Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-23
SENATORS WOULD
KNOW COUNTRYS
STAND ON TREATY
Unless There Is Demand for
Compromise, Pact May Be-
come Campaign Issue.

During the week which 1nterVeneS
before the opening of the regular ses-
sion of Congress, senators on both
sides of the peace treaty controversy
will keep their ears close to the
ground to catch expressions of the
feelings of the country on the sub
ject.
Undoubtedly the hope of the admin
istration leaders, who brought about
the rejection Of the Lodge resolution
of ratification and the Senate reserva-
tions, has been that there will be a
great outpouring of sentiment in IA
vor of the ratification of the treaty
and the league of nations covenant.
On the other hand, senators who
have opposed the league and who
have demanded reservations believe
that the pendulum has swung toward
them during the long discussion of
the treaty in the Senate.
Much will depend upon the manner
in which the country reacts when it
fully realizes that the President and
the Senate seem to be hopelessly
deadlocked over the treaty. Before
the Senate voted down the lodge
resolution of ratification and the Un-
derwood resolution proposing unQual-
flied approval of the treaty, it had
been predicted widely that COM
promise would be reached-that il
had to be reached. Today there is
still the same talk of compromise.
But, unless the country makes itself
heard in unmistakable manner. the
deadlock may continue, and the
treaty may be thrown into the next
political campaign.
Many of the senators have gone
home, and it is expected they. will get
the views Of their constituents on the
subject of the treaty fight. Should the
deadlock continue and the treaty ac-
ton be postponed for a year some
kind of modus vivendi must be es-
tablished. The resumption of trade
will be demanded and repeal Of the
wartime laws under which the coun-
try is now chatting. If it is impossible
to get through a resolution declaring
peace with Germany. leaving the
treaty to be made in the future, then
a bill repeating many of the war stat
utes may be put through.
Holds Treaty Is Alive.
In the absence of any official word
from the State Department on the out
come Of the treaty fight, diplomatic rep
resentatives Of the entente and asso-
ciated powers have been communicating
to their governments their own accounts
of what happened and the prospects for
the future.
The department takes the ground
that technically the treaty is still alive,
and that therefore it still is subject to
revival and further action.
No doubt is entertained by the vari-
Gus entente; embassies that without
awaiting the further action by the
United States the four principal pow
ers which already have ratified it,
and also Germany. will call in the
several smaller states which also have
given their ratification, and will pro-
coed to organize the league of nations
Immediately upon the publication of
the "proces verbal" now set for De-
cember 1.
Yet, the first step in that direction.
it is pointed out, must be made by
President Wilson. who will find him
self in the position of being obligat-
ed to call the initial meeting of the
league, although he may not partici-
pate in it's deliberations.
In Japanese circles it is considered
that the door still is held open to
China to recover Shantung. and that
although not one of the signatories
of the Versailles treaty. China's first
step is to indicate to Japan her will
ingness to begin negotiations.
AS Germany under the terms of the
treaty is obligated to supply Japan
within a period of three months after
the publication of the ''proces verbal"
with all the documents necessary to
settle titles to land and other pre-
critics in Tsingtau. negotiations with
China might be undertaken early
next year.