South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-22
Root Offers Plan to Accept
Covenant With Certain
Reservations.
BORAH TALKS OF WITHDRAWAL
Hitchcock Confident Repub-
liCanS viii Ratify-Knox
Plans to Get Vote.
Ey Associated Press

10y AerNflhteQ trtHH
WASHINGTON. June 21.-The
League of Nations controversy in the
senate was enlivened tdoay By a Sc
lies OF developments accepted as
foreshadoNving the lines into which
the hnal ratification fight may fall.
Elihu Root. secretary Of state un-
Ger Pres't Roosevelt, laid before the
foreign relations committee a pro-
Sram for acceptance Of the league
with certain reservations.
sen. BOrah, republican. OF Idaho
gave notice in a senate speech that
he could not remain in the repub-
lican party If il failed 10 take a more
definite stand against the league.
sen Hitchcock. democrat. OF Ne
hraska. replied that 10 party dared
tand against the league
and declared the covenant was as
sured Of ratification by republican
votes.
Sen. Knox, Of Pennsylvania. decid-
ed TO call for a showdown OF senate
opposition Monday by bringing in
his resolution declaring the treaty
cannot be accepted with the league
covenant attached.
Discuss Root statement.
OF these developments, the rec
o-inmendation Of Elihu Root. pre-
scented after two days Of conferences
here with league opponents, attract
cd widest discussion tonight because
It was regarded as embodytng a plan
or which ain appeal is likely TO DE
made for unity Of action by all OF
those who do not fully approve the
Paris covenant.
The reservations which Mr.. Root
suggested should be written into the
srnatC's ratification resolution would
DE desiSncd TO soften the nations
o~uNSations for guaranteeing The in
tegrity OF foreign countries. and TO
Iurther safeguard the Monroe doc
Che league and the determination Of
purely domestic problems. These
reservations could be made, the for
mer secretary declared, in perfect
harmony with the traditions of
diplomacy and without endangering
other league provisions.
Want Senate Vote
The decision 20 bring up the Knox
resolution was reported al, er a con-
ference CT leaders had agreed that
some vote revealing the exact state
of senate opinion would Clarity the
air and strengthen the position of
league. opponents. There were ru-
mors tbnight that this decision might
" $3.50 FAr- -r -N-as
tute for the Knox measure brought
u later IN the week. But 1t seemed
certain the opposition was deter
mined TO show its strength in some
concrete before the treaty
is submitted for ratification.
sen. Borah made his threat Of
withdrawing from his party during
"a sharp debate, started when the
Idaho senator read into the record
9 petition signed by IS prominent
Sew York republicans asking hat
the peace treaty be ratified without
delay. Among the signers were
George W. VVickershum, former at
torne general. and Oscar 5. Straus.
former ambassador 20 Turkey. who
were bitterly assaileJ by Mr.. Borah.
AfT- NtIAIS was L1lhANe 90 several
senator just outside the senate
chamber when the speech was made.
The speaker also quoted an appeal
Of former Pres't Taft against the
Knox resolution. in which Mr.. Taft
urged that politics should stop at the
waters edge.
Can't keep Politics Out
Il agree with that perfectly. said
lfr Borah. Does politics stop at the
waters edge regarding the Monroe
doctrlnee Yes. but on this side OF
tn, water. And so with a multitude
OF other things in this covenant II
1, i~uconceivable hat this a be kept
out Of politics, for the people have
NO way 10 express themselves except
through political parties.
Was that the view OF those who
si-ned the round robin interrupted
sen. Pomerene. democrat o. Ohio
can only assume 20 speak Tor
myself" replied Mr.. Borah. There
never was an instant when I would
not have denounced my party a.
,owardlv II IL had taken a stand for
This LEAGUE. Mr.. HAYS (the republi-
Cr national Chairman) SAYS is
on American question. II Is, but 70