Rock Island Argus., 1919-05-08
WILL SENATE
RATIFY PACT
LEADERSASK
Officials Study Text
Treaty Will be Ap-
proved is Belief.

@
Washington, May S-The eyes of
the world today are focused on
the treaty of Versailles.
Statesmen and diplomats every
where are turning over the phrases
of the official published summary of
its terms to form their opinions.
In the United States the ques-
tions being asked are:
How does it affect America?
Will the senate ratify it? Will Ger
many accept it? Official Washing
ton, with the president and the
secretary of state in Paris, leaders
of both sides absent, nothing au-
thoritative was expressed. For the
third, the generally accepted opin-
ion seemed to be that the Germans
would accept the convention, but
that it might require economic pres
sure to bring about the fulfllment
of some of its terms
The few congress leaders who
were in the capital were carefully
studying the published summary,
preparing to issue their comments
in the form of statements. Some
of these were expected during the
day.
One point seemingly generally &C
cepted at first glance was that
President Wilson has successfully
carried out his determination that
the league of nations covenant
should be inseparable part of the
peace treaty and that the whole
document must stand intact as it
comes up for ratification or rejec-
tion. OF course, the senate might
easily in the resolution expressing
it's action, make reservations on
any portions which it does not ap-
prove.
Acceptance Is FOreseen.
Another point which seemed evil
dent to those who studied the sum-
mary was that the rejection of the
treaty by any single nation would
only have the effect of delaying
the restoration of relations be-
tween that nation and Germany
while nations which do accept the
treaty will enjoy the advantage of
opening up trade and commerce
with the remnant of the once great
central European powers. Some
observers were inclined to regard
this feature as a formidable agency
in the hands of the president when
he urges the acceptance of the
treaty by the United States.
The probabilities are that the
forces in congress, for and against
the treaty, will begin to line up and
show themselves within the next
few days and take on a more def
mite position as the full text of
the record-breaking lengthy docu-
ment becomes available.
Many Questions Involved.
Quite beside the questions in
volved in the league of nations plan
will come the provisions suggest
ing a special arrangement by which
the United States and Great Bri-
tain would go to the aid of France;
the clauses which China protests
giving her rightful territory to
Japan. the involved and technical
provisions of the economic sec
tions on which the advice of ex-
perts doubtless will be sought, and
a score of other points, all of
which promise to furnish the ma
terial for history-making session |
of the senate if not indeed, both !
houses Oh COHSEeSS-
President Wilson's call for the |
extraordinary session of congress |
to assemble May 10. resulted in |
bringing the national legislators |
toward Washington. In the few |
days before the session opens there |
will be conferences of Republicans :
and Democrats, some of the for |
mer supporting the treaty and |
some of the latter opposing it,
which will define the lines on |
which the great issue will be
fought out.
Wilson To Tour COuntry7
When President Wilson returns |
to the United States-possibly by
the first of June-he will begin
what may turn out to be the great
est of contests between the execu-
tive and the senate 1t is possible |
that he may carry his case directly /
to the people before the senate has i
to act, by making a
tour through the country speaking
for the ratification of the treaty.
The president originally intend
ed to do this between his first and
second trips to France. but he was
to alter his plans when he
had to return to Paris sooner than
he expected.
The fact that the president faces
a Republican congress IS conceded
to have little to do with the issue.
There has been a marked tendency
of late on both sides to openly de-
clare the question as a non-par-
tisan one and it is known that the
president is counting on the sup
port of some Republicans. and has
already accepted the opposition of
some Democrats