The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-27
Deadlock Over Peace Treaty
Ratification Has Reached a
Puzzling Stage
MAY RECONvENE THE
PEACE CONFERENCE
Radical Anti-Wilson Senators
Talk of Discarding Treaty and
Declaring Peace

Washington, Aug 24.-How far
President Wilson may go in his fight
for unqualified senate acceptance of
the peace treaty is a subject Of in
creasing speculation in official and
diplomatic circles.
:. With the group of reservation Re-.
publicans apparently determined to
write their qualifications of the
league of nations covenant into the
ratification Itself and with Republi--
can leaders predicting that the SEN
ate will amend outright the Shan
tnng provision and perhaps other sec
tions of the treaty, an interesting set.
Of possibilities present themselves
There has been no authoritative
expression of the presidents probable
course should the treaty be returned
to him with textual amendments or
reservations written; into the ratifica-
tion. He told the foreign relations
committee Tuesday, however, that he
would consider either method of
qualification as tantamount to re-
opening the negotiations with Ger.
raany.
Should such amendments or reser-
vations be inserted, therefore-an
eventua1ity which democratic senate:
leaders deny is. likely. but which the
Republicans say is certain-the next
move would be up to the president.
What would he do. is a question On
which those who have talked with
him disagree; but a discussion of
what he would be authorized to do
under the law and precedents reveal
a. general agreement THAT several
courses would be open.
!. .Summued up, these discussions con
template that he might take up the
question OF changes in the treaty by
diplomatic correspondence; return te
Paris and ask that the peace confer
tetce be reassembled for negotiation
of a new treaty; send a new .delega-
ton to reopen negotiations; or pocket
the treaty and refuse to proceed far
ther unless the senate receded from
it's position.
It is known that the alternative Of
an exchange Of diplomatic notes with
the principal powers has been sug-.
gested to the president as the most
feasible by Republican senators who
have told him that the treaty never
could be ratified as it stands. The
assent of the smaller. nations, these
senator's asserted, would be obtained
easily once the other members of the
five principal powers have acquiesced.
Of
a reservation to the Colombian treaty
now is under negotiation by that
method.
The possibility of Mr.. Wilson's re-
turn to Paris to straighten out the
points raised by any senate qualifica-
tions is one which some senators say
would be entirely in line with his
course thus far in the peace settle
ment.
To send an entirely new set of peace
delegates also would be admittedly
within the presidents power, and in
that connection Republican senators
frequently have mentioned Senator
Hitchcock's statement that the presi-
dent laughingly suggested Senator
Lodge and Knox as possible selections
to neotiate a new tretay should the
present one be amended.
That president might permit the
negotiations to stand in a deadlock by
declining to take up with other gov
ernments any changes suggested by
the senate involves perhaps the most
interesting possibilities of all. Ad-
for
declared that the president alone
was charged with the negotiation OF
treaties and that the whole history
of treaty making showed he could
halt any such negotiation at any step
he desired prior to the exchange of
ratifcations. The senate, these lead
ers have asserted, would be abSolu-
tely powerless to interfere. his au-
thority under the constitution being
limited to giving advice and consent to
to the acts of the executive.
In that connection many prece-
dents have been cited, including Ole
as late as President Taft's admin
istration when Mr.. Taft, dissatisfied
with the senate's amendment Of
a treaty he had presented for ratifica-
ton. washing his hands of the nego-
tiations and let the treaty die.
Should President Wilson adopt that
course and then appeal to the coun-
try. Republican senators say that sem
ate would adopt resolution declar-
ing the war at an end and proceed
to enact such legislation as seemed
necessary to restore q complete peace
basis. Whether such a resolution
would require the presidents sigma
ture is disputed question, however.
and Mr.. Wilson is known to object
strongly to any such method Of end
ing the war