The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-03
RESERVATIONS ARE
OPEN TO CHANGES
Seven Senators Who Presented
Them Ready to Make
Concessions.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2-Public hear
Ings on the economic sections Of the
Versailles treaty virtually were COM
pleted to-day by the Foreign Relations
Committee and early next week Secre-
tary Lansing will be questioned by the
committee regarding the treaty's polit-
zeal features.
At to-day session Bernard NJ Baruch
and r. w. Taussig. economic advisers
to the American peace delegates, ex-
planned how the Peace Conference
reached some of It's decisions regarding
German customs regulations and in
demnity. Their testimony largely was
technical In character. The last of the
economic advisers to be called under
present plans win be Norman Davis,
who will appear Monday.
The committees meeting was virtu-
ally the only surface development OF the
day in the treaty situation, the Senate
voting its attention to legislation and
reverting to issues of the treaty fight
\cnly once. That was when, without de-
bate OF a roll CALI 1t adopted a resolu-
ton by Senator La Toilette owls. },
Republican, asking the President why
Costa Rica was not permitted" to sign
the treaty.
Meantime the undercurrent of private
| discussion among Senators continued to
revolve about the programme OF four
reservations presented by seven Sena-
tors as a basis for ratification Of the
League of Nations. Plans were made
for a conference Monday at which the
sponsors Of the plan hope to gain the
accession of other Republicans who have
been friendly to the league.
1t was made plain to-day that II was
not the intention to try to preserve the
exact form of the four reservations, as
| the negotiations to increase the number
| of their supporters continues All OF the
feven are said to be ready to make some
concessions In phraseology in order not
| to handicap the effort to bring into 9
final agreement enough Republicans to
hold the balance of power.
Should the number OF Republican,
| subscribing to this agreement reach
| twenty, II was pointed out. the GROUP
would be In a position to place In the
hands of the Administration a definite
offer of support for a reservation pro
gramme insuring ratification OF the
covenant. Forty-hve Democratic votes
are regarded by the leaders OF this grouI
"a standing now for unreserved ratifica
ton, but capable Of being swung In IA
yor of the reservations not disruptini
| the league principles. The total re
oulred for ratification Is siIty-four.
Public to Hear lansing.
Although no decision has beer
reached. members Of the Foreign Rela
tions Committee generally expect thS
the meetings at which Secretary Ian
sing is questioned next week will be opel
to the public.
Mr.. -Baruch told the Foreign Relation
Committee that no purchase could d.
made in the United States or elsewher
by German concerns except through tn
Reparation Commission to be put u
under the treaty of Versailles
This provision was put in the treaty
Mr.. Baruch said, so Germany could no
evade any part of her indemnity obliga
lions by sending money outside tn
country privately and thus reducing he
Industrial resources ito a mere she'll"
Mr.. Taussig was questioned by tn
committee as to the part the American
delegates had in framing the economi
programme included In the treaty. 81
United states influence Great.
He said that Sin some respects" tn
Americans exercised a greater infiuenc
than any other group because they FIRE
| QucIliy WcAt upOh W III bAei dlo III
proposals OF the other nations. He de
clared there was no foundation for tn
sugg estion that the British delegates ha
dominated" the financial decisions Q
the Peace Conference.
Stating that under the treaty Meme
Schleswig and Danzig were coded to tn
big five Powers, and that parts of Ger
man territory so coded were made re
sponsible for certain portions of the Ger
man debt, Senator Knox Pennsylvania
asked Mr.. Baruch whether this woul
not make the United States responsible
J for part of Germany's war debt.
MIR. Baruch said he was quite sure
there was no SUI intention. but he wa
unable to cite any provision of the treat
: which would eventually permit tn
country to pass on responsibility -undt
the debt clause to the Government whic
assumes final control in the distric
mentioned. Senator Knox declared thel
was no such alleviating provision.