The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-04-07
COVENANT TO- MEET
ALL OBJECTIONS OF
THOSE WHO OPPOSE
Pospects for Agreement
Satisfactory to y. ,.
Are Good.
HITCHCOCK HAPPY
Believes Monroe Doc
trine and Other Amer
| lean Rights Are to Be
Fully Protected,
HITCHCOCK HAPPY

Washington, April 6.-That the
league of nations covenant VIII
emerge from the peace conference
satisfactorily amended to meet the
+ objections of its American OBJ
ponents, Is the belief held by al
ministration officials today. Private
advices from Paris to Senator
Hitchcock. Of Nebraska. the admin
istrAtion spokesman in the senate,
confirm this opinion. 1t is said.
Senator Hitchcock said tonight that
the word he has from Paris by private
cablegrams convince him that the
prospects for an agreement which VIII
he satisfactory to the people OF the
United States are exceptionally goou.
These changes. in his opinion. VIII take
in such matters as the reservation or the
Monroe doctrine. the right OF each SIG
natory to the league to settle its own
domestic affairs. md the right of a ma
ton to withdraw in reasonable time
from the league after 1t has been
formed.
The exact text of the message re-
ceived by Senator Hitchcock is with
held by him from publication The
senator explained that the messages
were OF such an intimate and per-
sonal", nature that he. did not believe 1t
would be permissible to make known
exactly what they contain. He added;
Word From Paris.
'"rhe word / have had from Paris
confirms the Impression I have had
from some time. namely. that all the
interests OF the United States Will be
fully protected and that nothing Will
be done which might in any way be
construed as surrender by the United
States Of any OF our rights. The in
formation 10 very meager, but II con-
vinces me that the prospects for a
league setapant which will be accept
a6ie to the United States are very
good
II il understood that Senator Hitch
cock viii make use OF the Information
received from Paris In his debate In
New York tomorrow night with Sena-
tor Lenroot. of Wisconsin. TT the
changes made or scheduled to be made
In the document meet the objections
which have been urged by senators on
roeed to the league II may be conceded
that IL would be foreefur reply to
Senator Lenroot's argument.
Changes Not known.
II Ia not known here whether the
suggested changes In the league COW
enant make any specific reservation OF
the American Monroe doctrine or not
Senator Hitchcock's statement that the
changes will be satisfactory cannot be
construed As indicating that the Mon
roe doctrine has been written into the
document for the reason that Senator
Hitchcock has never been partial to the
view that the covenant as originally
written placed the future of the Men
roe doctrine in Jeopardy,
The senator has always adhered "a
the opinion that the league itself would
he guarantee of the Monroe doctrine
because 1t would extend that doctrine
to the whole world. Not long ago he
advised President Wilson by letter thai
irsistence upon a reservation Ia favor
of the Monroe doctrine was not essen
tial: he told the president that the
| league proposal would be ratified by
the senate whether Il contained 4
SPECIFIC reference to the Monroe doc
| trfne or not.