New-York tribune., 1919-11-17
Hitchcock Still Hopeful
of Compromise, but His
Optimism Does Not Ex-
tend to His Colleagues
Two More Changes
Sure of Approval
Labor Amendment and
One Providing Voting
Equality Are Expected
By Carter Field
New York T,itu,se
~ G-2hin gto,s Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-Pres.
ident Wilson will be asked to-mor-
row morning by Administration
Leader Hitchcock whether he will
accept the reservations to the peace
treaty already adopted by the Sen
ate and the two reservations, one o.
labor and one on equality of VOTING.
with the British Empire, which are
sure to be adopted. Mr.. Hitchcock
arranged an appointment with tlas
President to-day. He will go to the
White House before the Senate con-
venes, which will be at noon to~mor-
row.
On Mr.. Wilson's decision hangs
the fate of the treaty. If he agrees
that the Lodge reservations can be
accepted the treaty will be ratified
beyond doubt. If he insists that the
treaty cannot be accepted with those
reservations his followers in the
Senate will join the ''irreconcila
bles" and vote it down.
Further Compromise Fatal
The only other course possible-a
decision that a further fight mus.
be madeJto obtain compromises-will
lead, in the view Of the Republicans.
inevitably to the death of the treaty.
For if the so-called 'smild reserva.
tlonists" should agEee with the Dem
ocrats on a compromise, thirty-eight
Senators, it is declared, then would
be ready to vote against ratification.
This is five more than enough to
prevent ratification.
Ihls situation was carefully can
vassed to-day by several Senators.
Ihey discovered that thirty-eight men
IN the Senate would, if the Lodge nro.
gram of reservations is modified. vote
against the treaty. This does NOT in
clude the vote OF any Senator who ha,
ever been classed in the mild" group.
and does not, it is declared, count any
man who was not asked about his in
tentlons under such circumstances.
Predict President Will Yield
There are some signs pointing to
the possibility of President Wilson
yielding and accepting the Lodge res.
ervations. The friends of the treaty
on the Republican side-and outside
Of the Senate-dcelare the President
would put himself in too awkward y
position if he refused to accent ~
treaty with these reservations. Their
theory Is that there is lot of good
still left in the treaty. and the Presi-
dent, being firmly convinced as he IS
OF the benefit to the world Of the
League of Nations idea, would not re
1use to take what they declare is such
an important step in that direction.
Inc only point. therefore, they be
lleve, is that the President may lot
yet be finally convinced that he can
not have the treaty ratified with milder
reservations than those adopted
Hitchcock Has Seen President
Senator Hitchcock revealed for the
hrst time to-day that he has had sew
erai talks with the President on the
treaty In the last week. He managed
to get into and out of the White House
without being observed.
1t was not known that Mr.. Hitchcock
mad seen the President since Novem-
Der T.
More significance, as a result of these
VISITS, was attached to the refusal OF
MI Hltcl cock to be quite so fat as
some other Democratic Senators IN
saying the treaty would be rejected if
tne Lodge reservations remained on.
If the treaty Is ratified with our
reservations program" said Senator
hellogg, or Minnesota, one of the mild
reservationists," ''it will leave US in
the league with an opportunity to WELD
a q great influence toward world peace
Inc contention that these reservations
destroy or kill the treaty is merely
parliamentary or political maneuver-
ing: The country will certainly not
oeileve any such contention.
No Modification Acceptable
"Certain4y there is no chance of anv
modification of our program. The
treaty VIII either be ratified with that
program of reservations or not at all
"As matter of fact the Der. osrats
nave voted for reservations the legal
erect of which is the same as thuse
adopted. The substitute offered BY
senator Thomas. of Colorado, for the
committee reservation on Article Y
would have accomplished the same re-
suit in legal way. The Thomas res
srvation was a part of a program
number of us agreed upon last sum
ner Ii the Democrats are willing to
accept the reservation on Article \
-hey have not any defense for rejecting
he treaty because of the reservations
We have adopted"
Precisely the same position was taken
~ Senator Lenroot. There is not the
'hghtest chance of any further com
PROMISE" he declared. "If any mod
lcatlons are made, due to the defec
Ion of any group from our side. the
.esuit will be that the treaty will be
defeated. The reservation program is
'oing to be put on the treaty aud il
VII stand or fall IN ;rr- 49, wy
,erSonally, I am very hopeful that <S,a