The citizen., 1919-09-18
QUICK RATIFICATION
OF TREATY IS ASKED
Minority Report Cites Losses
Threatened by Amendments.
HITS OPPONENTS OF PACT
Declares Delay VIII Make Victory In
War Empty-caIls Action Of the
Republican Leaders Govern
rent Of Obstruction"


Washington, Sept. 12.-Rejection OF
the German peace treaty with Its
League of Nations covenant or adop-
tion of amendments would mean sac
rifice by the United States Of all con-
cesslons obtained from Germany un-
der a dictated peace, minority mem
bers of the foreign relations commit
tee declared In a report presented to
the senate.
The report presented by Senator
Hitchcock Of Nebraska, ranking Dem
ocratic member of the committee,
urged speedy ratification Of the con-
vention without amendments or res
ervations. II deplored "the long and
unnecessary delay to which the treaty
had been subjected, while locked up
In the committee whose recommend
ations were from the start foregone
conclusion" and asserted these re-
concentrations could have been made
In July.
Senator Shields (Dem.) Of Tennes-
see did not sign the report, having
announced that he favored the COW
enant reservations prepared by Chair
man Lodge. II was stated that he
would not present a separate report.
Those signing In addition to Mr.. Hitch
cock were Senators Williams Of Mis-
sissippi. Swanson of Virginia, Pom
creme OF Ohio, Smith of Arizona and
Pittman of Nevada, all Democrats.
Government by Obstruction"
The report contended that the indus
trial world was "in ferment," the finan-
cial world In doubt and commerce
halted, while delay on the treaty had
been caused "by the majority of
committee known to be out Of harmony
with the majority of the senate and
the majority of the people" This was
declared to be government by obstruc-
ton as well as by minority.
Export trade. the report said. had
suffered because of delay In ratifica-
ton; that private credit waited for
peace and that this government. which
had been advancing to European gov
ernments. had about reached the end
OF the authority given by congress.
Private enterprise. It asserted, from
now on must keep up American COM
merce with Europe. Answering the
majority. 1t said exports to Germany
since the armlstice amounted to only
IA cents worth OF American products
for each person In Germany. or two
cents a person a month.
Denies Merit In Proposals.
referring to the action Of the ma
jority of the committee" said the re-
port. 1--WE unite In opposing and con-
demning the recommendation both as
TO textual amendments and as to pro-
posed reservations. As far as the
proposed textual amendments are con-
cerned, we see no reason to discuss
their character at length. In our opin-
ion they have no merit. but whether
they be good. bad or Indifferent, their
adoption by the senate can have no
possible effect except to defeat the
participation of the United States In
the treaty.
"None of them could by any pos
sibillty be accepted by even the great
nations associated with the United
States In the war. and none of them
could by any possibility be dictated
TO Germany. To adopt any one of
them, therefore, is equivalent to re-
jectlng the treaty.
"The peace conference has acted
finally upon the treaty. Great Britain
has ratified IT; France Is about to do
so. and with the action of one other
power II will In all human probability
be In actual operation even before the
senate of the United States reaches a
decision.
Moreover, the peace conference
possesses no further power TO bring
German representatives TO Paris. The .
power of compulslon has been ex-
hausted. Germany was told where 10
sign and when to sign. and when TO
ratify, and Germany has closed the
chapter by signing and by ratifying.
Germany cannot be compelled 10 do
anything more or different with regard
10 this treaty by being confronted with
an amended treaty whether once a
month, day or week. There must be
a inality to ultlmata in treaty by
II an amended treaty Is
not signed by Germany, then IL is I'm
none OF its parts binding on her.
"ro adopt an amendment or 10 re-
ject the treaty means that the United
States will sacrifica all Of tba =.
cessions secured from Germany by a
dictated peace. While these conces-
slons are not so large as those which
other nations associated with US Sc
rure in reparations. they are, never
Iheless Of tremendous Importance and
could only be secured under a dictated
peace"