Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-15
REPUBLICANS FIRM
ON TREATY ISSUE
Administration Must Make
First Move, G. o. P.
Senators Declare.

The announcement from the White
House that President Wilson intends to
standpat and not make any further
move in regard to the peace treaty ap-
parently has solidified the republicans
of the Senate in their insistence that any
Overtures for a compromise shall come
from the administration or its support
ers in the Senate This opinion was
expressed freely by republican senators
at the Capitol today
An effort will now be made to put
through resolution similar to that
offered by Senator Knox Saturday for
the ratification of the Versailles treaty
exclusive of the league of nations
covenant. or a resolution declaring a
state Of peace between the United
States and Germany. it was predicted.
Such move is not likely to be under
taken seriously until after the rail-
road bill has been disposed of by the
Senate.
How far the democratic senators
will back up the administration in its
position on the peace treaty remains
to be seen. Many of the democratic
senators believe that reservations
similar to those contained in the
Lodge resolution of ratification
should be adopted anyway
Present indications are that the
peace treaty is more and more likely
to become an issue in the national
election of 1920.
League Brought to Front.
President Wilson'S statement that
he had no compromise or concession
of any kind in mind" and that he
would make no move toward DISPOSE
ton of the treaty. but would continue
to hold Senate republicans responsible
for the delay in it's ratification again
no of
nations to the front in Congress.
Democratic leaders declared the
Presidents statement did not mean
that he opposed a compromise, should
one be reached in the Senate, and
said compromise efforts would be con-
unued. Republican opponents of rati-
fcation without reservations main
tanned their position that the Presi-
dent was to blame for delaying a dec
laration of peace and that the next
move must come from him.
The Presidents position. regarded
as peculiarly significant, in view of
the recent discussion in the Senate
of a compromise, was set forth in the
following statement issued yesterday
from the White House:
1T was learned from the highest
authority at the executive offices to-
day that the hope of the republican
leaders of the Senate that the Presi-
move which will relieve the situation
with regard to the treaty is entirely
without foundations: he has no com
promise or concession of any kind in
mind, but intends so far as he is con-
cerned that the republican leaders OF
the Senate shall continue to bear the
undivided responsibility for the fate
of the treaty and the present condi-
ton of the world in consequence OF
that fate"
Democratic Senator'S Position.
Senator Hitchcock, commenting on the
White House statement. declared that
the democrats would continue efforts for
compromising the reservations and that
the Senate and not the President must
act first.
THE President says the whole matter
is in the hands of the Senate, and
agree with him. said Mr. Hitchcock
The President says he has no COM
promise or concession to make That
is for the Senate. We are ready to ne
gotiate at any time and will continue
to seek compromise between the Lodge
re servations and those l offered last No
vember.'' ~. g..
senatogs Hitchcock sleclared positively
that the democrats never would consent
to ratification Of the treaty without the
league of naions and would not accept
the plan offsEed yesterday by Senator
L
ratify the peace terms and leave the
league question for decision by the
voters.
Senator BOrah's Claim. !
Powerful financial interests are en-
deavorfng for selfish reasons to "put
across" the German peace treaty
through Senate compromise, Senator
Borah. republican. Idaho. charged in
statement issued last night
Urging that Conpracc t,ua,t;-oto ~
legged efforts of ]. p Morgan e. Co. and
other financial concerns to bring about
the treaty's ratification, Senator Borah
also asserted that these interests
through the most gigantic propaganda
propose, if possible, to prevent the
American people from considering the
treaty and the league of nations in the
presidential elections next November.
Outlines Alleged Objects.
The financial interests. Senator
Borah further charged. are at work
on scheme which he outlined as
having the following objects:
First. through some compromise
or trade secure changes in the reser-
vations SO as to get enough votes to
put it through regardless of whether
Am rican interests are protected or
not.
Second, having put it through in
this way. the same forces hope
through their great influence with the
leaders of both political parties and
their control over campaign sub
scriptions to keep it entirely out of
the campaign of 1920-so that the
people will never have a chance to
pass upon the question.
Il am In favor. when Congress re-
turns after the holidays. of starting
thorough investigation and laying
bare the entire profits of these con-
a.yx
sums of money to put this thing
across. Find out what securities they
have placed and where they are now
1T will be recalled that long be-
fore the United States or the people
of this country were permitted to have
copy of this treaty the firm of Nor
gan Il Co. had it and were study
ing it. as one of the firm said,
for the purpose of finding out what
effect it would have upon their finan-
cial schemes. At the present time
vast sums Of money are being eXpend-
i