The sun., 1919-03-20
SENATE TO RESIST
FORCE IN LEAGUE
Two-thirds Of Members Ready
to Accept Presidents Chal-
lenge and Reject Covenant
Special DespstcA TO TIE suS.

Special Dcspafch TO TIE SUI.
WASHINGTON, March 1e.-President
Wilson's determination to force the
League OF Nations covenant as now
drawn up into tho preliminary peace
treaty may DO away with any possibility
OF a practical or acceptable league plan
Of whatever nature.
Opposition Senators. numbering about,
two-thirds OF the Senate. are understood
now to be ready to accept the Presidents
challenge and deal with the league COW
enant as It now stands and in whatever
form the President succeeds In attaching
It to or incorporating Il in the first treaty
with Germany.
The senate's plan. according to some
OF Its spokesmen, is definite and not sub
ject to material change. 1t is to eradi-
cate every trace OF the league covenant
from the treaty or reject league and
treaty together. The chances of ratifica-
ton Of treaty with this particular
league covenant attached are said to be
not one. in ten thousand.
senate Holds Trump Cards.
In the light OF latest developments In
Paris Senate leaders are beginning to
feel that they and not the President hold
the trump cards. TIE fact that the pre-
liminary peace treaty IL about to be i'm
posed on Germany with or without the
league appendix really plays right into
the hands OF the Senate. according 10
these spokesmen. This, II IL pointed out
means bringing about n state OF peace
with the enemy. and the practical effect
OF this peace IN not dependent on
xEl.A N ~. ~
holds In allegiance the treaty which &C
tualy does the work.
When Premier Clenenceau signs the
treaty II becomes effective for France
when Premier Lloyd George signs IL II
becomes effective for Great Britain and
when Premier Orlando signs 1t IL he
comes effective for italy. In other words.
as soon as the treaty is agreed to by
Germany and signed the wheels in the
machinery for establishing a state OF
peace begin to turn. Questions OF rep
aration begin TO take practical form
boundaries are fixed and the size OF the
German army is defined. A state Of
peace begins forthwith regardless OF
whether the League OF Nations advo-
Gates call II peace" or something else
The action OF the United States upon the
treaty will neither accelerate or retard
the prescribed effect of the peace in Eu-
rope. II will make little difference
whether the Senate takes two weeks or
two months or two years TO ratify some
form OF peace treaty.
No Club over senate.
The effect OF this. Senator's point out.
| II necessarily 10 relegate discussion OF
any treaty with the league covenant at
tached into the realm Of academic de-
bate. This means, they say. that Presi-
nil ha,.
porters describe as "a club over the
Senate in urging ratification OF the
| combined treaty-league document. The
plea that the treaty must he ra,!AeS so
that there can be peace will be met by
the statement thar there il peace al
ready" Accidentally or technically the
! United States may he described as NJ
war so long as the treaty remains m
ratihed, but practically. Senator'S say.
there VIII be peace as completely and as
enectiNely as II the treaty had been
! ratified.
Had matters taken such shane that
ratihcation OF the league covenant had
10 ne procured before practical peace
could be had the Senate admittedly
would be placed in very embarrassing
/ position. But tho European statesmen
/ by rushing through the preliminary and
all important fundamental treaty with
Germany have saved tho day ror the
| senate, II is now Contendcd.
| So FAR Is Senators can now see the
only so-called club" which the Pres,-
dents supporters will have TO hold over
the Senate II they wish 10 avail them
selves OF X will be threat 10 keen M.
American troops overseas until tho
treaty plus the league IL ratified. This
may be essayed, but Senators are coma
dent that the American people will de-
mand the return OF American troons
from Europe when the state OF peare
exists 10 all practical Intents and nur-
poses and will not tolerate any plan 20
Keep them overseas because OF a con.
troversy over the league.
Germany will have an army Of onIv
100000 men after the preliminary
treaty r. signed France alone will have
enough force to ovcrwhelnl GERMANY ~
n moments notice The noed Tor IN.
4 presence OF American troops then viii
\ have entirely disappeared. Under tbo
| clrcumstanees II II not felt that puhI,,
demand for return OF the American SOL
atsis can, be resisted or that fine Pres.-
dent VIII dare TO try such trick.