Arizona republican., 1919-08-21
G. O.P.LEADERS REJECT FIRST
 OVERTIME FOR
 \ CONP PRON|SE
Democratic Leaders Make Initial Advances z Sug- gest Reservations With Understanding That They Be Kept Apart From Actual Ratification
Republican A. p. Leased wirel

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20.-The first open move for a compromise in the League of Nations fight came from administration quarters today em braced in a proposal that the senate adopt interpretive reservations but that they be kept apart from the ac- tual ratification of the treaty.
 The overture met with no immedi- ate success on the republican side Of the chambers, senators of the repub- lican reservation group declaring they could not recede from their position that to be effective the reservations must go into the ratification itself
 Offer Compromise Proposal.
 Senator Pittman of Nevada, a dem ocratic member of the foreign relations committee, presented the compromise proposal in the form of a resolution embodying in effect the four reserva- tions agreed on by seven republican senators and declaring them to consti- ute the senate's understanding of dis puted points in the covenant.
 In the republican draft, however, it is expressly provided that the reser- vations 'be made part of the treaty by the instrument of ratification. a proviso which Senator McNary of Oregon and others of the group of sev- en republicans said they considered absolutely necessary if enough repub- lican votes are to be gained to obtain ratification of the treaty.
 To overcome this objection. Senator Pittman proposed in a speech in the senate that the resolution be adopted at once and submitted to the other powers who will be represented on the league council. A general debate de- veloped during which Senator Borah, republican, Idaho, and others took ex- ception with President Wilson's dis tinction between moral and legal ob- ligations under the covenant as ex- pressed in yesterdays white house conference between the president and the foreign relations committed
 Leaders of the McNary group, ney- ertheless, insisted they had informa- ton that in the end their plan would have democratic support.
 Would Be Hypocrisy.
 An attack on the Shantung provision of the treaty was made in the senate by Senator Mccormick, republican. Ill., 'aess. who asserted that by accepting The provision the United States would become party to one of the most out rageous exhibitions of hypocrisy and violence in the worlds history.
 The Shantung provision also was under consideration before the foreign relations committee, which was told by pr. J. C. Ferguson, advisor to the Chinese president that China regarded American acceptance of the settle ment as deviation from the tradition al policy of American friendship to the Chinese government and people.
 Questions by Senator Borah turned the debate to a discussion of the mor- al and legal obligations assumed un- der article ten of the covenant. by which the members agree to preserve one another's territorial integrity against external aggression The ar tieie Mr. Pittman asserted. had no legal force because it doesn't carry the essentials of a contract
 You couldn't take it into a court Of law he said, and find any means ny Wnlcn 1t could be enforced except ny the conscience of the parties af- feeted.'
 Is Moral Question.
 But when Germany actually in vaded France" replied Senator Borah It seems to me that under article 10 we would have been obligated to go at once to aid France
 The matter would have been laid pefore congress, said Senator Pitt man, and congress would have had in decide whether we would or moi m my judgment congress would have .'eeidod we should act and it would have been a God send.n
 agree with that. but still con sress would have had no real discre- ton. It would heve been compelled ro act If it wsre going to carry out it's contract, returned MT. Borah.