New-York tribune., 1919-07-29
Wilson Not Sure He Will
Make Speaking Tour in
Behalf of the League,
He Tells Democrats
Hugghes's g Opinion
Hits Borah Group
Administration Alarmed
Over Delay and Danger
of More Defections
By Carter Field
NeW York Tribune
Gshin0fou Pure1u

" washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 2S.-President
Wilson expects to send the Franco
American treaty to the Senate within
day or two, he told a group of De-
mocratic Senator'S at the Capitol to-
day. Asked about his speaking tour in
behalf of the league, the President
said he was not sure about it vet.
Several Senators got the impression thu
President was not even sure he would
make the trip.
The Presidents visit to the Capitol
followed a visit to the White House
by Senator Charles S. Thomas, Demo-
crat, Colorado, which is understood to
have disturbed MIR. Wilson very much
| Mr. Thomas said he had read the entire
| treaty through three times ard was
now reading it fourth, but was not
sure yet whether he would vote for il
or not.
Mr.. Thomas refused after his talk
with the President to give Details Of
the reservations to the league covenant
which he would favor, but admitted
that he did not like either the Shan
tung settlement or the Saar Basin
section.
Administ ration Leaders Worried
Senator Thomas said he would make
speech tomorrow on some of the
"illusionary" features of the treaty
He declined to be more specific but
this statement and a further comment
to colleagues that the league, in his
opinion, would not provide "as much
siderably worried the Administration
leaders.
With one Democratic Senator Reed,
of Missouri. Joined with the "Borah
irreconcilables," and a second, Sena-
tor Gore, of Oklahoma, committed to
the four Root reservations and actually
antl-league, the Adm mnistration forces
are said to view with much concern
the detection of another vote
Alarm over Mr.. Thomas is the
greater because the Democrats have
been counting on beating the reserva-
tions by getting several Republican
!
Republican Senators every time, but
enough votes every time to beat the
reservation. They have been counting
on Senator Norris, for example. to vote
against the Monroe Doctrine reserva-
tlon. Mr.. Norris has declared he cares
nothing about that. They have been
counting on Senator Colt to vote
against the withdrawal reservation.
He does not think that necessary.
Count on Two Others
Then they have been counting on
McCumber and McNary to vote against
all the reservations when the time
came, if they could demonstrate that
the treaty could be ratified without
reservations after reservations were
! beaten
Doubt on the part of Senator
Thomas, however, as to whether ne
should vote to ratify the entire treaty
or not, whether reservations were
adopted or whether they were not. has
thrown bad scare into the Admins
tration camp. If Mr.. Thomas should
take positive stand agains. the
treaty-.and the President did not
sway hlm at all to-day-the "Horah
irreconcilables" would have another
vote on the final ballot, and doubt as
to whether the treaty could be rattle 4
without reservations would be turned
to certainty that it could not
incidentally, Mr.. Thomas said NJ.
speech tomorrow would not 90 into
ms ideas about reservations at al. I
would be much more general IN lts
nature.
Hughes View PIeases Lodge
In view of the increasing number O,
4 senators who are beginning to agree
WIN senator borah that reservations
VIII not be binding after the league
mas reached working basis, the opin-
ION of Charles E. Hughes that reserya-
tons would safeguard the interests of
1nls country was most interesting to
Senators. 1t was regarded asSa Sody
blow to the "Borah irreconcilables.'
and was hailed with great pleasure by
kepubilcan Leader Lodge and others.
Tins opinion by Mr.. Hughes, as g
matter OF fact was regarded as mora
important by most Senators who dis
cussed 1t thar the actual reservations
proposed by Mr.. Hughes, especially as
MI hughes's reservations were not re-
garded as being essentially different
from those advocated by the maiority
Of Republican Senators.
The letter of Governor HUGHES -
Senator Hale was said to be the second
OF series which will include George
W. Wickersham, former Senator Theo
dore r. Burton and other prominen,
Republicans. The frst of the scrie,
was that of Chairman Will II. Have,
Of the Republican National Committc,
to former President Taft.
Three Democrats See Wilson
The Presidents trip to the Cspite
followed the visits Of three Democrat