New-York tribune., 1919-08-30
Two of Three Changes by
Senators Moses, Fall
and Johnson Strike at
English League Power
President Gives Up
Signed Protocols
Fall Would Forbid u. S.
Preparations Envoy to
Vote Without Orders
New York Tribune

New York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29.-Three more
amendments to the peace treaty were
adopted to-day by the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. Two would re.
duce the voting power of the British
Empire in the league of nations as
sembly and the third would restrict
the activities of the American members
of the reparations committee set I'D
by the treaty.
The first of the amendments hitting
at British influence in the assembly.
offered by Senator Hiram Johnson, OF
California, would give the United
States as many votes as the British
Empire-a total of six. Great Britain
is not mentioned, but it is provided
that when any member of the league
has governing dominions or colo
MES or parts of empire which are
members of the league the United
States shall have as many votes al
the total.
The phrase parts of empire" Sen.
ator Lodge said. was aimed at India.
which, he declared, was inserted "bv
force" at the peace conference, inas-
much as India is not self go -erning
All League Members Protected
The second amendment was proposed
by Senator George II. Moses, of New
Hampshire. 1t provided that in any
dispute affe ting any country which
had dominions or colonies or parts OF
empire which were represented in the
league assembly, all would be barred
from the vote settling the dispute with
any other power. The idea IS TO pre-.
vent Canada, for instance, voting with
Great Britain and New Zealand and
South Africa and India in a quarrel
between Australia and Its.y. This
amendment goes further than tho
johnson amendment in that it protects
all the league members instead Of onlv
the United States from the effect O.:
Great Britains six votes.
II don't know how any one is going.
to defend vote against this amend
ment giving the United States equal
NPA>oSiiNobi biOii Will tlc D'.IlSN En-
pre- Senator Lodge said after tho
meeting of the committee at Will be
difficult vote to defend before tho
American people"
McCumber With Democrats
The Johnson amendment was adopted
by vote of to 8, Senator McCumber
voting with the Democrats. Al the end
Of Article II it adds the following:
PROVIDED that, when any member
of the league has or possesses self
governing dominions or colonies. or
parts of empire which are also mem
bers of the league, the United States
shall have votes in the assembly or
council of the league numerically
equal to the aggregate vote OF such
member of the league and its SELF
governing dominions and colonies
and parts of empire in the coun-
ell or assembly of the league"
Senator McCumber proposed a sub
stitute for the Johnson amendment.
which was defeated by a vote of 10 to
3, McCum ber. Hitchcock and Swanson
voting in the affirmative and John
Sharp Williams voting with the Repub-
licans in the negative
Senator Falls Amendment
The third amendment offered by SEN
ator Fall would restrict the yntnx
power Of the United States delegate ~,
the Reparations Commission hy altar
Ing the treaty clause TO prevent TIA
American from voting except when IN
structed by the United States govern
ment to do 80 in specific instances,
10 effect this end Senator Fall pro
posed TO amend the third line. second
paragraph of Article II, Annex 2. by
striking out the words sthe United
States" In the fourth line of the same
paragraph, section and annex. amend
by inserting after the period, following
the word occasion" the words "the
delegate of the United States shall
nave no vote in the proceedings of the
commission except concerning a matter
wherein such delegate is specifically
instructed by his government 10 take
part IN proceedings of the commission
and TO cast and record the vote OF the
united States thereupon, but shall al
ways have such right when Annex 3 to
the reparation clauses, or any section
thereof, is under consideration"
The vote on this amendment WAS
to 8, Senator McCumber voting with
the Democrats.
Senator Moses proposed amendment
app!led 70 the end OF paragraph 8 of
Article XIV:
whenever the case referred to the
assembly involves dispute between
one member of the league and another
member, whose self-governing domin.
IONS, colonies or parts Of empire ara
also represented in the assembly.
neither the disputant members, nor any
of their said dominions, colonies or
parts Of empire shall have vote upon
any phase of the question"
1t was agreed to record this by vote
of 9 TO s.
Senator Knox's speech did not sur
prise the Senators with whom he has
been talking lately, especially since the
luncheon in his Office last week Of
eight "irreconcilables." Republican