New-York tribune., 1919-12-18

authority to perfect a resolution OF
ratification at any time a majority CT
the Senate can take up the treaty. Ger
tainly two-thirds of the Senate can do
so by suspendng any rule, if there is
rule, in the way Of action.
THE vote in the Senate indicates
that much less than a third Of the Sem
ators are opposed to ratiiying the
treaty with proper reservations. Res
ervations voted for by more than two
thirds of the Senate are so similar in
substance that conference alone should
be required to make the language sat
isfactory to a sufficient number Of SEN
ators to ratity.
But we will make no progress
and through efforts to place the blame
upon this or that side for delay. Rati
tication of the treaty must be by non
partisan action, and every effort to
create partisan advantage hinders
ratification. l do not believe there are
more than sixteen Senators who wish
the treaty killed, and I do not believe
there are more than ten more opposed
to reservations Of any kind. If | am
right as to the sentiment of Senators
ratification with reservations should
not long be delayed. If the Senators who
now want to ratify the treaty with
dent we can agree and act"
"Should Lay Aside Politics"
II very heartily favor action by the
Senate on its own initiative" said
Senator Myers, Democrat, Of Montana.
II am in favor of the Senate conpro-
missing its differences so that we can
ratify the treaty.
The Senate has been making a po-
litical football of the treaty ever since
it came to this chamber. The play has
not been on one side. either. There
has been politics on both sides. 1t is
politics that is keeping the Senate apart
now. | believe politics should be laid
aside and that we should compromise
our differences. / for one am willing
to compromise. l am willing to vote
for more reservations than I did before,
if that is necessary to secure rattica-
tion
THE way the matter stood at the
close Of the last session the majority
of the Republicans. in this body would
not vote for what the majority Of the
Democrats wanted, and the ajority Of
the Democrats would not vote for what
the majority of the Republicans
wanted.
"The last time I voted for ratfca-
tion with the Lodge reservations and
without any reservations. The next
time am prepared to go even further.
But for the President to withdraw the
treaty and then send it back here aga in
is a mere formality and Senators
should not insist that that be done.
This body should take the initiatives"
Senator Nelson of Minnesota ex-
planned why he had objected to the i'm
mediate consideration of Senator Knox's
peace resolution.
"The resolution to ratify the treaty,
so far as it creates a status of peace
between the United States and Ger
many" he said, lis vague and indefinite
If its purpose is to ratify all of the
treaty except the league of nations
covenant the resolution should say so.
II am for the treaty with the reser-
vations that were rejected by the SEN
ate. If we cannot have ratification
with them | will support resolution
ratifring all of the treaty except the
covenant of the league of nations"
Senator Mccormick, Of Illinois, one
Of the "irreconcilable" foes Of the
treaty, served notice that the "irrecon-
clables" will fight any compromise.
at would be interesting" said Sem
ator Mccormick, "to some of us who
supported amendments to the league
of nations covenant to learn if the
Senators who are now discussing mod-
tications of the treaty would support
modification that would give the
United States the same representation
in the league Of nations that is &C
corded another power"
Includes Lenroot Proposal
Senator Smith, of Georgia, inter
rupted to say that he had meant to
include the Lenroot reservations on
the voting power Of members Of the
league in his statement Of the reser-
vations that must be agreed to by both
sides. The Lenroot reservation, sale
Senator Smith, fully protects the vot
ing powers of the United tSates."
Senator Mccormick insisted that the
Lenroot reservation, which was in
cluded in the Lodge resolution of rail
fication, would not take care OF tht
question Of six votes in the league
for the British Empire.
"1f the Senate ratifes the treat,
with any such reservation on tha
question as the one favored by tn
Senator from Georgia." said Senate
Mccormick, "the issue will live il
Congress and throughout the country
The covenant then would make 70
discord among the English speaking
rccples Of the world"