Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-09
SENATORS CONTENT
WITH PEACE TERMS
Hitchcock Calls It Monumental
Work"-Lodge Withholds
Comment Until Later
WANT LEAGUE SEPARATED

can and Democratic senator's who COM
mented on the summary of the pact.
Senator Hitchcock, who will lead the
fight in the Senate for ratification of
the treaty, and other Democratic sen
ators declared the treaty. embodying
the covenant for the league of nations.
is monumental work"
Senator Lodge. who will lead the
fight against the league of nations pro-
visions in the treaty, declined to com
ment. saying he will not have anything
to say until after he has carefully read
the complete text and President Wilson
has made public his explanation of the
treaty and the league.
The fight of the leagues opponents
will be directed against the entire treaty
and strong effort will be made on the
floor of the Senate TO defeat the pact
unless the league of nations covenant
is separated. from the peace terms. Sew
eral of the Republican senator's who dis
cussed the treaty served notice the on
tire treaty will be endangered unless the
constitution of the league of nations as
it is written into the treaty is materially
amended.
Senator Hitchcock expressed the
opinion the two could not be separated.
''The league of nations is an integral
part of the treaty and the two PROPOSE
tions are so interviewer that they could
rot be separated he said.
Alliance Finds Approval
Senators Moses. of New Hampshire,
and Sherman. Of Illinois. both Rcpub-
licans and opponents Of the league,
said in their opinion the league could be
made separate proposition. They said
that they would try in the Senate to
have the propositions divided. The
peace terms would then be ratified by
the Senate without delay. they said.
while the proposal to create the league
would be submitted to the voters for
decision.
Sentiment for referendum on the
league. either as a separate proposition
or as an integral part of the treaty. is
increasing ar, the capitol. Senator
Borah of Idaho. who is opposed to the
that a referendum be held. He has bccn
Joined by most of the other western SEN
ators. and it became known that
the Republican leaders of the Senate
are in favor of such procedure.
The reports from raris that President
Wilson will ask the Senate to ratify an
alliance with Great Britain FOR the pro-
lection of France was heartily approved
bv most of the Republican senators.
The opponents of the league of ma
tions privately expressed the opinion
, that If such an alliance is ratified there
would be no necessity for any league of
nations. The proposed alliance has the
support of the western senator's. as it
would exclude Japan from a voice in
the direction of European affairs. and
that empire would thus be weakened as
a world power.
Senators Borah and Curtis. of Kan
sas, both Republicans, opposed the al
lance.
II am not in favor of any treaty or
alliance with France or with any other
foreign power Obigating ourselves in
any way concerning future wars
in Europe said Senator BOrah.
whether we shall take part in any
future European war is matter which
should be determined upon the facts
when and as they arise and by the par
ticular generation which must bear the
brunt of war and by the intelligence
and the conscience and the judgment
of the American people as they see the
situation when face to face with it.
shall not support any treaty or any
alliance which binds future generations
concerning the matter of war with any
European power. | am opposed to the
whole scheme and policy upon princi-
ple.'
Senator Curtis said:
"Thc President or the Senate or the
House or no one of them jointly or
alone can pledge future Congress- The
United States has always been ready to
do its full part to preserve peace. and
it rcan be depended upon in the future.
as in the past. and its record is evidence
of its willingness to do everything nee
essary to protect civilization against
militarism. The very fact the Presi-
dent asked for this is evidence his
league of nations is not what he de-
clares it to be-
Other Senator's Comment
The comment of other senators upon
the treaty follows
Senator Hitchcock:
''The peace treaty as summarized in
the semi official review on it must i'm
press every one as a monumental work.
1t provides for the disarmament of Ger
many, the payment of enormous indem-
mites to France and Belgium, Great
Britain. Italy and Serbia. 1t provides
for the establishment of the league of
nations to presrve the future peace of
the world and establish international
justice. 1t establishes a number of new.
nations. like Poland. Czecho- SlOvakia
ii
number of the rivers of Europe as well
as Danzig and other important centers.
1t provides for the return of Alsace-
Lorraine to France in perpetuity, be
sides turning over the Saar valley, with
its enormous coal deposits, to France for
fifteen years. 1t provides for number
OF plebescites or peoples elections.
hereafter. to decide the nationality or
political allegiance of territories claimed
by different nations. 1t recognizes an
increased jurisdiction for the league of
nations to administer the affairs of cities
and territories having doubtful status.
1t also provides, of course, for the
remuneration by Germany of all her
colonial possessions of the past.
'As yet the full treaty is not avail
able for examination, but judging from
the summary l am greatly impressed
with the cOmpletenesses of the work
done at Paris and its constructive char
acter. In so far as it applies to Ger
many it is stern and unrelenting in its
evident purpose to disarm her for the
purpose of securing the safety of Eu-
rope.
Insures Reparation
1T also exacts from Germany the
last dollar that she can possibly pay in
indemnities, the total not being fixed
until commission shall have passed
upon the details. 1t awards to France
territories which in justice belong to
her and it gives to both France and
Belgium remuneration for the enormous
. losses of their people.
In purpose and character this great
document is vastly different from the