The Washington herald., 1919-05-09
RATIFY TREATY
MINUS LEAGUE,
Is G.0.P.PLAN
Word Is Passed to Tear
Out Covenant for
Referendum Test.
CLAIM NEEDED VOTES
Republicans See Popularity
Play by Hurrying
Yanks Home.

Separate the league OF nations COW
enant from the peace treaty and then
rattfy the treaty without delay. Then
amend the covenant and submit 1t to
the people OF the United States for a
referendum vote"
This Is the word that was passed
down the line to Republican Senators
yesterday. II Is authoritatively
stated that it will be the Republican
policy In the. Senate with respect to
the treaty and the league. Leaders
announced they will be able to mus
ter the votes to tear the league COW
ensnt out of the treaty and amend
II before IL goes to the people for
SANCTION or disapproval
Tie adoption Of this policy means
that every Republican Senator. not
to speak of the Democrats, will be In
favor Of rafifyfng the treaty If the
league constitution can be gotten out
of it They will not quarrel over any
Of the terms imposed upon Germany.
nor make a fuss over Fsume, the
Shantung Peninsula. or the allot-
rrents made to France and England.
The Republicans want the treaty
ratified as quickly as 1t can, be done
They reason thus:
Ratification of the treaty means
the speedy return OF all the Ameri-
cans from Europe-from Siberia
and France. wherever they are scat
tered The law which brought them
into service requires that they be
demobilized within four. months
from the day that peace is officially
declared. Hence the sooner Con-
gress declares that the war is at an
a.
discharged from service.
Plan Popularity Play.
The Republicans have suddenly
decided that it would make their
party mighty popular IL they could
bring about the prompt return OF
the soldiers by putting through a
resolution ratifying the treaty. Sc
the word has gone out from the
party leaders that there must be no
1elay in bringing about the ratifi-
cation
1t will require only a majority
vote in the Senate to separate the
league of nations covenant from the
peace treaty. The Republican lead
ers count upon the solid vote of the
thirty-nine siEners of the round
robin and the votes of enough
Democrats and uncommitted Repub-
leans to make up the forty-nine
that will be need.
Aurora Bo-ealis."
Study of the peace treaty summary
has convinced the Republican Sena-
tors that separation of the league
from the treaty can be done without
necessitating resubmission of the
treaty to the conference. II it cannot
he NhaV- kw~ N-slr m
references to the league wherever they
occur in the treaty. it can be done
in the resolution of ratification. This
resolution can be so worded, they
say. that the Senate will ratify the
treaty itself so far as it relates to
The terms imposed upon the enemy
and specifically provide for withhold
ing any approval of the league of ma
tions idea.
Lodge Fayors Procedure.
Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts,, the
Republican leader, is in favor of this
PLAN So is Senator Moses. of New
Hampshire: Senator Brandegee. of
Connecticut; Senator Borah. OF Idaho.
Senator johnson. of California, and
virtually all of the other signers OF
the round robin who are now here.
II was also stated yesterday on
he authority of some of the lead
srs in the fight against the league
mat Senator Lodge will work hard
'Or the proposal to have a referen-
ium of the people on the entire
eague question. Senator Borah il
At work upon a bill for this pur-
pose. Senator Brandegee and Sem
ItOr Johnson are strong advocates
Df a referendum.
Senator Sherman. Of Illinois, said
1e would gladly vote to separate
he league covenant from the
:reaty. He wants to have a separ-
Ite vote on each. He added:
The manner in which the treaty
las been presented is a resort to