The sun., 1919-03-27
men, BY IN. Senate would remain very

ment BY the Senate would remain very
remote.
The Language OF every proposed
amendment, as fast as II Is obtainable
here, Is being closely scanned and ana
lived TO find possible flaws or words
and phrases capable Of more than one
Interpretation. The Swiss amendment
was designed on It's face to reserve to
every nation its complete sovereignty
and independence except what IL
voluntarily gave up through "adhering''
to the league constitution. This Inn
mediately was rejected by the Senators
now here on the ground that more en-
trance into the league easily could be
construed as "adhering' to the league
constitution and thus the amendment
would be without value as safeguard
OF national sovereignty.
The danger the Senate faces now. N
Is said, is that the President may bring
home a revised draft OF the league con-
stitution which a cursory reading OF
would appear TO meet the objections
made by the Senate. Although this draft
on It's face may meet these objections
Senators gravely fear that II will be
filled with language capable OF many
interpretations and that the amend
ments will not remove the objections
when Il comes to the test The Senators
then will be placed in the position Of
apparently carrying on a petty wrangis
over the wording OF the league consti-
tuition. They realize that a great many
persons not thoroughly cognizant OF the
true situation will not back them whole
heartedly II the night between the Presi-
dent and the Senate narrows down to
that point.
There are now groups in the Senate
confident that no amendments to the
Wilson league draft will prove salts
factory and will night against II on the
general ground that the people of the
United States thoroughly abhor any
plan which would commit the United
States to continual obligation to take
n hand In European and Asiatio AFFAIRS.
They feel that when the part OF the
league dealing with mandatories II
made thoroughly plain there will be =
revulsion OF feeling against any league
committing America to such pro
gramme.
Another group holds the view that n
would be a serious mistake to oppose
any League Of Nations that is presented.
They want II Judged purely on its merits
by the Senate. They frankly fear some
trick or other by the proponents of the
league. They fear that the Wilson sup
porters may try - construe objection
to the Wilson league plan by Republic
cans into objection to any sort OF q
scheme which would prevent wars IN
the future. and in that way arouse pro-
league sentiment throughout the coun-
try. These Senators would draw the
teeth from the league constitution. make
II harmless and innocuous document
which would not invade American
rights, liberty OF action or sovereignty,
approve the innocuous covenant and put
II aside. This would be better politics
in any event, these Senators hold, be
cause Il would let the 1920 Issue be ths
the waste and extravaganza and inef-
ficiency Of the present Administration.
On that platform they insist the 1880
election is as good as won by tho Re
publicans now. ,
A message received at the White
House to-day from the American peace
delegation at Paris said greater progress
toward peace was being made than ZAP
peared on the surface" No details of
the progress were given. and White
House officials declined to speculate on
what developments might have fur
nished the basis for the despatch.