Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-19
INITIATIVE TAKEN
FROM LEADERS ON
PACT NEGOTIATIONS
Foreign Relations Committee
Called for Saturday Morn
ing to Consider Knox
Resolution

proposals for a peace treaty compro-
mise are being formulated by Demo-
cratic senators for submission to Re-
publican mild reservationists, it was
learned today.
This is the first time that Demo-
Gratis have taken the lead in seek
ing agreement on specific terms. In
doing so they are acceding to the
request of Republicans who since
the treaty failed, have declined to
put forward any terms, on the ground
that if the Democrats want compro-
mise, they should say definitely how
far they are willing to go. ~7
Possibility that the senate peace
treaty fight might be resumed ac-
lively before the holiday recess de-
veloped today when the foreign re-
lations committee was called sste
meet Saturday morning. The purpose
Of the meeting was not annoHhcedS
but leaders indicated an effort prob
ably would be made to get commits y
tee action on the resolution of Sem
ator Knox, Republican, Pennsylvania
to declare state Of peace. al
Senate managers hoped to adjourn.
for the holidays Saturday night by
which time, it was generally eoifr
ceded there would be little possible
ty of bringing the Knox measure to
n vote. Some members of the CONF
mittee expect Democratic opposition
to be so stubborn that even commit
tee action will be impossible at Sat
urday's meeting. 49,
Adjust ent of differences over the
treaty has passed from the hands
of Senator Lodge, Republican leader
and. Senator Hitchcock, Democratic 1
leader, to men who will let nothing
stand in the way of qualifications,
according to all indications today
Senators Lodge and Hitchcock will
be called into consultation only when
it is certain that an agreement has
been reached that probably nothing
can overturn, it Is evident. A.
The Democratic proposals now Sbe
ing drawn up will take the forms.it
was stated, of a new set of reserves
tons. They will be submitted to the
.treatys friends on the, Republican,
side only when the support of Stlle G
most of the Democratic senator's has
been definitely pledged. A senator
who was helping prepare them satds
today he will not be surprised if they &
follow the Lodge reservations rather /
closely.
would Block Resolutions az
Senators who want the treaty TO {
"stay dead" are preparing to block
action by the foreign relations CONF
mittee if they can on the Knox reso-
Iutions referred to 1t yesterday. One 4
Of these proposes ratification of all
portions of the treaty except those
relating to the League of Nations
The other simply declares a state OF &
peace. "Irreconeiliable" senator's
said they will oppose any commit
tee action that might acknowledge
that the treaty is still before the !
senate, or that it can be revived on Y
the senate's own motion.
Expressions that seemed to point !.
toward a reopening Of the peace 1
treaty fight within few weeks were
voiced on the senate floor Wednes- q
day when the subject bobbed up in 3
the midst of consideration of the q
railroad bill. y
The symposium Of views that went
into the record during the brief de-
bate included opinions from virtually
all factions of the divided senate s.
membership, but they all struck a i
note of Cancellation. Differing widely
in their suggestion that politics ought 4
to be forgotten and that the senates =
acting independent of executive opin-
ion, ought to do something promptly
to end suspense and establish state :
of peace.
The discussion reflected the trend
of negotiat tons which have been in
progress privately among senators
for an agreement that would get the
question finally out of the way,
There was increased activity in that f
direction during the day and SONS
Of the leaders predicted some formal
action early in the new year
Senator Knox, of Pennsylvania, ~ :
leader in the irreconcilable Repub-
lican group Of treaty opponents, and
member of the foreign relations
committee, brought the subject to the
floor by another attempt to get be-
fore the senate his two resolutions
to establish a state Of peace. The
effort was blocked, but he obtained
unanimous consent to send the meas
ures to the committee, where he eX-
poets to renew his request for ac-
ton. lE.f
Move Of Knox
A plea was made by Senator Knox
for some sort of a settlement, and
was seconded by Senator Smith, OF .
Georgia, a reservation Democrat, who
declared the time had come to stop
academic discussion of who held uP
the treaty and get together in give
and take effort for compromise. Ac- I,
ton also was urged by Senator NeIr
son, Of Minnesota, one of the mild
reservation Republicans, and by SEN
ator Myers, of Montana, a Democrat 4
who voted last session for some res. :
ervations and also for unreserYed1
ra tifications. >------se-
In the compromise negotiations :
proceeding at private conferences
among senators the principal activ-
ity seemed to be among the Demo-
Gratis, the Republican reservationists
indicating that they awaited some 4
concrete proposal from the other side :
of the aisle. The Democratic man
ayers were hopeful that such ar 3
agreement soon would be reached
but they predicted it would not talks
tangible form until after the holt /.
days.
Among the Democrats there was 4
much discussion Of the possible eff &
feet of the compromise negotiations &
op the contest between Senator Hitch =
cock, Of Nebraska, and Senator I'm 4
derwood, of Alabama, for election as
Democratic leader of the senate. The
negotiations started yesterday With
the lid rnSprNa tim Penn hl fcafle. -