South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-17
WILL ATTEMPT TO.
GET PEACE PACT.
OUT OF COMMITTEE.
Administration Forces Would
Defeat Amendment Relative
to Final Ratification.
FORECAST TREND OF BILL

by Associated freSS.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16.-As a
sequel to the white house conference
between Pres't Wilson and Sen.
Hitchcock. administration leader in
the treaty fight, it became apparent
Saturday that the administration
forces would center their present eff
fort on bringing the treaty out Of
committee and defeating any text
ual amendments leaving in the back
ground any negotiations relative to
ratification with reservations.
Meantime republican senators de-
clared one result Of the negotiation
Of the last few days and of Sen.
Hitchock's statements after he left
the president had been TO stiffen re-
sistance TO any attempt at unre-
served ratification and TO increase
the determination of those who want
the treaty amended outright. They
asserted Fridays poll had shown OPP
position to the Shantung provision
growing stronger in the face of the
explanatory statements from Toxic
and from the white house.
Report Wilson's Position.
The reported position Of the presi-
dent that any textual amendments
would send the treaty back for re-
negotiation with Germany without
any military force TO compel &C
ceptance OF the American demands
was taken as largely forecasting the
trend of the amendment fight. It
was understood that feature would
be emphasized by Sen. Hitchcock in
speech he is expected to make
next week in the senate.
The fact that Sen. Hitchcock did
not quote the president as standing
uncompromisingly against reserva-
ton for the same reason, was point
ed out as significant by some of the
group of republicans who. under the
lead of Sen. McNary. republican,
Oregon, have agreed on a set of re-
servations. They declared all the
elements of the situation bore out
their claim Of Wednesday that they
had information insuring democrat
assent TO their program.
Among this group there was some
favorable comment deter the delay
on the new set OF reservations
shown 10 republicans by republican
leader Lodge. In the same quarter
it was pointed out that should he
definitely give his support 10 a re-
servatiOn program acceptable to a
large number of senators the logical
outcome might be draft Of reser-
vations by him which would be
come the rallying point Of the repub-
hcan reservation forces.
Lodge Studies Drafts.
1t is known that Mr.. Lodge has
been studying a number OF drafts
including those drawn by the Nc
countenance the negotiation looking
Elihu Root. William H. Taft and
Chas T. Hughes. He is understood
not 10 have stood sponsor for the
draft he showed TO the republican
senators. however, out To have mere
ly submitted them for consideration.
Republicans assert that the only
possible outcome. If reservations are
TO he adopted in place of textual
amendments would be agreement on
a draft drawn by Mr.. Lodge or some
other senator which must be accept
ed by the democrats. The only open
question, they declare, is how dras-
tic the reservations are TO be.
The democratic leaders. however.
maintained there has been no change
in their stand for unreserved rati-
location and in some quarters the