Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-10

Washington, Sept. 1O.-Charac
teriZed as an alliance which will
breed wars instead OF securing
peace" the German peace treaty
including the covenant for a league
of nations, was formally reported
to the senate today by the foreign
relations committee with As amend
ments and four reservations.
1t will be the first great docu
meRt of its kind to be discussed II
the open-without the confines o.
executive session"
One Republican Dissents.
Accompanying the treaty was
the majority report of the foreign
relations committee subscribed tc
by every Republican member ex.
cepting Senator McCumbber o.
North Dakota, explaining the
amendments and reservations, al
of which it was declared were
governed by single purpose, anC
that is to guard American rights
and sovereignty, the invasion Of
which would stimulate breaches oi
faith. encourage conflicts and gen
crate wars"
Summary of Reservations.
The reservations propose:
1-Unconditional right to
withdraw from the league.
2-Declination to assume any
OF the obligations of the much
discussed article 10, except
by action of the congress of
the United States"
3-Reserving to the United
states the exclusive right TO
decide what questions are with
in its own domestic jurisdic-
tion.
Absolute reservation Of
the Monroe doctrine to the
judgment Of the United States
alone.
Amendments in a Nutshell.
The principal amendments are
proposed to provide:
Equal voting power for the Unit
ed States with Great Britain in the
assembly of the league.
Giving to China instead of Japan
the province Of Shantung.
l:elief OF the United States from.
having representation on commis-
sicns deciding matters in which Il
has no concern.
Others concern phraseology.
These amendments and reserva-
tons. the majority report says. are
Ito preserve American
and American sover-
eighty and thereby best serve the
welfare of mankind"
No Fear Of Rejection.
Fears that other nations may not
accept an amended covenant the
report dismissed with the state
ment:
THAT is one ing that certainly
will not happen. The
nations will take us on our terms,
for without us their league is a
wreck and all their gains from a
peace are imperiled."
That the adoption of amend
ments will necessitate reassem-
bling Of the peace conference, the
report denies, asserting that the
conference probably will be in ses-
sion for six months more in Paris
and might as we'll be at least use
fully employed" as they now are
in dividing and sharing southeast
ern Europe and Asia Minor"
Need Not Consult Germany.
German delegates, the report
contends, could easily be brought
to Paris, and as Germany is not a
member of the league. she need not
be consulted about changes Of the
At the outset the majority report
deals at length with criticisms Of
delay and points out that whereas
the peace conference took six
to agree on the treaty, the
senate foreign relations committee
has had 46 working days.
Demands for speed in the most
subject that ever came
before the senate OF the United
States" the report says, were
largely the work OF the admins
tration and its newspaper organiz-
alton"
Kept In Dark.
Recalling the senate's RESPONSE
bility as equal with the presidents,
the report recounts the difficulties
the foreign relations committee ex-
perienced in getting information
On the treaty, being obliged to send
TO Paris for maps, being compelled
TO get Imperfect information from
press reports, and having at its
disposal few official documents.
Collateral treaties having a bear
ing, the report says, the committee
was unable to get.
Does Not Delay Trade.
While criticism for delay has
been aimed at the foreign relations
the report points out no
action has been taken by France,
Japan or Italy. The argument that
the treaty speedily should be rati-
fed that trading with Germany
might begin, the report dismisses
as rather faded" and declares the
United States haa been trading
with Germany since the signing Of
The armistice. The statement that
.rade can not be resumed until the
.reaty is ratified is characterized
as "a mere delusion."