The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-07-31
D|LL|NCHAM HAS
!. LONG CONF ERENCE
WITH PRESIDENT
IBessh Stand Firm On Treaty
Question
FEARS FOR THE OUTCOME
President Hopes Senate viii Consider
the Consequences of
Reservations

Washington, July 30.-Four Republi
can Senators told President Wilson
at the White House today that reser-
vations must be adopted in the rati-
lfication of the Versailles treaty, if it
| is to be accepted by the majority of
the upper body. His callers, each Of
whom talked about an hour with the
President, were Dillingham; of Yer
mont, Fernald Of Maine, Harding Of
Ohio, and Lenroot of Wisconsin.
President Wilson, the Senators
said. expressed himself as insistent
that reservations should not be made,
saying they would endanger the trea-
ty. For the Senate to amend the doc
ument, the President told the Sena-
tors, would be embarrassing to the
United States after it had assumed
leading part in the treaty negotia-
tions. Through the reopening OF
negotiations, which, the President
said, would be forced if reservations
were made, complications were likely
to develop. Germany encouraged by
whatever changes had been effected
by the Senate, would seize upon it as
an opening for further demands
The President touching upon the
Franco-American Treaty, said it had
been urged by Premier Clemenceau
as necessary for the protection of
France. The French people wanted
some assurance of support in the
event of an attack by Germany out
side of that provided in the League
of Nations
The four Senators, after the con.
ference, said that, while the Presi-
dent had not changed in his opposi-
tion TO reservations, he had not sue
ceeded in influencing them to aban-
don their fight
The Senators touched every phase
Of the treaty pertaining to reserva-
tions. Senator Dillingham; said he
asked "a great many questions" and
Mr.. Wilson freely answered them.
SIN fact" said Mr.. Dillingham;, "the
President was so frank as to make it
rather embarrassing for me to keep
on with my questions"
The President, Mr.. Dillingham; said
spoke particularly of the effect res
ervations would have in reopening
the treaty negotiations. Drastic
terms had been laid down to Ger
many, the President said, and the
peace conferees felt that the provis-
ions fthe treaty as finally submit
ed to Germany ought to stand.
Mr. Dillingham; outlined reserva-
tions touching upon Article X, re-
specting territorial guarantees;' the
Monroe Doctrine; purely domestic
questions, such as immigration and
the tariff; and withdrawal from the
league after two years notice, the
United States to decide if its obliga-
tions to the league had been fulfilled.
These the Vermont Senator said, if
written into the resolution of ratif.
cation, undoubtedly would mean
prompt acceptance of the treaty I'm
less they were embraced in it, Mr..
Dillingham; said, the treaty stood in
danger of being rejected.
To this Mr.. Wilson replied that he
hoped the Senate would carefully
weigh the consequences of adopting
reservations that would recommit
/ the treaty to Paris. 1t would take
many months, the President said, to
have the treaty renegotiated
Mr.. Dillingham; gathered from his
talk with the President that Mr.. Will
son was not so much opposed to the
reservations suggested as to sending
the treaty back to the conference.
He felt that any reservations would
have that effect.