Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-01
TREATY GAINS
STRENGTH AS
VOTING NEARS
Noticeable Swing in Favor
of Ratification in Last
Two Weeks.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

b
President Wilson brought back the
treaty of peace from Europe. And
the pact which took SIX fever1sh
months TO draft and bring agree
ment among 20 nations is still TN
ratified by the United States. Great
Britain and Belgium have ratified
II but France is waiting for the
United States and so is Japan.
The American senate will vote
on the Issue within the next thirty
days. Locking back over the erratic
, though persistent course adopted
by those who sincerely believe the
treaty ought not TO be ratified even
though il means a new peace con-
ference al Paris. survey OF the
situation today reveals the oppon-
ents Of the treaty in a much more
dangerous position strategi ically
speaking, than it's defenders.
Two weeks ago It was the friends
OF the treaty who thought their
chances Of getting the treaty rati-
fed without reservations were slim
but unless the senate foreign rela-
tions committee completely re-
verses itself, the conclusion is in
escapable that defeat is in store for
it on several important points, in
cluding Shantung.
There is no question that a large
number of senators, including many
Democratic supporters of the pres
!dent, do not like the Shantung set
tlement but il is also true that they
do not believe the way to secure
a revision of that settlement is by
reconvening the peace conference
at Paris-fOT they do not believe
Shantung is worth it. They would
prefer, however, a separate decIa-
ration by the United States which
would voice disapprovai and put
sqHareiy on the League OF Nations
the responsibility of lifting China
out of the clutches of all the for
eign powers who have despoiied
her territory and grabbed her
riches. II is not forgotten that
President Wilson when he received
the senate foreign relations COM
mittee at the White House took the
position that foreign powers would
not now he occupying Chinese ter
r!tory II there had been a league of
nations in the past Mr. Wilson him
self admits be doesn't like the
Shantung award but looks to Japan
to right it and the League of Ma
tions to bring about revision If
Japan should not voluntarily do
so.
Have Made Changes.
To date scores Of changes have
been made in the text of the treaty
by the senate foreign relations COM
mittee. But when the treaty is re-
ported to the senate next week, il
will be read article by article and
il will become necessary for the
senators to watch carefully their
votes for as they vote they will not
merely End 1t necessary to justify
their disapproyal OF clauses on the
treaty but 10 justify the sending
back of the treaty to international
conference.
Many senators are puzzled. They
would like to see certain reserva-
tions made which do not affect the
text itself but make clear the limit |
of Americas obligations, paTticu-
larly as TO the use of force in the
future Senator Hitchcock is con !
fdent that as each article is voted |
upon there will he enough Repub-
licans joining with the As Demo
Gratis to beat every amendment of |
text that is offered. He doesn't seem |
10 be as sure of getting a two !
thirds vote for a ratifying resolu- |
ton that contains no reservations /
at all. There's where the fight will |
be close. Some of the reservations !
proposed would not in the end be |
to the president for I
they are apparently regarded by !
him as clarifying language already !
in the treaty and which merely |
for the sake of caution would be 1
stated in the ratifying |
resolution.
Republicans Not Solid.
But as the eight or nine Repub- !
licans who have stood for amend /
ments Of the text of the treaty are }
defeated by the series of votes |
which it is admitted now will be !
against them, the moral effect OF /
these reverses may weaken the 4
demand for reservations that are /
allied reservations but are in ef- /
feet amendments OF text. 1t wouId !
he a mistake to give the impression !
that the Republican party as a /
whole is opposed 70 any league of I
nations or to an early ratification |
Of the peace treaty. Many wise !
heads in the Republican side of the |
senate are questioning the wisdom |
Of the tactics pursued by their eight /
colleagues who are trying to COM /
NIT the party to the defeat Of both |
the League of Nations and peace (
treaty.
A majority o; Republicans if
confronted by the alternative of /
the treaty and league as they stand
0r no league at all would vote for
he pact as presented by President
Wilson. 1t is their desire for reser-
Tattons which is receiving atten-
ion on the Democratic side for
heir arguments have had more ef-
'ect than have those OF the ire
opponents of the whole
hing, principle and all. The Dem