Evening star., 1919-12-30
SENATOR M'NARy
ANDMR. HITCHCOCK
CONFER ON TREATY
Mild Reservationist and Dem.
ocratic Leader Discuss
Basis of Compromise.

administration forces in the peace
treaty controversy in the Senate. and
Senator McNary of the mid reSer-
vationists group among the repuo-
licans held an informal conference
today. at which an effort was made
to ascertain what basis of compromise
on reservations to the treaty couiu
be reached Senator swanson OF Nlr-
ginia was at the conference Tor
time also.
Following the conference the hope
was expressed that eventually a COM
promise plan could be worked out.
Both Senator Hitchcock and Sena tor
McNary said, however. that 1t was TOO
early to make specific statement SO
many factors enter into the situation
that it is likely a number of consulta-
tions must be held by senators on both
sides before any working agreement
can be reached.
1t is expected that Senator McNary
will lay before the senator's who stand
with him on the peace treaty che SIT
uation as he sees it, after talking with
the democratic leader.
Says People Wnnt Treaty.
Convinced that the people of the
west desire to see the peace treaty
with Grmany disposed of as soon as
possible, Snator McCumbr of North
Dakota returned to Washington today
expecting to confer with his colleagues
as 10 the pest means IOT OTLuEiHS
! about the ratification of the treaty
with reservations.
-Ss1 have been in Arizona. southern
California, Oregon. North Dakota and
Minnesota since / left Washington"
said Senator McCumber. II have talk
ed with a great many people. My
understanding is that the great ma
jority of the people desire action on
the treaty without further delay.
They are willing to take the league
of nations with such reservations as
the Senate and the President may de-
termine upon"
Thinks Senators Will Get Together.
Senator McCumber said that he had
not yet had an opportunity to dis
cuss the treaty situation with other
senators since his return. Il believe,
however, that it will be possible to
get together and ratify the treaty
with reservations. 1 think the Presi-
dent should understand that reserva-
tions insisted upon by the Senate.
power, should be accepted. In my
opinion, with some slight modifica-
tionS. the reservations adopted by
the Senate at the last session will
have to be the basis of the final agree
ment on the treaty" ga
King Reservations Completed
Senator King of Utah has completed
"
which he proposes to offer as COM
promise to effect the ratification of
the peace treaty when the Senate
meets. He has consulted plumber
vations. including Senators Walsh OF
Montana. Lenroot and McNary 1t is
the opinion of Senators McNary and
Lenroot that the reservations framed
by Senator King yield too much. and
that they cannot be accepted as a
pAvr TO- YrnIa hnxy I.
ened in some particulars.
Senator King has the same number
OF reservations as were contained in
the Lodge resolution of ratification,
and a number of the so-called Lodge
reservations he has adopted without
change. including that exempting the
United States from the labor provi-
sions of the treaty. The main changes
in the Lodge reservations made by
Senator King relate to those reserva-
nations. the Monroe doctrine, Shan
tung and the preamble Of the reserva-
tions.
Article Z Reservation.
In modifying the reservation on
article X, Senator King found that
there was an issue between the
President and the Senate as to
whether the United States was obli-
gated to help European nations main
tain their territorial integrity by the
league of nations.
The reservation on this article pro-
posed by Senator King reads:
THE United States so construes and
understands article x that whatever
obligation arises under article X to
protect the territorial integrity and
political independence of other ma
tions. whether members of the league
or not, it shall not become effective
as to the United States unless Con-
gress by affirmative action SO pro-
videst"
Senator McNary points out that the
King reservation still leaves the OBJ
legation with the United States. He
does not believe that the Senate will
accept such proposition.
Senator Pomerene of Ohio is an
other democrat who has determined
to take steps to ascertain whether a
compromise on the treaty is possible,
instead of waiting for the republi-
cans to make move. He has deter
mined to confer with Senator Lodge.
possibly today, to see If it is not
possible to reach some common ground
upon which the treaty may be ratified.