Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-11

I of the peace treaty with it's league
of nations covenants, would mean
sacrifice by the United States of
all concessions obtained from
Germany under ad ictated peace,
minority members of the foreign
relations committee declared in a
report presented today to the SEN
ate.
The report, prepared by Senator
Hitchcock of Nebraska, ranking
Democratic member of the COM
mitee, urged speedy ratification of
the treaty without amendments or
reservations. 1t deplored "the long
and unnecessary delay to which
the treaty has been subjected
while locked up in the committee,
whose recommendation were from
the start foregone conclusion, "
and asserted these recommenda-
tions could have been made in
July.
One Democrat Out.
Senator Shields, Democrat, Ten
nessee, did not sign the report,
having announced that he favored
league covenant reservations pre-
pared by Chairman Lodge. 1t was
stated that he would not present a
separate report. Those signing in
addition to Senator Hitchcock
were Senators Williams. Missis-
sippi; Swanson, Virginia; Pomer-
enc, Ohio; Smith, Arizona; and
Pittman, Nevada, all Democrats.
The report denied the claim
made in Chairman Lodges report
that the peace conference still was
in session and has power ito bring
German representatives to Paris, )"
saying such power of compulsion
had been exhausted and that Ger
many had closed the chapter by
signing and by ratifying."
Not Binding Unless Signed.
IF an amended treaty is not
signed by Germany" the report
added, then it is in none of its
parts binding on her."
The report mentioned II con-
cessions the United States would
lose by failure to ratify the treaty,
these including industrial and eco
nomic advantages and agreements.
Reservations proposed by the
majority. the report said, were
for the purpose of destroying the
league" which has stood the test
of worldwide criticism and unlim-
tied attack"
The minority urged that the
work of the peace conference be
confirmed and the peace of the
world advanced by ratification of
the treaty described as the best
home of the world even if, like all
instrumentalities it be not divinely
perfect in every detail"
Government by Obstruction.
The report Contended that the
industrial world was "in ferment,"
the financial world in doubt and
commerce halted while delay on
the treaty had been caused "by the
majority of a committee known to
be out of harmony with the major
ity of the senate and the majority
of ithe people," This was declared
to be government by obstruction
as well as by minority.
Export trade, the report said,
had suffered because of delay in
ratification; that private credit
waited for peace. and that this
government which has ben advanc-
ing to European governments, has
about reached the end of its au-
thority given it by congress. Pri-I
vate enterprise, it is said, from
now on must keep up American
commerce with Europe. Answer
ing the majority, the report said
exports to Germany since the ar
mistice amounted to only IA cents
worth of American products for
each person in Germany, or cents
per person per month.
Can Have But One Effect.
Referring to the action Of the
of the committee, said the
report. I'VE unite in opposing and
condemning the recommendation
both as TO textual amendments
and as to proposed reservations.
AS far as the proposed teXtual
are concerned, we see
no reason to discuss their charac-
ter at length. In our opinion they
have no merit but whether they be
good, bad or Indifferent their adop-
tiOn by the senate can have no
possible effect except to defeat the
of the United States
in the treaty. None of them could
by any possibility be accepted by
even the great nations associated
with the United States in the war
and none of them could by any
possibility be dictated to Germany
To adopt any one of them, there
fore is equivalent to rejecting the
treaty.
The suggestion of the majority
report that the peace conference is
still in session in Paris and could
consider any textual amendments
to the treaty made by the senate
and that German Representatives
could be brought to Paris for that
purpose, indicates l. total miscon-
ception of the situation.