The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-20
DANGERS ADDED TO
TREATY; SAYS LODGE
Asserts Majority Of Senate
VIII Insist on Amendments
Being Made.
EXPECTS DEMOCRATS AID
U. s. Legislators Chafe Under
Ignorance When Germans
Have Document.
Special DespatcA 10 Tur suS.

Special Despdfch TO TIE suN.
wAsHIEoroS, May. 1s.-Senator Lodge
tMass.). Republican floor leader and one
Of the foremost opponents of the League
OF Nations, issued this statement to-
night:
AS to the League of Nations, so far
as ] can judge-and have had CONVEX
sations with many Senator'S, Including
members of both parties--I am satisfied
that a majority OF the Senate feel very
strongly that the league as now pre-
scented must receive amendment that in
Its present form. without any change, II
lie unacceptable and would not be ac-
cepted. To say thai the amendments put
forward in the Senate and those pro-
posed and formulated by Mr.. Root on
the suggestion Of the State Department
have been met Is without any founda-
ton.
Not one of the suggestions OF the
Senate. not one OF the amendments pro-
posed by Mr.. Root has been carried out.
Some have been entirely rejected, and
where there is an appearance of their
having been adopted examination shows
that the new form il distinctly worse
than the old and more dangerous to the
peace of the world and TO American
rights and interests. 1t is impossible
now to enter upon a detailed analysis
because. although we may suppose that
the draft of the league sent over In the
press dispatches 10 fairly accurate, we
have TO knowledge Of the treaty with
Germany or of it's relations to the league.
The summary which was sent out was
not only incomplete but vague and in
accurate. and It Is impossible to gather
from II what the terms imposed upon
Germany In many respects really are.
No Desire to Delay Treaty.
There is no desire anywhere to de-
lay the treaty of peace with Germany
one moment beyond the time necessary
TO understand II. but we must have IL
before us In the official form. AS to the
League OF Nations the American people
must know just what they are to be
asked to agree TO. By that league they
are invited to take the gravest step
ever taken by the United States, ard no
organised clamor. no manufactured pres
sure OF any kind win swerve the Senate
from its high duty of laying before the
American people exactly what the league
Involves and what II means to the
states and to the future peace Of the
world
Mr.. Lodges statement gave encourage
ment tonight to opponents of the
league. for he Is not looked upon rs
the sort OF prophet who makes pre-
dictions without having some solid foun-
dalton for them. Although the Republi-
cans normally will have a majority of
two In the Senate, the fact that his
prediction is based on talks with men,
bers Of both parties confirms what well
informed Senators have believed for
some time-that there would be more
than few Democrats who, IL they
would not vote against the covenant,
would at least actively support amend
ments to IL
It's rare day that doesn't bring by
way Of the European cables another re-
port OF President Wilson's MANAGEMENT of
the peace treaty and League OF Nations
negotiations that serves 10 stir up MOI Q
wrath among Senators opposed to the
league pact. To-day il was the story
that the French Government had decided
TO publish the treaty, or important parts
OF IT, but that the President had vetoed
the proposition, and so II would continue
confidential.
Us. Can't Get What Germans Have
Its great misfortune we can't have
Aiie tcAt OF lne treaty, Wnen the Ger
mans have it, said Senator Borah
tIdaho). IL it is being held back in
order TO avoid criticism of some OF its
provisions. the plan will not succeed
Merely in the interest of time saving
it should receive publicity now
''They will find they can't prevent
criticism when it does come, and neither
can they organize public opinion to force
hasty consideration. II may be al
legged that 1t ought not to be made pub
lie until We know whether the Germans
are going TO sign or not.
"But that isn't conclusive. II the Ger
mans sign, We should have II. and II
they don't sign. no harm would have
been done"
Senator Hitchcock CNeb.). chief advo-
cate of immediate ratification without
divorce or amendment. admitted to-day
that he wasn't SO certain about the SEN
ates determination on some of the
amendments that will be proposed. He
admitted that the vote will be Close and
was of the opinion that the weakest
place would be section 10. by which
the league members mutually pledge to
protect the integrity of one ahother's
territories and sovereignties.