New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Republican Leader Given
Free Rein to Negotiate
" ith Administration
on Proposed Changes
Minority Hoped
To Cause Split
Lenroot Says Independent
Action Will Result Only
if Delay Is Too Long
Neec York Tvib.rrs
WdshinQtor Bnr,nu

Washington Bur,nu
WASHINGTON, Dec. Sepa-
tor Lodge to-day was placed in COM
plete charge of all negotiations of
the Republicans in the Senate for a
compromise on the peace treaty.
The group of so-called mild res
ervationists" at number Of infor-
NAL conferences decided that they
would refer the Administration lead
ers in the Senate to him in future
efforts to reach an agreement OH
reservations, and personally assured
Senator Lodge that they were not
planning to revolt against his lead
ership.
AS result Of the action Of the
"mild' Senator's, Senator Lodge will
direct compromise negotiations for
all Of the Republican Senators who
want the treaty ratified with reser-
vations. He will be given every op-
portunity to reach an agreement
with the Democrats before any
group of Republican Senators will
take Independent action
Talk Of Revolt Ended
Talk Of revolt against the leader
ship of Senator Lodge was set at
rest by the action Of the mild res
ervationists." After their confer
ences, they declared they never have
gone so far as to plan a movement
against Lodges leadership, but they
said that as individuals they have
criticized Senator Lodge for what
they regarded as his failure to
initiate compromise.
The Admins. ration forces IN the
Senate have been making every effort
TO persuade the mild reservationists"
to take matters into their own hands
and negotiate with the Democrats
without any regard for Senator Lodges
position.
The purpose Of the Democratic lead
ers has frankly been to make a breach
in the Republican ranks, so that thew
could make compromise deal with
eighteen or twenty Republicans. SEN
ator Hitchcock, Administration leader,
counts upon the support of all the
Democrats except Senator Reed, of
Missouri, for compromise reservations
and has figured that the remaining
fortysix Democrats could make an
agreement with eighteen Republicans
that would give him control of the sixty
four votes needed to ratify the treaty
without having TO deal with Senator
Lodge in any way.
Democrats Disappointed
The Democrats were disappointed TO-
day when Senator Lenroot of Wiscou-
sin, spokesman for the "nild reserva-
tionists." informed them that the group
OF Republicans whose support they
have been counting on had decided TO
have Senator Lodge act for all the Re-
publican Senators.
Senator Lenroot later went to Sen
ator Lodges house and told the Re-
publican leader OF the conferences held
by the mild reserv vationists.'
The conferences were held in tho
office of Senator McNary, of Oregon;
Senators Lenroot, Hale, Of Maine, and
Kellogg, of Minnesota, we're among the
Senator's who attended. They were
called into conference for the purpose
of discussing plans
The mild reservationists" have
nearly all talked the situation over
with Senator Hitchcock and other
Democrats, but they reported to-day
that no Roadway had been made toward
q compromise.
Hitchcock that the group of mild res
ervationists" formulate a compromise
proposal OF their own, ignore Senator
Lodge and submit it formally 10 the
Democrats for consideration. This was
voted down.
The Senators at the conference then
decided that they would inform Sem
ator Lodge that they would give him
tneir support IN any effort he might
make toward securing an agreement
on reservations, and that they would
not take any independent action until
after Senator Lodge failed in every
effort he could make toward a COM
promise.
Must Be Ratified
The situation is this" explained
one OF the conferees. I'VE feel that
the treaty must be ratified. The public
Is impatient with the delay They do
not want parliamentary dignity to
stand IN the way Of ratification.
We have talked with the Democrats.
and they are unable to offer any propo-
sitlon Tor com promise. Thev do not
know what to offer The President
might not accept their proposition after
we have accepted it. They fear that.
and they have come TO US and asked US
to take the initiative.
Some of the Republican Senator's
Ieel that Senator Lodge should have
taiAed the situation over with Senator
Hitchcock before this. We have talked
with Senator Lodge, however, and we
feel that he is ready to do ali that he
can TO secure compromise, except.
OF course, abandoning the principles Of
the reservations reported by the For
eign Relations Committee.
We have decided that we will not
lnluate any compromise proposal We
wiii support Senator Lodge in any ef-