota in discussing the second Of
these measures today complained that
it was so vague that ne was unable
20 grasp ITS meaning. although in a
general way he understood what il was
driving at.
The Impression was general in Cant
tol circles that the reference Of tho
Knox measures 70 the committee was a
manOeuvre designed "a give the com
miitee someih 'ng concrete 10 wo~k on
with a COMPROMISE 70 come. At the
moment there IS nothing before ~
committee touching upon The treaty
Tho naci IS still iechnicailv before Tho
Senate and can only he referred 20 the
committee bv a motion 70 recommt.
Senate leaders have the feeling thai
n given a fair opportunity the COM
miitee win address Itself to q now SET
Of reservations and may be able 20
evolve q program wh'ch VIII be ap-
proved by the President.
II seems 20 be understood now that
no move looking to an agreement win
come from the President In the near
future. II at all and that If the Senate
is minded to effect compromises. itl
might as well go ahead on its own mo-
ton