New-York tribune., 1919-08-01
Mild Reservations Asked
by Kellogg, Colt, Cum
minis, McCumber, Nc
Nary, Lenroot, Spencer
Committee Begins
Public Hearings
Knox Understands Wilson
Opposes Participation
of u. S. i'm Indemnity
Nc1c York Tribune


WASHINGTON, July 31.-The most
definite step yet taken looking to a
compromise in the fight between the
President and Senators over the league
of nations was made to-day when seven
of the Republican Senators who ia
vored the league and who have talked
with the President virtually agreed or
programme of "interpretative reser-
vatons," the text Of which, however
was not announced
Only slight differences over the
language which should be used sep
arated this group tonight, it was
declared
While the mild" reservations were
being shaped, the Foreign Relations
Committee began it's public hearings
on the peace treaty. Bernard M
Baruch and Bradley Palmer, financial
advisers of the Anne rican peace delega
ton, were the witnesses examined. Mr.
Baruch said that the question of Amer
lean participation in the German in
demnty was an open one. The state
ment was made as result of COM
ment by Senator Knox that he under
stood President Wilson's position was
that the United States should not par.
tcipate in the indemnity.
Mr.. Palmer, after criticism had de.
veloped regarding the alien enemy pro
visions of the treaty, asserted that
property rights Of Americans were
clearly protected under the treaty
Wilson Offers Protocol
Just after the Senate adjourned TO-
day the President submitted for rati
ficetion the protocol which was drawn
up by the Versailles conference plac
ING additional requirements upon Ger
many. The Presidents message will no.
be read until the Senate reconvencs
but it ls understood that it will ask
that the protocol be ratified along with
the treaty.
The seven Senators. who drew up the
mild reservations" are McNary
McCumber, Cummins, K<s1!ogg, Spen-
Ger, Lenroot and Colt Senator Hale
of Maine, sat in with the Senators
virtually as "liaison office" between
this group and the Republican leaders
The formal recognition thus giver
to the mild reservationsts" is the
direct result of the irritation caused
to Senator Lodge and other Republican
leaders by the vigorous attack last
week on reservations by Senator Borah
as told in The Tribune on Sunday
Senator Lodge attended a dinner will
this group of Senators immediatelS lS
after the Borah speech, and the plal
came into being at that time.
McCumber and Hitchcock Confer
Following this afternoons meeting
Senator McCumbor, VINO is almost as
ardently for the league as the Presi
dent, had long conference with Sen
ator Hitchcock, the Administration
After this talk Mr. Hitchcock ex,
pressed entire satisf; ction with The
| situation. Guarding carefully agains
any admission that he knew what the
mild reservationists" were doing, Sen
ator Hitchcock said the fight so fal
had been one of constantly changing
fronts.
First" he said 'last March the op
position was going to cut the league o
nations out of the treaty entirety. L
was going to force the peace con
ference not to submit the two to
gether. Then later the opposition wa:
going to kill the league. Still later i
was going to amend the league beyonc
recognition.
"Now it is going to adopt vigorou.
reservat tions. But here is programm.
to get everybody together on mild res
ervat tions. Next, l confidently believe
you will find Senator'S who favor tn,
league gradually giving up their in
sstence that reservations must be
adopted, and we viii ratify the leagu,
without change. Bear i'll mind that nt
one now seriously declares that thcre
rom the treaty, or Kill it, or amend it.
Republicans Still Confident
The Republicans are very confident
however, feeling that, no matter wha
may be the text of the reservation:
worked out by the group of seven, tn,
final result will be entirely ratis
factory.
There was no doubt felt to-nish
that the group OF seven Senators. de
spite the fact that each OF them ha.
talked with the President and il
strongly in favor of the league, seemed
virtually in favor of a programme
which, in ideas if not in words, is jus
what the Republican leaders have beer
advocating ever since Mr.. Root out