The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-17
Wilson Will Pocket
Peace Treaty If Lodge
Reservations Stand
Upon Eleventh Hour Effort for
Compromise Hinges
Ratification.
REJECTION IS POSSIBLE
Lodge Declares Pact rs
Dead Unless Administra-
Z tration Surrenders.

Washington, Nov. l7.-Presi'
dent Wilson will pocket the
peace treaty if it contains the
Lodge reservations, he told Sen.
ator Hitchcock at conference
today at the White House.
"The president has r~ad and
considered the Lodge ceserva-
tions," Senator Hitchc. ok said
"and he considers them a nullif,
cation of the treaty and utterly
impossible.
Il Can Be Worked Out.
Senator Hitchcock did not interpret
the presidents stand to mean that
the treaty was dead, declaring he still
believed a compromise reservation
program could be worked out.
The preamble of the committee
resolution, requiring that the senate
reservations must be accepted by
three Of the other great powers. was
aatd by the democratic leader to be
particularly Objectionable to the
president, who regarded 1t, he de-
clared, as killing the treaty abso-
utely." a
He indicated also the Article x
reservation was entirely unacceptable
t9 Mr.. Wilson. but said the executive
might be willing to accept some of
the other proposals ON the committee
program.
AS soon as he left the White House
Ian f~r -
conference of democratic friends of
the treaty. 1t was said it might be
held tonight. The plan at first had
been to have the mild reservation re-
publicans in the conference, but 1t Is
Gratis they were unwilling to nego-
tiate @nntil the committee program
had come to vote.
Senator Hitchcock predicted the
mild group would give the democrats
president in ruling that further rati-
opening the door for a compromise.
Mr.. Hitchcock did not go into detnfss
as TO the exact stage at which the
president might intervene in the
oreaty proceedings, but indicated the
executive might withdraw the treaty
unless the democratic conference de-
veloped an agreement to vote down
rat4cation.
II Resolution Fails.
II ~ committee resolution Is de-
feated, however, 1t is expected Mr..
Wilson will let the opposing groups
work out whatever compromise they
can and will not interfere unless he
finds withdrawal necessary to pre-
vent ratification with reservations
which are unacceptable.
One of the subjects understood to
have been discussed at the White
House conference was the substitute
reservations proposed by Senator
Hitchcock. The democratic leader
indicated the president had made no
objection to them.
Mr.. Hitchcock said he did not dis
cuss with the president the proposal
of republican leaders to pass a reso-
'iution, in case the treaty fails, de-
claring the war at an end. 1t Is well
understood. however. the administra-
ton generally would look with dis
favor at such a manner of bringing a
peace status.
'Unless the administration forces
accept the majority reservations, the
treaty is dead'-ratification is i'm
possible" Senator Lodge, the ma
jority leader, declared. Hitchcock
talked again of the possibility of
compromise" Lodge said there could
be no compromise" on reservations
which presented the views of the
senate majority.
There were indications that there
would be important developments in
the treaty situation before the end
of the day, which might change it
materially--and bring the senate face
to face finally with the question Of
ratification with reservations, or re-
lection without reservations.
The last two of the fifteen majority
reservations favorably reported by
the republicans in control of the SEN
ate foreign relations, remained to be
disposed of when the senate met.
The first of them was that of Sem
ator Shields, democrat, of Tennes-
see, which would relieve the United
States of any responsibility for the
government or disposition of Ger
many's prewar overseas possessions.
That proposed by Senator Reed,
democrat, Missouri, would have the
United States reserve to itself ex-
clusively the right ITO decide what
questions affects its honors or it's
vital interests" under the league Of
nations.
Adoption of the fifteenth majority
reservation will mean "the end Of the
treaty" it was stated at tho White
House today. It was expected that
the administration, would finally be
hard fight against this reservation
and would offer compromise for the
reservations IL this were defeated.
Senator Underwood, of Alabama,
called at the White House today and
stated there the defeat of the Lodge
resolution of ratification is certain.
"After that is done we will offer a
few more reservations" Underwood
declared. He predicted that a reso-
luton of ratification, acceptable to
the administration would finally be
adopted.
The program outlined by Senator
Hitchcock after he had seen Presi-
dent Wilson last week, will be car
ried through in the senate, Mr.. Hitch
cock said This contemplated defeat
of the ratification resolution, with the
Lodge reservations attached and the
offering of a resolution for ratifica-
tion without reservations. With the
defeat of this resolution deadlock
would follow and a compromise De
sought. IA,
Senator Hitchcock was with the
presid ,nt ~ an hour.
.T f7nd the president has mad and