The sun., 1919-03-13
PEACE FIRST NEWS
DELIGHTS SENATORS
Word From Paris of Sidetrack-
ing Of League of Nations
Applauded.
ALL FACTIONS GRATIF1ED
Referendum on Covenant Pro.
posed by Wilson Fast Grow
ing in Favor.
Special Despatch to TIE Sun.


WASHINGTON, March Humiliation
was caused In Senate circles to-day by
news from Paris that the Peace Confer
snce had determined to go forward with
the formulation Of treaty of peace be-
tween the United States and the nations
with which the United States has been
associated in the war and the Central
Powers.
It was accepted by the majority group
members. who all along have opposed the
inclusion of any scheme for the crea-
ton Of a League of Nations as an in
tegral part OF the peace pact, as indie
alive OF sudden appreciation by the
representatives of all the nations at the
peace table that the two questions
are separate by nature and that the
contention advanced by Senators Lodge
(Maas), Knox (Pa.), Borah Udaho)
Reed (Ills), Cummins Iowa), Thomas
(Col.) and Lenroot (wis), that peace
with Germany was the immediate duty
OF the conference was correct
The Administration Senators expressed
relief. They had stood ready TO adhere
TO the Presidents pronouncements Of the
tndissoluble character of the relations
between the peace treaty and the League
of Nations constitution and to fight for
Mr.. Wilson's contentious in the Senate
II need be, even with the certainty OF
defeat confronting them. But now that
+he conferees in Paris have relieved
them Of this painful duty they feel
easier 1t would have been an unpleas-
ant thing. they said privately, to have
entered into what they knew must be a
losing fight and an unpopular cause
Now they are at liberty to help the ma
tority ratfy an unencumbered peace
treaty.
Many Weeks Wasted.
The Administration men recognize the
Justice Of the contentious so frequently
made by the opposition TO the altruistic
efforts OF President Wilson that the
weeks spent in the present crisis in striv-
ing to form League Of Nations 18th a
whole world nominally at war were
weeks wasted and out OF which waste
OF time there has grown waste OF ma
tonal strength, of national spirit, of hui
man life and OF material things. This
accounts for the paucity OF the pro-
league argument In the Senate in the
face of the gruelling which the opposi-
ton was giving the Presidents pet pro-
Eralnme.
1t was with a grim sort or sausfac-
tion that the opposition leaders read the
announcements from Paris. Their views
Senator Poindexter (WashD. which IT
is felt here makes up in strength for
what it lacks in subtlety. Mr.. Poin-
dexter said: II am very glad that the
Peace Conference has seized the oppor-
tunity Of the past three weeks to pre-
pare the terms OF peace in Europe"
The somewhat suggestive remark OF
The Pacific coast Senator was repeated
by other leaders, but the broad sugges-
ton was not amplifed. Mr.. Poindexter
continued:
The long delay since the signing OF
the armistce has kept the economic and
socisl conditions of the world unsettled.
Men cannot adjust their minds and ac-
tivities to the new order OF things until
they know what that new order Is to
be. The psychological effect upon the
world of the chaos from which Europe
tas been suffering during all the months
since the armistice was signed is an
important factor in the situation.