Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-21
SENATOR P|TTMAN
OFFERS NEW PLAN
Proposal Is to Adopt Interpre,
tive Resolutions Separate
From Ratification.
WANT ACTION PART OF PACT
Republican Groups View Does
Not Accord With Latest
Suggestion.
WANT ACTION PART OF PACT

first open move for compromise in
the league Of nations hght came from
administration quarters today, en-
b!accd in a proposal that the Senate
adopt interpretive reservations, but
that they be kept apart from the actu-
al ratification Of the treaty.
The. overture met with no immedi-
ate success on the Republican side
OF the chamber, Senators Of the Re-
publican reservation group declaring
they could not rccede from their posi-
ton thdt TO be effective the reSerVa-
sell.
Senator Pittman: O.; Nevada, Demo
t!ons Committee, presented the com
promise proposal IN the form of 4
resolution cinbody!ng in effect the
Republican senators and declaring
tnem 10 constitute the Senatc's UNDER
standing Of disputed points in the Gov
cnan;
Want it TO lie Part of Treaty.
In the Republican draft. however j,
tons be made a part OF the treaty
by the instrument of ratification. -.
provision winch Senator McNary. Uf
Oregon. ana others OF the group of
. seven Republicans said they consider
yea absolutely necessary II enough Re
publican votes are 10 be glad TO Sc
7
To overcome this objection. Senator
i'ittnan proposed in speech In the
/ Senate that the resolution be adopted
al once ana submitted 20 the other
| the league council. y general dcbate e
deve !oped during which Senator
/ Borah. Republican, Idaho and others
/ took exception TO President Wilson 5
I distinction between moral and legal
/ obligations under the covenant as ex-
/ pressed IN yesterdays White House
conference between the President and
/ the Foreign Relations Committee.
! Carries Presidents Views.
Although Senator Pittman said he
| had not submitted his resolution for
me Pres!dents approva! he asserted
,haI vio,,s carried into .a, eifect Mr Wilson's
as expressed to the committee yester-
day. He indicated his firm belief that
the administration would go no fur
ther toward a compromise because il
feared that inclusion of the reserva-
tions in the ratification would reopen
the nssotiaitons Win Germany.
eriheiess. insisted they had informa-
ton that in the end their plan wou d
have Democratic support.
An attack on the shantnng provision
by Senator Mccormick, Republican,
Illinois, who asserted that by accept
ing the provision the United States
would become party 10 one OF the
most outrageous exhibitions OF "hypo-
crisy and violence" in the worlds his
tory.
Deviation From Historic Policy.
The Shantuns provision also was un-
der consideration before the Forcic II
relations Committee, which was told
| by DR.. j. c. Ferguson, adviser TO the
chinese President, that China regarded
American acceptance of the settlement
policy OF American friendship TO the
chlnese government and people.
In MS argument that reservations
should not be incorporated in the rati-
iication itself, Senator Pittman de-
clared Germany was awaiting an op-
portunity TO attach hundreds of rcser-
ject would submit the United States
to needless risk. His resolution
went over without action. Questions
by Senator Borah turned the debate
TO a discussion OF the moral and legal
obligations assumed under Article y.
of the covenant, by which the members
agree TO preserve one another's ter
ritorial integrity against external ag-
gression. The article. Mr.. Pittman as
serted, had no legal force because it
does not carry the essentials of Il
contract
No Court 10 Enforce Covenant.
Of law" he said, and find any means
by which it could be enforced by the
conscience of the parties affected"
Bu, when Germany actually in
1t seems to me that under Article
y. would have been obligated to
go at once to the aid of France"
The matter would have been laid be-
fore Congress-" said Senator Pittman
and Congress would have had TO de-
eide whether we would act. In my
Judgment. Congress would have decid-
ed we should act. and il would have
been 4 GodSend.
Il agree with that. but still Con
gress would have had no real discre-
tion. 1t would have been compelled to
act If ii were going to carry out it's
contract" returned Mr.. Borah.