Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-13
SENATORS SEEKING
.ACOMPROM|SE ON
I. LEAGUE COVENANT
Would Consist of Reserva.
/ tons to Certain Specific
Clauses.
BOTH SIDES SEE MIDDLE
GROUND MUST BE FOUND
Intimated President Might Feel
Concessions Would Make Big
Tour Unnecessary.

BY n. O. MESSENGER.
Proposed compromise on the league
Of nations covenant is now under
way.
There is ground for reasonable ex-
pectation that differences over the
covenant of the league of nations may
be composed after short period of
negotiations and the peace treaty with
Germany ratified. The compromise on
the league of nations provision in the
treaty in such event would consist of
reservations to specified clauses of the
covenant.
Efforts to this end are now being
made by several senators, and tire
mendous pressure from the outside
is being brought to bear to effect the
purpose. For the time being. to keep
the record straight" supporters of
the administration in the Senate are
protesting stoutly against modifica-
ton, change or reservation of the
treaty, just as extremists on the other
side are insisting upon changes of a
radical character.
Middle Ground Will Unite Camps.
Senators in both camps. however.
realize that there must be a middle
ground; that there will of necessity
have to be a middle ground. and they
are searching it out. When it is
found-and senator's are confidently
predicting it will be located-it is
ba
together Of the two elements in the
Senate now resisting each other.
Conviction of the necessity of reach
ing a compromise is borne in upon
senators by the circumstances Of the
case. Administration senators, for
one thing, know that as the covenant
now reads. it will be impossible to
secure a two-thirds vote Of the SEN
ate to ratify the treaty of peace. and
that the treaty Of peace must be rati-
fed.
Republican senators are being told
by their constituents and advisers that
it will be political suicide to defeat
entirely the proposed project for
league Of nations. The country, they
are told, is in sympathy with the
broad outline of a league to lessen. if
not prevent, the possibilities of wars
in the future.
Realize Compromise Necessary.
With these conditions confronting
the two opposing elements in the
Senate, some of the most thoughtfu
and conservative men in each groul.
are setting themselves to work to
bring about a compromise. The task
is a difficult one, but the men en-
gagged upon it feel confident of sue
cess because, as they explain, lit is
case of must" They realize that in
the first place they will have to win
over the President to concede som"
of the pride of authorship. a far from
pleasing undertaking. 1t will be point
ed out to him, however, that certain
conditions exist and must be recog-
nized. and it will be suggested to
him that perhaps it would be better
to yield a little and carry off tn.
substance of effort than to go through
a long fight to secure the halo as
well.
May Avoid Necessity of Tour.
1t is intimated that representations
may be made to the President of a
nature which would suggest to him
the possibility of achievement of sub
stantial results without the necessity
of his undertaking his proposed coun-
try-wide tour to appeal to the peo-
pie.
President Wilson's attitude since his
return to this country has not been
such as to encourage his friends in
the Senate to suggest compromise He
has held a sustained attitude of con-
ddence of his ability to bend the Sem
ate and the country to his will and
force the ratification of the treaty
without an iota OF change. Senators
realize that the President is a great
psychologist and admit that he has
certainly held the thought of vic
tory. But his friends in the Senate
are dealing with cold facts and de-
sire to have the treaty ratified shortly.
They will try to convince him that he
can still claim success in the end to be
attained.