The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-30
lHIIITICcIHCl0CKDE ARES THE SENATE
STANDS READY TO RATIFY THE
LEAGUE PACT AS PART OF TREATY
Nebraska Senator
Advises President

for the league Of nations, that
the senate will ratify the league
constitution MS part OF the peace
treaty, wh-Ehcr the Monroe Doc
Urine is endangered or not.
The senator will lead the fight
In the senate for the ratification
Of the treaty. He exphcsscd hun
self As being In favor of IL, with
out the dotting OF an Il or tho
crossing OF ~.
In an interview today Senator
Hitchcock made the remarkable
statement that the American
people win not insist upon the
projection OF the tonroe
Doctrine, II they find that by so
doing the fate of the league of
nations proposal Is put In jco~
pardy.
1t Is believed here that II In
largely ON account OF Senator
Hitchcock's advice to the pre.st-
dent that the latter has refused To
insist upon q specific reservation
in favor Of the Monroe Doctrine,
AS reported In today's cable dis
patches
Senator Hitchcock disclosed
the fact that early in the present
month he sent n letter TO the
president In which he stated
the league constitution either
with or without amendment. The
senator made the following
authorized statement CONCERNING
this incident:
HITCHCOCK's STATEMENT
My letter Of March 4 to the prssiy
dent was written with q view to Civ
Ing him information as TO sentiment
in the senate. / expressed the con-
yictton that the senate would ratify
he peace treaty If 1t contained she
league Of nations as an integral part
whether amended or not, but thought
few amendments would greatly
facilitate Its ratification
Among these I mentioned were
reservation to each nation of its ex-
elusive control over domestic sub
sects, a specific provision that each
nation might withdraw from member
ship on giving reasonable notice a
definite statement that the accep-
lance Ct the burdens Of q mandatory
BY each nation should be entirety
optinai and a specific reservation OF
the Monroe Doctrine.
Il did no; recommend CT urge these
amendments or any of them; In fact
thought some of ther- were already
covered in the constitution"
Senator Hitchcock declared that II
any amendment should be offered in
he senate to protect the Monroe
Dictrine there will be enough votes
70 defeat II. Some OF the Republican
senators who are opposed to the
league have suggested that an amend
mens Of this Kind might be offered,
In Senator Hitchcock's opinion such
move would be futile.
The league proposal win be an tn
tegraI part of the peace treaty. Sena-
tor Hitchcock believes. He Is OF the
opinion that this close INTERVIEWING
81. the two propositions. Is necessary.
go provide the machinery FOR egssete@'
Ing the terms OF peace. He said:
NO SUBTERF'CGE.
when tho American people
realize that an order to get the
Monroe doctrine recognized In the
league constitution we will have
to surrender something else they
will not insist upon formal re-
cognition Of the Monroe Doctrine.
For instance, IL we had to say to
France that II she will permit
affirmed we will agree to furnish
a large standing army to help
her do her part in the league.
believe we would prefer 10 let the
Monroe Doctrine go. Or. II We
had to concede to Japan that she
might have a Monroe Doctrine
for the Asiatic continent or that
the racial question would be set
Ted upon terms Of equality, then
We would also prefer not to tn
sist upon recognition OF our Mon
roe Doctrine"
In the discussion concerning the
probable action Of the senate. the
constitution Of the foreign relations
committee has become OF drst I'm
formed. IL cc'tn posed OF ten Democrats
and seven Republicans. II this align
ment is followed when the RepubH-
ans gair .contsel there would be ten
Republicans ard seven Democrats.
This would mean that three more Re-
publicans would be selected for the
committee and inasmuch as william
Alden Smith of Michigan rctires from
ehe senate, there will be four Republi-
cans to be chosen.
The Democrats lose Senator Sauls~
bury, OF Delaware, and Ii further re-
auctiops have to be made Senators
Thomas Of Colorado and Robinson of
Arkansas viii have to be dropped.
This would leave seven members of
he committee on the Democratic side
who are thoroughly committed to the
support OF the league as follows:
Hitchcock. Williams, Swanson, Pom
srene. Smith OF Arizona, Pittman and
shields.
COMMITTEE MAKEUP.
The six Republicans who retain
membership on the committee nre
odge OF Massachusetts,. who will tie
chairman: McCurnber. Bcrah. Bran
iegee, Fall and Knox All but Nc
l-umber are opposed to the league.
1t il said that when II comes to
selecting the other four Republicans
FOR the committee strong. effort will
De made by opponents OF the league
. 10 have four opponents chosen. Sena-
tors mentioned In this connection are
I. Moses Of New Hampshire, Mccormick
81 Illinois. johnson OF California and
Harding OF Ohio.
II this plan should succeed. the op-
pcnents Of the league proposal could
count on nine votes while the sup
porters would get the votes OF the
. seven Democrats and the vote OF Nc
Eumber, or q total Of eight
The league advocates have begun
<Continus4 On Pas yva.l