Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-21
Senator Underwood Proposes
Resolution for Appointment
OF Committee Of 10 Senators
To Work Out Compromise.
REPUBLICAN LEADER
WILL NOT ACT NOW
knox's Idea Was to Repeal
T Declaration Of War, and De-
mand Of Germany All Bene.
fits of Economic Boycott. /

Washington, Dec. .0.-Peace
treaty controversy was revived in its
tull vigor today, just before the SEN
ate recessed for Christmas.
Two new moves for the formal
establishment of peace, one by ratif-
cation of the treaty and the other
without, were the agencies which re-
opened the fight. Neither proposal
got anywhere. but it generally was
conceded that the days work would
help bring to focus early in Janu-
ary the trend OF. senate opinion to-
wards some sort of settlement.
The suggestion which caused The
greatest stir came from Senator I'm
derwood democrat. Alabama, who
proposed a resolution for appoint
ment of committee of 10 senators
to work out compromise ratifca-
ton OF the treaty He asked for i'm
mediate action. but Senator Lodge
o! Massachusetts, the republican
leader, forced the resolution over un-
til the holidays.
Knox Makes Other Move.
The other move came from Ser-
ator Knox of Pennsylvania, who Sc.
cured approval of the foreign rela-
ticns committee for a resolution ia
repeal the declaration of war and to.
demand of Germany, on pain of an
economic boycott, all the material
benefits provided for under the un-
ratified treaty The mild reservation
group of republicans asserted they
would not support such measure,
however. and the democrats pre-
d'cted it would never be adopted.
Ihe mild group made plans to cd
ahead determinedly with their ef-
forts for bipartisan agreement on
reservations.
They protested to their party lead
evs against the Knox resolution and
indicated that they had been pre-
pared to support the Underwood
proposal.
Senator Underwood. in presenting
his resolution, made plea for active
work toward compromise during
the Christmas recess. He suggested
that the vice president. in naming
the 10 conferees, should act on the
advice of Senator Lodge and Senator
Hitchcock OF Nebraska. the acting
democratic leader.
Lodge Wishes Consultation.
Il do rot think" said Senator
Lodge, when unanimous consent was
asked for action on the mea sure.
that jus. on the eve Of adjournment
1t would be possible for me to con
sent to that. Before undertake
myself TO deal with any such propo-
slhon. desire to consult with the
.epublican membership of the senate.
Perhaps we can deal with this with
cut the appointment of a COM
mittee."
Many senators among the demo-
Gratis and mild reservationist repub-
leans, declared the Underwood pro-
posal in line with their conciliation
negotiations and ought to be
adopted. Unanimous consent will
not be required when the next at
:empt is made to get consideration.
Committee Divides.
"In approving the Knox resolu-
ion the foreign relations commit
ee divided, seven to three along
strict party lines, the only repre-
sentative of the mild reservation
SITS on the committee, Senator Nc
lumber, republican, North Dakota.
icing absent.
Before taking final action. the re-
publican majority substituted the
>nox proposal, which would require
'assage by both senate and house.
nd signature by the president for
ne by Senator Lodge, which was
eSigned to secure action by con-
ress only.
The move was taken to mean
abandonment of any effort to de-
iare a state of peace without the
occurrence of President Wilson.
1t was said by the republican lead
rs that the Knox resolution would
e brought forward after the holi-
aays as a compromise plan, but
hen Senator Knox reported II
'om the committee he had it out
n the calendar so that majority
ote will be required to get it be- s
IRE the senate.
In a formal statement Senator
.nox declared the purpose of his
solution was to break the treaty.
eadlock and return the nation 10
peace time basis.