New-York tribune., 1919-07-03
Borah and Johnson Lead in
Opposition to Defensive
Alliance With Europe;
Others Await President
Hitchcock Hasn't Decided
Article X of Covenant Gives
Assurance of Assistance if
Ally Is Attacked, Some Say
Ne1o York Tribune
WASHINGTON Bureau

F! In the Senate is split three ways on
ratifying the Treaty of Alliance with
France, negotiated by President Will
son and signed at Versailles June 28.
There is group of Senators
- who believe definite u nderstand-
ing with France that the United
States and Great Britain will come
ito her assistance if she is attacked
is preferable to the indefinite obli-
! cation that would be assumed by &C.
ceptance of Article X of the league
of nations covenant.
C-There is group made up princi-
pally Of the out and out oppo-
to enter any alliance with any for
eign power that would, in effect, take
away from Congress the power to
declare war.
2-There is q group that regards
any proposal for an alliance as a
! contradiction and a confession of a
lack of confidence in the league of
nations, as an organization for the
prevention of future wars.
Canvasses Of the Senate did not dis
close whether the treaty with France,
which President Wilson is bringing
back to the United States, will be rati-
fled or rejected. Many prominent SEN
ators were out OF the city. and ma
jority of the others declined to ex-
press opinions for publication without
full knowledge of the contents of
the proposed treaty.
Wants Limited Treaty
"There will be general sentiment
for accepting the treaty if it is prop
fic
sas, Republican, said. "If the treaty
provides for the protection of France,
If wrongfully attacked leaving the
United States to judge the nature of
the attack, and if it be limited to a
period of two or three years, I see no
reason why it would not be ratified"
Senator Hitchcock, ranking Demo-
crat Of the Foreign Relations Commit
tee, indicated that he had some mis-
would have to be set at rest in con-
ferences with the President before he
could give it his support.
I'VE have done good deal for
France already" Senator Hoke Smith
Democrat, Of Georgia, said. "I am
not altruistic enough to tax the peo-
pie of this country just for some one
tlse's benefit. There are some things
about this proposed treaty do not
ourselves to fight on the side of
France, no matter what the cause of
the attack"
Senator Smith said he resented any
attempt to make ratification Of the
French treaty a party matter "These
are American questions" he said. 81
resent any unanimity of opinion upon
them among either Democrats or Re
publicans."
Borak and Johnson Oppose
Senator Borah and Johnson both will
vigorously oppose the defensive treaty
on the ground that it would be an
"entangling alliance" but neither
wishes to complicate the present fight
against the league Of nations by di-
verting his effort to attacks upon the
French treaty. Senator Borah said,
however, he would vote against it
and fight against it when the time
comes"
Senator Norris, Republican, of Ne
braska, was emphatic in his criticism
CT the treaty plan.
~ will not consent to entering into
an alliance with any government on
earth that would bind us to go to
war" he said. II believe the circum-
stances when the occasion arises
should dictate whether We shall go
should rest with Congress-"
"The friendship of this country for
France is very great" said Senator
Smoot, Republican, of Utah. "How the
Senate would feel about d separate alli-
ance with France l do not know.
should think the President would find
it easier to get through the French
treaty than to get through the league
Of nations without reservations"
To Copofor KipC Darocrot Of TrtoI,
the assertions that article X of the
covenant and the separate treaty with
France must both be accepted seemed
IAN absolute contradiction" If the
covenant Of the league f nations were
accepted without amendment he could
see no reason why the French pact
should be ratified
Seen as Aid to League
Other Administration Senators said
they believed the treaty was intended
only to protect France until the league
was "out Of its swaddling clothes"
None could see much danger Of any
imnae ediate attack upon France by Ger
many or any other nation.
One indication of the sentiment OF
the Senate on the proposed alliance
with France was furnished in the ac-
tion of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee in striking out the conclud-
ing paragraph of the Knox resolution,
which read:
! "Resolved, That, finally, it shall be the
declared policy of our government, in
order to meet fully and fairly our
obligations to ourselves and to the
world, that the freedom and peace OF
Europe being again threatened by any
power or combination of powers, the
United States will regard such situa.
ton with grave concern az a menace to
its own peace and freedom, will con-
suit with other powers affected with
view to devising means for the re-
moval OF such menace, and will, the
necessity arising in the future, carry
out the same complete accord and CO.
operation with our chief bclligerents
for the defence Of civilization"
1t was evident that what is done
with the league Of nations covenant
will have a powerful bearing upon the
Senate in ratifying or rejecting the
French treaty, and that until some def
mite decision has been agreed upon re-
gardng article x it probably will not be
possible to tell whether the Senate will
y. a l. 4 l..