New-York tribune., 1919-12-16
Many Democratic Sena-
tors Amazed, and Talk
+ of Taking Compromise
Issue Into Own Hands
t,r
Mcclellan Would
: J. Lead a "Revolt"
Sentiment for Agreement
Grows, and Ratification
Eventually Is Predicted
By Carter Field
Nsw York Tribane
ltQskfn0toD P,,,c,,,

Ntw York Trib,,ne
dSh'n0ton bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-President
Wilson's position of mo compromise
and no concessions" on the peace
treaty is not shared by many Demo-
cratic Senators. it developed in the
lobby and cloak room discussions to-
dag over the statement issued from
the White House last night.
A considerable element of the Dem
.rerat!c Senators. among them Pomer-
enc Ncheliar and Owen. who were for
the treaty without reservations if rati
tcation could have been obtained in
that WY contended that some com
promise should be worked out For
publication Democratic Senators had
nothing TO say in criticism of the Pres
ident's statement. Privately there
we're few friends of the treaty of
either party in the upper house who
did not regret its issuance and who re-
gard 1t as a drag OF the negotiations
which must be gone through before
,stliication can be had
No Separate Peace Likely
As the situation stands tonight
ntiiication is still some distance in the
iulnre. but apparently is coming.
There seems to be no chance that the
Senate will adont any resolution de-
clarlng peace either as substitute
for the treaty or with a view to
hastenng the lifting of war legisa-
t'on, including wartime prohibition
Although a few of the so-caled mild
rservatl tlenists, including Senators
Edge OF New Jersey, and Spencer, of
missouri are for the Knox resolution
declaring that a status Of peace exists
between the United States and Ger
many, this measure virtually has no
strength on the Democratic side, and
some of the Republican Senators do
not favor il.
There is strong disposition among
ene Republicans generally to adopt
resolution declaring peace and put up
ing or vetoing it. But practically there
Is no indication that such resolution
could muster a majority in the Senate.
Still Hope for Compromise
What prevents the passage of such
Senators, on both political sides, who
want the treaty aud the league of ma
s'ons, but particularly the league, to
ave chance. They believe today,
many of them as they put it them
selves. "in spite Of the Presidents
statement,' that a compromise will be
Worked out between the two elements
Thich favor the treaty; that is to say,
tne rese ervationist element on both
sfdee and the ti-reservatonist ele-
ment on the Democratic side. They do
not want this probability OF the treaty
peing ratified by compromise to be
sidetracked by any resolution declaring
peace
1t is admitted that if the situation
afifts along much further without any
compromise being reached-say, for
shree or four months-there may be
. different view taken of the straight
ceciaration of peace. They do not
think, however, that this contingency
VIII arise. They expect ratification
within two or three months at most.
no one, IL might be added, expects rati-
tlcatlon before Christmas
Rival Leaders Absent
In the absence of the two rival
Democratic leaders, Senators Under
wood and Hitchcock, and the Republi-
can leader, Senator Lodge, there WAS
no reference to-day to the treaty sit
uation on the floor of the Senate. This
IS the first day for some time that this
has not been brought up. Senator Tn
derwood, many of whose friends think
he was rather unnecessarily hit by the
Presidents statement, was irdisposed
to-day and remained at home. Senator
Lodge also remained at home 1t was
said he was not we'll. Senator Hitch
cock went TO North Carolina to make q
speech Tor the Democratic candid ir
the 9th North Carolina District, where
Nere is special election tomorrow
and the result is in doubt.
The irreconcilables among the Re
puDlicans to-day told their colleagues
that. as a matter of fact, they had as
surances from some of the leaders ir
Great Britain and French affairs that
they no longer expected operation oi
the league OF nations i'll its present
FORM.
Reservations Acceptable
The situation is said one of the
irreconcilables, who has excellent ia.
cilities for ascertaining foreign opin-
ION that we virtually have been as
sured by the British and French first
that our reservations certainly without
The preamble, would be satisfactory. OF
course, that makes no difference to the
president; he will not accept them He
says they are Il notification of the
treaty
But now the foreign statesmen have
come to the conclusion that they are
not going to get the league as it stands,
even with some reservations on our
part They are also convinced that the
Republican party is coming into power r
~ the next election. Their present po-
siuon Is one Of sounding US out to as
sefssln Just what we would be willing
Continued on 4,00e thres