Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-17
Brake on Debate Hast
ems Disposition of
Reservations
LOOK FOR DEFINITE
DECISION ON PACT
SOMETIME this WEEK
Form Of Reservation Accept
able to President to be Set
tied at Conference Admins
tratiOn Leader and Wilson,
Member Both Branches Anx-
iOuS to Return Home

Washington. Nov. ia confer
ence tomorrow between President
Wilson and Senator Hitchcock, ad-
ministration leader in the Senate
contest over the peace treaty, was
expected tonight to determine large
! ly the fate of the treaty and plans
for adjournment of the special ses-
sion of Congress. Senator Hitchcock
expects to obtain from the President
a final word on the form of reserva
tions he will accept. The conference
was arranged at Senator Hitchcock's
request after seeing number of
Democratic leaders.
Definite outcome of the treaty con-.
troversy this week-either a dead
| lock or reserved ratification-and
adjournment of Congress, tonight
seemed assured
With the cloture rule in effect, the
Senate tomorrow will take I'D the
two remaining committee reserva-
tions and, after disposal of dozens of
individual reservations. reach the
last stage of ratification on resolu-
tionS.
With final action on the treaty.
adjournment sine die of the session
which began May 10, is planned be-
fore the new and long session Begin
J ming two weeks from tomorrow. All
ar for 70 n
rest and travel allowances.
What the House will do while the
Senate is in the last stage Of the
treaty fight has not been determined
today.
The railroad bill will be taken up
again tomorrow and probably passed
by tomorroW night or Tuesday. Not
much will be done after that. If
forced to wait for the Senate's ac-
ton on the treaty. House leaders
hope members may leave under a
'gentlemen's recess agreement"
At tomorrow treaty conference at
the White House Senator Hitchcock will
lie ALE to give the President the last
survey of the situation. Except for a
few additional reservations whose
adopt on is expected, the majority's fl
nal resolution of ratification virtually
is il form.
Senator Hitchcock said tonight that
he would submit the majority reserva-
tons as adopted. and those still be-
fore the Senate. together with the mi
nority substitutes to Pre- sfdent Wilson
''for his final Judgment
Leaiers of both parties predicted that
the President would not accept the res
crvation program adopted by the Sen
ate. The majority managers said they
were proceeding with plans TO over
rifle Vice President MarshalIs proposed
ruling that the treaty could not live
or die by :" vote on the resolution con-
Ia ming Reservations adopted by the
majority. The program of the major
ity contempIates that final rejection of
the Lodge resolution. upon reconsidcra-
ton with a second vote. shall he ruled
as decisive ratification or defeat.
Tho first reservation to come up to-
morrow is designed to qualify the
treaty provision by which Germany re-
nounces in favor of the big five DOW
era her title to her overseas possess
sions, of which final disposition is to be
made afterward under the mandat tory
system. The reservation declares The
United States declines to accept as trus-
tee or in its own right any RESPONSE
bility for such territory.
For this reservation the Republican
leaders declare they are assured Of n
majority. but they are not SO certain
about the other and final measure Of
the committee program. 1t is a blan-
ket reservation by which this country
would decline to submit to the league
decision any question it considered to
involve vital national rights and inter-
ests. Some of the mild reservation group
do not favor it, and predict it's defeat