Evening star., 1919-08-15

PAR[EY. ON LEAGUE
ABSORBS INTEREST
Conference at White House
Expected to Reveal Real
Differences Of View.
80 - = -. - =
DISCUSSION 70 BE OPEN
DISCUSSION TO BE OPEN

All interest in the negotiations over
the peace treaty centers In the con-
ference betweens the President and
the Senate committee on foreign re-
lations to be held at the White House
next Tuesday. Speculations as to
what may, be the outcome Of the meet
ing covered q wide range today.
/. One result Of: full and free ex-
change Of views 10 the white light
Of publicity. which by consent OF All
inga,, may be. Il was said today e
s;,9 81! sssiss sls sss ssa2. Z.
! daries of concessi6hg the President
+. = 81 -. ;!a..'.
nilttse ftI Sansent to- gosto naest his
demands: I. ~ :. ::
wTn Serve = Fix Lines.
II such should be the result. seha-
tors think the lines of demarca tion
between the administration and the
proponents Of reservations to the
league of nations covenant may be
more clearly fixed. for the. contest
thereafter. both In committee and in
the Senate. It fs .naturally expecfed
make : square -jawsd, insisteiacA upoa
ratification !, of the treaty without
change. 1T is- the belief Of senators
that before the conference IL over he
may have reason to apprehend. even
II not inclined to admit 1t, that some
concessions In the direction OF amend
sary or the entire treaty Of peace
be in danger of utter rejection
through lack Of two-thirds vote for
ratification.
Delay Increases Opposition.
It is the. conviction Of many well
posted and observant senators that
every days postponement Of final ac-
tion on the treaty increases the op-
position to the league Of nations. Con-
firmation Of this belief was deduced
from Senator Hitchcock's intimat;on
that If the COMMITTEES does not soon
report the treaty. he will take steps
in the open Senate to bring 1t out
OK committee and onto the fioor for
consideration. Senator Hitchcock's
action in this instance. was indorbed
BY the White House. which. senators
think. serves to show that the Presi-
dent also feels that delay 10 detri-
mont8l 10 MS CAu6c.
But the COMMITTEES on foreign rela-
tions is not to be unduly hurried. II
is said by senators. This determipa-
ton was expressed In the action by
which the committee decided to call
before IT for examination. Mr.. Bullitt
and other ofiicials who have particle
pated in the work Of the peace COM
mission.
View OF Reservationists.
Senators who oppose the covenant
In its present form and insist upon
reservations claim that discussion of
the league of nations plan and expo
sition Of its alleged dangerous fea-
lures are attracting constantly in
creasing attention throughout the
country and that sentiment appears
to be crystallizing more in favor Of
reservations than in support Of the
original draft. as result of public
scrutiny and analysis Of the covenant.
Senators who are holding out for
reservations say they are not afraid
Of any threatened coup by the admin
istration In the way Of an attempt to
force the treaty into the Senate with
q demand for precipitate action. They
are confident. that such a move would
disclose at once the existence of a
vote rendering ratification by two
thirds impossible. Senators do not
think the administration will attempt