Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-09
PRESIDENT FORBIDS
Mr.. HITCHCOCK TO
NEGOTIATE ON PACT
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Continued from First Page.)
the peace treaty has been defeated
Twenty republican senator's stand
ready to agree to reservations which
forty-five democrats will accept, thus
making sixty-five senators in favor
of ratification of the peace treaty
which is one more than is necessary.
Mr.. Wilson Believed Adamant.
Just what took place in the con-
versation Abetween President Wilson
and Senator Hitchcock last Friday as
the latter fingered behind when Sem
ator Fall of New Mexico left the sick
1T doesn't take Capitol Hill long to
size up the situation. Coupled with
sundry things that have come to light
since last week concerning the Presi-
dents attitude toward compromise
there is no escaping the conclusion
that Mr.. Wilson still believes he can
get the treaty through the Senate
without vital reservations, If any
The attitude of many Of his friends
is entirely different. They see prac-
teal situation. They see the Senate
leaders committed to certain courses
of action. They see many honest
doubts raised by some of the republic
can senators concerning ambiguous
phrases of the treaty.
They believe in league of nations
or incorporation of the military
and naval forces of the United States
They see foreign governments object
ing to the preamble and certain rser-
vations. but ready in these critical
days to swallow a good deal more
than they might have been willing to
accept two weeks or two months ago
They, too, are in compromising
mood, for the need of the moral and
material support of the United States
IN the process of reconstruction is SO
acute that no price seems too great
TO pay to get Americas help Yet
there is no necessity of making the
price as extreme as it looked at first
For many of the republicans are ready
to modify the preamble as well as
certain OF the objectionable resarya-
tions.
Democrats May $50 1t AIone.-
Two developments may come out of
the present situation. Either Presi-
dent Wilson will modify his per-
sistent theory that the international
situation will eventually compel the
Senate to act of its own initiative or
the democratic senator's. under the
leadership of Senator Hitchcock, will
go 1T alone In the latter case they
would undertake, with the assistance
of the republican leader. to work out
a compromise Senator Lodge is re-
ported to be unwilling to talk COM
promise with Senator Hitchcock I'M
less the latter has explicit authorize
ton of the President. On the other
hand, in the elusive game of where
the responsibility for delay shall lie
the Massachusetts senator would GER
tainly not maintain such an attitude
If Senator Hitchcock approached him
as the leader of the democrats who
were willing to accept reservations
and vote upon the same irrespective
of whether they were to the taste of
the President.
Situation Summarized.
Mr.. Wilson's course of logged silence
Is fraught with many dangers. He
may split his own friendly following
in the Senate and Kill efforts at COM
promise. Many republicans who don't
want to see the treaty or league
established would be glad if Mr.. will
son were clearly held responsible for
the killing of the pact. But the true
friends of the treaty inside and out
side the Senate care much less abou,
the pride of the President or the pride
of the senators than they do about
getting d treaty of peace ratified that
will be start, however imperfect
toward the reconstructed of a war.
torn world.
Copyright, 1871