The Washington herald., 1919-07-19
AMEND PACT OR KILL
IT, Is G. O. P. ANSWER
TO WILSON'S PLANS
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pressed with the gravity Of the situ-
alton as thus presented to him was
shown by the fact that he at once
arranged for a conference with SEN
ator Hitchcock. the Democratic lead
er. and the ranking Democratic men,
ber Of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee.
The Senate had already adjourned
and Senator Hitchcock had gone to
his home to prepare for q midnight
journey to the golf links of Swamps-
colt.
Nevertheless, the President hasten
ed to the Capitol, and Senator Hitch
cock postponed the packing Of his
luggage long enough to go to the
Presidents room of the Senate floor
and confer with him for nearly an
hour.
At the end Of the conference the
President stated that the situation
demanded. more than anything else,
| "clarification of counsel" and that
treaty were based upon misunder-
standing.
Senator Hitchcock, after the con-
ference. declared that he was not
yet willing to admit that reservations
on the league covenant are neces-
sary. He said the fight for ratifica-
tion is to be waged for straight
ratification without any reserva-
ton or amendment.
As to what methods the President
or the Democratic Senators will adopt
to overcome the pronounced opposi-
tion to the treaty. Senator Hitch
cock declined to say.
The Republicans who went to the
White House yesterday were Charles
L. McNary. William s. Kenyon. Ar
thur Capper and Frank B. Kellogg.
with the exception of McNary, all
the Senators intend to stand with
the Republican majority in favor of
reservations on the treaty. Each
declared that the talk with the
President had made no change in
his opinion as to the necessity of
these reservations.
The President suggested that
there might be some form of "in-
terpretations" made, which would
define the standpoint OF the United
states. 1t was apparent to the SEN
ators that the President has an ex-
treme dislike for the word "reserva-
tions." but that the expression sin
terpretative resolution" might prove
acceptable to him.
Senator Capper told the Presi-
dent that he had always been in
sympathy with the principles of the
league. but that he would be COM
PEELED to support reservations. He
was particular. he said, in having
1t definitely stated that Congress,
and not the executive council of
the league. should have the right
to say when and where American
troops should be sent as contem-
plated in Article X.
The President was told by Sena-
tor Capper that sentiment again st
the league is becoming stronger in
Kansas and adjoining States of the
Middle West. It is understood the
Presidents answer to this sugges-
tion was that the people "out there
did not understand the league.
In discussing the provision of Ar
ticle Y. the President expressed
strong objections to having this
article changed, either by amend
ment or by reservations. The Pres
idents position in the matter is
that it was made clear at the Peace
Conference that Congress alone has
the power and the right to send
troops and that the Peace Confer
ence was fully advised as to the
provisions OF the Constitution OF the
United States in this respect
To alter this article Of the covenant,
the President holds, would be to sig
nifty to the other nations that the
United States is going into the league
only half-heartedly and not in per-
feet good faith.
In his talk with another of the
Senators. the President was asked
whether he agreed with the view ex-
pressed by Senator Swanson, to the
effect that il the United States should
choose to withdraw from the league
after two years notice, it could dc
30 without any action by the league
The President stated that he did not
believe this to be the correct inter-
probation of the section relating to
withdrawal
The suggestion was made to the
President that the section on with
drawal ought to be changed so that
Congress might decide whether or not
to withdraw after giving notice. This
section could then be made the issue
in Congressional elections. 1t was
pointed out, thereby giving the people
of the entire country an opportunity
to decide whether or not they desired
the United States to remain in the
league. The President declined to give
T. IL