Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-17
Senator Hale Urges
Night Sessions to Hasten
Ratification of Treaty

Ratification of Treaty
Washington. D. C.. Oct ls-Defn-
ing his position on the peace treaty
and believing that the treaty must be
changed, but that the changes made
be brought about through reserva-
tionsc rather than through amend
:nents, Senator Frederick 1-ale this
morning. in a sharp speech in the
Senate. said he believed that the peo-
pie Of the country are sick and tired
of the delays in rar;fying the treaty
and that in his opinion the way 10
dispose Of the treaty is 10 hold the
Senate in night sessions and force
the matter 10 a conclusion. Senator
Hale said:
MY. President: voted against the
Fall amendments last week. / shall
vote against the Shantung amend
ncent today and while l am on the
subject l may as wei! say that ex-
pect 10 vote against the Johnson
amendment TO The provision giving
great Britain and her colonies six
representatives in the assembly Of
the League of Nations to our one
S-a- " AAOA9 NAV CpIIISS De.
fore the Senate for action. l also ex-
pect 10 vote against any other
amendments that have been or NAY
be proposed to the treaty. fully be-
Ieve that the treaty as far as we are
concerned must be changed, but
believe that the changes may be
brought about through reservations
instead Of through amendments. In
the case Of Shantung l do no, in any
! way approve Of the provisions in the
treaty, but do not want to have this
country left out Of the treaty on its
! account. and I shall be satisfied at
the present time with a reservation
/ which will make it clear 10 the world
that we are no party to the wron gful
transfer Of Shantung to Japan.
The idea Of Great Britain or any
other country will have a greater rep
resentation than ourselves in the
assembly of council of the League
of Nations is repugnant and abhor-
rant TO me. II is an outrage on the
American people and is intolerab bic
but l am very certain that a rese..
walton can be substituted for the
amendment which will be equally
strong if not stronger in protecting
our American rights. Unless such
reservations shall be adopted I haye
no hesitation in saying that shall
vote against the ratification of the
treaty. Long since / made I'D nv
mind TO stand for strong reserya
tons instead Of for amendments
| With the full belief that with such
! reservations with our interests safe
guarded and without sacrificing our
American traditions should be rati-
fed. If we cannot get such reserva-
tons / do not want to see the treaty
, ratified. but I am morally certain
that we can get them. / see nothing
in the adoption of any Of these
amendments which can in any way
aid in the adoption of the reserva-
tons that want to see adopted. On
the contrary it seems to me that the
adoption of any one amendment null
lifies the benefit that We shall get
from the reservation plan and may
jeopardize the ratification Of the
treaty and do not want to see it
jeopardized.
ON July 10th the President laid
the treaty before the Senate On
September 10th the senator from
Massachusetts,. Mr.. Lodge, reported
the treaty from the committee on
Foreign Relations. Since that time
the treaty has been under discussion
in the Senate. / think that every
body in the Senate and in the coun-
try is sick and tired Of the whole de-
bate. All Of US know exactly how We
are going to vote. We have reached
the stage Of recrimination. Each
faction accuses every other faction
Of Interior motive; of playing poll
tics; Of being pro-German or pro-
English. Of wanting to defeat the
ratification Of the treaty altogether:
of being weakened. This is body
Of honorable. patriotic Americans,
all working firmly believe for what
they consider the best interests Of
their country as they see those in
terests.
THE last two accusations have men
toned are the only ones worthy Of no.
tice. That certain members Of this
body 20 want to defeat the ratification
Of this treaty Is perfectly true. They
admit It openly and thew have a per-
feet right to take that stand, but by
taking tina. stand claim that they for
felt all right to lead US senator's who
do not want to defeat the ratification
Of the treaty and to cay what measures
we shall or shall not adopt in bringing
about such ratification. And. as to the
accusation that some senators are wea.
kneed. let me say that no senator Is
weak-kaeeded who has honestly worked
out in his mind plan Of whatever ort
Il may be which in his heart Of hearts