New-York tribune., 1919-07-06
Opposition Grows and Even
Hitchcock Asserts Doubt
of Its Necessity and
May Not Support 1t
Leagues Foes Oppose 1t
Assert That Every Argument
Made Against 1t Will
Also Injure Covenant
New York Tribune
w. 3hington Bureau


WASHIEGTON, June Close study
of the proposed treaty of alliance with
France is increasing the Senatorial op-
position to the alliance, which was IN
evidence even before the treaty was
published by the French government.
The opposition is not confined to the
Republicans. Senator Hitchcock. the
acting Democratic leader, was not at
all sure to-day that he could vote to
ralify the special pact with France.
His uncertainty was reflected through
out the Democratic ranks. Senator
Sheppard, of Texas, was the only DEM
ocrat questioned who was prepared to
say without reservation that he would
support the alliance.
II don't think this treaty with
France is ut all necessary" Senator
Hitchcock said, after having thoroughi
~ studied the text OF the document
II may vote for il in the end. The
negotiations have proceeded so far that
it might be embarrassing Il the treaty
were rejected by the Senate. a rejec-
tion might lead Germany to believe that
the United States would not go to the
aid of France II she were attacked, thus
encouraging renewed German aggres-
sion.
Germany Is Still Feared
"The treaty is the result of the fear
that seems TO permeate all Europe, IN
spite Of the allied victory. There is,
of course, the danger that France, made
confident OF her security by the ac-
ceptance of the treaty, might goad and
bully Germany into making an attack
upon her. :.
"The use of the word 'unprovoked
creates q rather difficult situation. IL
will be up to future congresses to de-
termine whether attacks are provoked
or unprovoked. Whenever there is an
attack both sides will claim, OF course,
that the attack was unprovoked.
Whether il is or is not may be difficult
for an American Congress to decide.
"The treaty would not be unconsti-
tutional There are precedents for 1t
IN American history. 1t would be i'm
possible, however, for the present Con
gress to bind any future Congress 20
make war. Whether we should go to
the assistance of France would be up
to the Congress then sitting to decide,
upon the basis of existing circum-
stances"
League Does Plight Alliance
The "bitter end" opponents of the
league Of nations covenant are phn-
ming campaign against the proposed
alliance TO run concurrently with the
campaign to arouse public sentiment
against the league. The first shots
will be fred shortly before the Presi-
dent addres es the Senate on the peace
treaty.
The anti-league Senators believe the
| submission of the treaty of alliance
will assist them in THEN fight against
the league. They are unwilling TO be-
lieve that the President seriously eX-
pects the alliance to be accepted. Every
argument put forward in support Of
the alliance, they say, will prove an ar
gument against the league.
The lineup in the Senate on ratlfi-
cation of the alliance will not coincide
with the lineup on ratification OF the
league covenant, however.
Senator McNary, of Oregon, the only
Republican who will not join IN the
movement for reservations on the
peace treaty, let it be known today
that he would not vote for the French
treaty under any circumstances. Sena-
tor Norris. of Nebraska, who favors the
league but will vote against the treaty
Lecause of the Shantung settlement,
was among the first to raise his voice
against the French alliance.