The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-31

RATIFICATION
NOT POSSIBLE
SENATORS TELL
PRESIDENT FACTS
The President Averse to Any
Change or Qualification in
Peace Treaty

WASHINGTON. July 3o.-Thc peace
treaty with Germany was discussed pE
President Wilson today with four more
Rcpublican senator's all Of them undcr-
stood 10 bc unwilling 10 accept the
league Of nations in its present form.
Tho question Of including reservations
in the Scnatc's ratification of the trca'y
is understood to be the ch'ot topic OF
discussion. some Of tho presidents call
crs telling him that unr"s"rvcd ratlhca-
tlon was impossible and Mr. wilson re.
itcrating his aversion to any change or
qualification which might reopen d'pio-
matte negotiations. Each OF inc SEN
ators indicated aftcrward that his views
had not been changed.
Sees Republicans,
In turn the president SAW Senator
DiIlingham. Vermont: Harding. ONO;
FcrnaId Maine. and Lcnrout. Wisconsin
He talked for an hour with cach OF
them. going over many features OF the
Versailles negotiations. None "oulo
discuss his conversations with the pres
idcnt in detail but Scncior Haruins'
who is a member Of IN" foreign rela-
tions committee made A bricf statement
saving Mr. Wilson had emphasized lhe
possibility that schatr rcsrrfat,onS
nigh, encourage other nations TO ualify
their acceptance of III" league.
Tomorrow the president will So" three
other Republican senators. whl'e 'ne
senate resumes debate or thr treaty
and tho foreign relations committee De-
gins public hearings on inc ccohoH'i'
sections with Bernard Baruoh. an ao-
visor 10 the American peace dclcgatioh'
as tho first witness.
Bitterly Opposed.
Roth the senate and th1 committee hao
recessed over today. and many senators
! went over. for the first time. inc o1hciai
,oxt Of tho special defensive treaty with
| France. submitted for ratlhcallon YES
tcrdoy hv Prcsii>-nt Wilson. Although
mos, of them reserved judgment. it be-
! camc apparent that the trcaty's rallhca-
! iion would he bitterly opposed.
| Two objections about which debate IS
oxncctcd 10 center arc that tho treaty
denarts from tho tradition Of no cntant-
linz alliances and that il vctoes the con-
stitutionaI provision that congress alone
J can declare war. Those who base thelr
! onnosition on the latter ground declare
| that bv tho promise 10 go 10 the alu OF
France Immediately in case Of an unpro-
| yokcd attack on hcr from Germany. a
future congress would BE- deprived or
| their mower 10 decide for war or Tor
nracc whenever the treaty terms wrre
involved. .,
To this ADMINISTRATION leaders reply
! that tho United States has made similar
, promises 10 go 10 war under certain CIR
cumstanccs in tho past. citing the treaty
! hy which this country guaranteed ram
ama's independence. and the Monroe doc-
trinc. which. they argue. gave notice that
the free republics Of this hemisphere
! would he defended against old world
aggression AT any cost. He also declared
congress has hccn found by treaty TO
.aprrnpriatc money. make tariff laws and
exercise other powers vested in 1t by
III" Constitution.
. Interest in tho subject was increased
by today's. dispatches from Paris saying
! that leaders in tho chamber Of deputies
were disposed to delay ratification of the
Versailles treaty until tho American sem
atc had acted on tho defensive treaty.
Opposition senators declared the de-
.vclopmcnt Savc color TO their charge that
q tho promise to aid France was given in
return for French support of the Lcagu.
! of Nations.