The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-12
WILSON POSITION
AS PEACE ENVOY
UNFRAMED BY ROW
Lawrence Shows That PreSi-
dent Is Government" in
Spite of Attempts of Re-
publiCanS Against Him.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
THE News ScimItar's Special Core.
~spondentO

~Spondent.)
WASHINGTON, June 12.-The big
drive against the peace treaty, league
OF nations and President Wilson is
on today. The Republican leaders.
senators Knox and Lodge, believing
they have the support of the Republican
party IN the senate. have made a move
which brings matters to an earlier cli-
max than was anticipated. They viz
tuauy serve notice upon Great Rritain
france and Italy that the work Of the
president of the United States, AS well
as the agreement entered into by the
allled powers with him, is unsatisfac-
torE ana, unless changed, will not be
Irrespective of the confusion which
TINS action has brought to the national
capital diplomats and persons who
nave peen closely following the pro-
cedure OF Premie C~lemenceau, Prime
Minister Lloyd George and the dele
gates of the associated powers gem
eTally In the face of American opposi-
ton heretofore, are wondering what
the entente governments can and will
40. Ihey would commit a breach of
international etiquette if they took cog
nlzance of the Knox resolution and the
Republican leaders speeches BECAUSE,
so far as the European governments
are concerned, the man sitting across
the table is the president of the United
states n as such the ambassador or
pienipotentiary, who has the power to
sign or not whatever documents are
presented to him.
SO far as Europe is concerned, he
is the United States government just
as much as any ambassador in any for
eign country has been or is. And the
president, according to his friends here,
VIII not surrender, will not recede, will
not Civ way an inch to the RCpub-
licans, whom he believes nave aban-
doned the traditional American doctrine
of party politics at the sea coast and
have begun desperate efforts tp dis
credit him, irrespective of the conse-
quences to the prestige of the United
States.
In support Of the contention that the
Republicans are guided solely by mo-
tives of hatred for the president and
political bitterness, one finds in sur
veying the capitol a curious mixup.
unquestionably many senators are not
thinking, but feeling, They imagine, be-
cause Mr.. Wilson'S domestic admins
tration has aroused widespread discon-
tent, the people are ready to repudiate
his foreign policy, too. They think be-
cause of the Irish agitation that the
rish-Americans will support the Re-
publicans and that the Italian-Ameri-
cans will likewise be sympathetic.
Four Big Objects.
The Republican leaders, it is admit
ted, even by their opponents, are play
ing the shrewdest and most adroit
game that has been played in many a
year in Washington. The Knox resolu-
ton wasn't hastily drawn. 1t was in
tended to catch as many classes of
opinion as possible.
First, it would corral all the out-and-
out opponents of a league Of nations.
---- -@.l1 I~a -V fhAaA NFhN
favor a league, but who certainly could
nave no objection to further considera-
ton, because the Knox resolution re-
cites that the people haven time
enough to consider 1t. The prospect is
held out of favorable judgment in the
it is not set up at the peace table 1t
probably will never amount to any
more thai the emasculated Hague con-
ventions and declaration Of London. =.
Third, the Knox resolution speaks OF
u oppression of the weak and transgres-
: sion of human liberties by the peace
treaty itself, thus inviting to the side
Of the Republicans the many liberals
and radicals in the United States and
abroad who believe there are vital
flaws in the document drawn at yer
sailles.
Fourth, the Knox resolution endeav-
ors To satisfy France and Great Brit
ain by declaring in ravor OF the sub
stance of the obligations imposed on
Germany and promising military and
naval support in case Germany or any
other power becomes u menace in Eu-
rope.
If the Knox resolution game to a
vote today it would come dangerously
near passing. The senate is very close
ANYWAY between the two parties, 10
Republicans and Al Democrats. Sena-
tor Reed would vote with the Republic
cans and possibly Senator Gore, of Ok