The sun., 1919-12-18
Plea Of senator Knox.

Plea OF senator hn0A'
The two resolutions were read, one
declaring "a state Of peace exists be-
tween the United States and Germany"
and the other declaring that the treaty
OF Versailles Is ratified In so far as It
establishes a state Of peace between the
United States and Germany: that Is,
that the League OF Nations covenant,
the international law articles and other
matter extraneous to the simple reestab-
lshment OF peace are excluded. Then
came the objections from Messrs Nc
Kellar and Nelson, after which Senator
Knox resumed:
The Foreign Relations Committee re.
ported resolution Of ratification which
after protracted debate seemed likely
to he adopted with the reservations
recommended by the committee and
modified on the floor. The President vol
unfairly instructed the members OF his
own party to vote against that resolution
Of ratification, which they did with the
result that 1t went down In defeat.
"A few days later two impassioned
speeches were made by Senators Under
wood tAla.) AID Hitchcock (Neb) i'm
p!oring that the two sides Of the chamber
get together and In amity and compro-
mise agree on the conditions that >lould
attach to the ratification. Heartrending
descriptions were given as TO the condi-
tion OF the world, all to be accounted for
by the fact that this treaty had failed OF
ratification by the Senate, A day or
TWO afterward the President, by his own
motion, announced that no compromise
on reservations would be accepted BY
him, and his statement on that subject
L+aa
uon what conditions the Senate advises
and consents to the ratification the
President alone can determine whether
he will accept these reservations and
conditions and whether he will exchange
publications. upon the conditions advised
by the Senate
Asks Committee 20 Consider.
$50 it seems obvious 10 me In view Of
the attitude the President has taken
toward both reservations and compro-
mise that he should make every effort
In this body to reach a solution Of this
question. and l want the public to under
stand that the parliamentary situation
10 such that these resolutions which III
have offered, either Of which would solve
this problem, cannot be considered by
the Senate except by unanimous con
sent, and | wanted for the second time
to have it appear that unanimous con,
sent was impossible There ia, however
another route We may travel and
through which we may possibly get re-
suits. and that Is my reference Of these
resolutions to the Committee on Foreign
Relations and a report from that body. |
] therefore ask that both resolutions be |
referred 70 the Committee on Foreign |
Relations"
This e-Prcsident Marshall did, and
inunedlatsly Senator Smith (Ca.) was |
oNsGis feet
~ wish to call attention briefly to the |
Teaee treaty said Mr.. Smith. mot 10
ascertain who has been responsible 10, |
dehy but with the hope that we may
agree upon reservations and ratify with |
out further delay, There has been no |
laek of recognition by the Senate OF the |
inheritance OF closing the peace treaty. |
fisEn not the covenant OF the League OF |
Nations been attached TO the treaty 4 |
would have been ratified months ago.
'The majority Of Senators are con |
vinced that reservations should be mad |
q part Of the ratification, because they |
are necessary TO clarity doubtful proy. |
sions of the covenant and avoid futur |
Disputes and wars; because they. are nee
essary TO prevent power which should M
exercised by Congress from being trans |
ferred 5000 miles away to nine men
eight Of them foreigners. and becaus,
they are necessary to leave Congress en-
tirely free to perform it's constitutions |
duties when an effort is made to spen
the money Of our taxpayers and to sac
fiice eur soldiers in the wars OF TN. |
world
Pleads for n ComprOmHae.
''For months II has been apparent
that the League OF Nations could not