The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-20
senate's Failure to Ratify
Treaty May Cause Loss Of
Seized Enemy Ships.
SPECTRE In POLITICS.
LIQUOR ISSUE MUDDLED.
Chief Of Domestic Questions
That Hinged Upon Declar-
alton Of Peace.

That Hinged Upon Declar-
alton Of Peace.
Washington, Nov. 20.-The senate's
failure to ratify the peace treaty left
on the hands Of the administration q
big collection Of knotty problems,
chief among which 10 the question Of
property rights in the German ships
and other property Of enemy aliens
seized BY the government in this
country. Tho state department ex-
psrts say thsrs 10 no legal sanction
for retention Of this property unless
the treaty, which contains provis-
ion Isgaiixing II, 10 ratified.
The senate action may cost the
United States government $750,00O,-
900 worth of German and Austrian
property seized during the war, 1t
was stated at the department of JUS
tice this afternoon. The peace
treaty validated the acts of the alien
property custodian and 1t was stated
today that 1t would now be possible
Tor Germans and Austrians to bring
action to recover their property with
the government on the defensive.
Atty.-Gen Palmer expected a food
OF these cases and officials today were
taking steps to defend the govern
ment's seizures.
Spectre Before Both Parties.
Senator Lodges concurrent reso-
luton introduced in the senate last
night declaring the war with Ger
many Mt an end hangs today as a
spectre before both parties. Demo-
cratic leaders were doubtful today
that the. resolution would be pushed
when congress reconvened,' and stated
that Ii it had been intended seriously
congress would have been held
in session to pass it.
Predicts Compromise.
In a statement late today Senator
Hitchcock predicted that with re-
submission Of the treaty by the presi..
dent, a compron1ise could be affected
between senator's favoring ratifica-
tion in some form. Concessions on
both sides must be rea and not
merely ncmineI," no said.
Prohibition Hinged.
Foremost cf leil the domestic prob
ierns waiting on soys,e sort OF peace
declaration Is prohibition. Hope.
havs about disappeared for an end OF
the wartime act by. senate ratification
OF the treaty in time to permit 9. wet
SEASON before the constitutional
amendment becomes effective Jan. 16
With a constitutional controversy de-
veIoping about a declaration OF peace
by resolution, that avenue begins to
look almost equally inaccessible. The
hope of the vets, therefore, has been
transferred to the supreme court, bes
fore which proceedings to test the
validity of the wartime law, were ar
gued today.
But liquor is by no means the only
consideration involved in the continu-
alton of technical state of war. Un-
til peace is declared formally the
wartime food and fuel control powers
of the executive are in full force and
the espionage act operates unlm'
paired.
A Members of congress are mindful
also, that the war legislation author
izing government operation of rail-
roads gave the president power, If nc
chose, to hold the railway systems
until twenty-one months after peace
shall have been accomplished. He
has announced, however. that he Will
return the roads on Jan. /.
As to Troops in Germany.
II was pointed out that the effect
of the senate's failure to act would
be of a negative character only witt
regard to the American troops in oc.
cuped portions of Germany. WaI
department officials said it woulc
mean no change in the present dis
position, which had been based en-
tireIy on the terms of the rmistics
and which did not depend in any re-
spect on the terms of the treaty.
In a military sense, the senate de,
lay continues state of suspended
hostilities,'' say the war department
officials, some of whom are turning
over in their minds the possibilitie!
of the situation should a separate
peace with Germany be necessary.
New Treaty lmpracticable.
The president has considerd th'
possibility of negotiating a new
treaty in the event of the rejection
of the present treaty, administration
officials said, but he virtually has re
iected that alternative as imprac
ticable, and now probably will TAX
up with the principal signatorie
what compromise reservations woult
bo acceptable to them.
Senator Hitchcock said he ex
pected the president, upon the con
yening of congress Dec. /, to with
draw the treaty and later resubmi
it, possibly with suggestions for ac
ceptable reservations. Administra
tion leaders in the senate also ar
known to be considering negotiation
of compromises with the mild reser
walton republicans, but no activ
moves toward compromise negotia
tions are planned until congress re
conveneS.
During the senate debate, Admin
istration Leader Hitchcock declare
that If the treaty failed and sepa
rate peace became necessary, tn
limited States would find 1t awkwar
to attempt to exact drastic require
ments from Germany. Among repub
lican senator's this position has bee
ridiculed, however, and in the wa
department 1t is said gros.' violatio
of the armistice agreement by Ger
many. such as a military movemer
into one of the neutral zones, woul
be the only contingency which woul
lead to a resumption of military e,
fort on the part of the United State
Republicans Anxious. -.
There is every evidence that tn
republican leaders in congress, anS
ious to get the country to an actu'
neace basis so that the n- my wal
time legislative provisions may
erased and a more normal legal four
dation placed under the country
trade. are going ahead with the
n,an of declaring peace by resolutio
as soon as the new congress meets,
A resolution making such decit
ration was introduced last night |
Republican Leader Lodge, after tnr'
attempts to ratify the treaty ha
failed. Not only is it expected to sta
another bitter fight in the new Sc
sion. lreviving many issues, OF u
A4rnnt,, CONTROVERSY. but II IL