New-York tribune., 1919-09-29
Vote on Amendments Elimi.
mating U. S. From Inter-
national Commissions Is
Expected by End of Week
Shantung Fight Follows
Hitchcock and Swanson to
Advise Wilson Reserva-
tions Must Be Accepted
By Carter Field
Ne.r York Tribune

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S.-With Ad-
ministration leaders eagerly waiting
until President Wilson is physically
able to advise with them as to just
how far be is willing to let them 60 in
accepting reservations, the Senate will
open debate tomorrow on the pro-
posed Fall amendments to the peace
treaty.
A vote on these amendments is ex-
pected both by Senator Lodge and lead
ers of the Administration side before
the end of the week. The effect of the
amendments would be to eliminate the
United States from more than a score
of the international commissions and
boards set up by the peace treaty to
adjust many knotty boundary and
other problems, mostly in Europe. A
separate Fall amendment would leave
the American representative on the
reparations committee, but provides
sphere except by authority from Con-
gress.
Senator Fall to Open Debate
Senator Fall himself will discuss the
amendments at length, probably to-
morrow, after which there will be
general discussion. 1t is promised
that no dilatory tactics will be resorted
to, and that vote will be permitted
as soon as the legitimate discussion is
ended. After that will come the con-
sideration of the Shantung amendment
and last of all, the johnson amend
ment. The vote on the Johnson amend
ment, however, is not expected for at
! least a month.
Meantime, despite the fact that par
ticular amendments are up for consid-
Grafton. there will be many general
t speeches by Senator'S on the entire
treaty. and discussion Of reservations
will go on.
The fight for the Fall amendments,
in way is fight against the whole
idea Of the treaty Most Of the SEN
ators who will vote for them wish very
heartily that the President had main
tanned at Paris the idea of CO. bellig-
erent rather than an Ally, which he
carefully preserved while the fighting
was going on. and which is vaguely
recognized in the very sections OF the
treaty which Senator Fall desires to
change.
Purpose Is to Avoid Enmities
The purpose of the Fall amendments
is TO prevent the United States from
having voice in such decisions as
may be made by these numerous COM
missions and boards. and in that man
ner to avoid. not only the RESPONSE
/ biity, but the enmty of the countries
against which these decisions 60
Senator Fall will call the attention of
the Senate to the resentment against
the United States, raised already in
Italy on account Of the Fiume decision,
and IN Greece on ~ccount OF the
Thrace decision. The Foreign Re
lations Committee had hearings on
] nf
many others. in which the United
States was involved rot in the war,
but in the peace table DECISIONS
1t is not thought that the Fall amend
ments will pass. Their only hope, in
the minds of their friends. is that the
sentiment of the country will have
manifested itself so strongly against
the whole treaty before the final vote
that he Senate will vote again on
compromise with the element tn at
demands total rejection Of the treaty
The Fall amendments will not muster r
the full Republican strength. They
will lose the votes of virtually all the
'mild rese Hvationists,' while tho only
sure vote on the Democratic side is
that of Senator Reed of Missouri
Later IN the week, 1t is thought
while this debate is proceeding. Sen.
their interview with the President, to
tell him frankly that he must accc pt
reservations, and in particular a res
ervation on Article X at least as strong
as the one the President denounced al
Salt Lake as cutting "the heart out Of
the treaty.
The leaders will also tell him that
the situation must be handled very
dplomatically, or the Johnson amend
ment, giving the United States an
equal vote in the league assembly with
the British Empire. may be passed
This amendment would not have q
ghost of a show, it is admitted, had it
not been for some of the Presidents
speeches, which destroyed the conf
dence in his own interpretations Of the
peace treaty language on the part OF
the mild reservatonsts,' and had it
not been for the letter, signed by the
President, Lloyd George and Clemen-
ceau, read to the Senate by Senate,
Reed, assuring the Canadian peace mis-
sion that nothing would prevent Can
ada or other British dominions from
having at some time a member Of the
league council, as we'll as the assembly