New-York tribune., 1919-10-11
Most of Lenroot Followers
Have Given Up Hope of
Putting Through a Mild |
Resolution as Substitute
Textual Change Drawn
Taft Fighting Hard for a
Compromise; Shantung
Issue Up Next Wednesday
BY Carter Field
Neic York Tribune
WdshiuOtOu Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-The John
Son amendment to the league of ma
elons covenant, giving the United
atSAes .an equal vote with the British
Empire in the league assembly, has a
majority Of two votes, as the situation
stands in the Senate tonight, accord
ing to several Senators who have been
regarded as being "on the fence"
This shift in the situation results
from q decision of most Of the mild
feservationists," headed by Senator
Lenroot, that their hope of meeting
the johnson amendment situation by
reservation must be abandoned.
1t is considered possible that the
situation may change again, and it is
known that herculean efforts are be-
ing made by eXPresident Taft and
others to hold the mild reservation
lists" in line against any textual
amendments. Mr.. Taft has gone so
far as to draft a reservation covering
the Johnson and Moses amendments, in
the hope of meeting the situation, but
this has not SO far proved decisive.
Claim Majority of Two
If the vote were held tonight, it
was declared, all the Republicans would
vote for the Johnson amendment save
four: McCumber, McNary. Nelson and
Colt. On the other hand, four Demo-
Gore, Walsh (Mass.) and Shields.
Otherwise, it is said. the Senators all
would divide along party lines, the Re
pubIlcans voting for the amendment
and the Democrats against.
AS the Republicans have majority
of two in the Senate and as the changes
exactly offset each other. this lineup
would give the amendment MAJ ority
of two. The Republican leaders also
assert that there is an excellent chance
OF winning over one more Democratic
Senator and perhaps two, while they
DO not think there is any chance of
losing more than the four mentioned
to the Democrats.
Senator Lenroot and the little group
which has followed him il his efforts
to draft satisfactory reservation are
not satisfied with the Johnson amend
ment. But they have frankly aban-
doned their idea of "mildness," and
are perfectly willing to vote for text
ual amendment to the league covenant.
Lenroot Drafts Amendment
between a textual amendment to the
covenant and one TO any other part Of
the treaty An amendment to the COW
enant, he says, could be approved bv
the principal powers without any diff
ficulty or delay if they wished to ap-
prove it, without the necessity either
OF submitting the question to the peace
conference or to Germany. An amend
, ment to any other portion Of the
treaty, such as the Shantung amend
{ ment, Mr. Lenroot thinks. would re-
! Guire submission to all of the powers.
including Germany.
Mr.. Lenroot. to meet objections that
the Johnson amendment does not ac-
complish the purpose for which it is
intended IN certain respects, is draft
ing textual amendment Of his own,
which, it was said tonight. would
muster at most about thirteen votes.
II his amendment is defeated Mr.. Len
root and Senator'S Kellogg, Spencer,
Hale and others who have been hoping
to avoid the direct vote on the John
son amendment will vote for that
proposal. Senators McCumber, Nc
Nary, Colt and Nelson will part COM
pany at once with the other mild res
ervationists.'
Wouldn't Bind United States
Although Mr.. Lenroot refuses to dis
close the text Of his amendment, it is
known 70 provide simply that the
United States never would be bound by
any decision in which any nation or
empire casts more than one vote
This reaches one situation, it ia de-
clared by its advocates, which the
johnson amendment does not reach,
for, under the Johnson amendment, it
Is asserted, q. quarrel between Great
Britain and the United States would,
when submitted to the league assem-
bly, on appeal from the council, have
this course: Britain and the United
States both would be barred from
voting, which would deprive the
United States Of six votes, If she were
amendment. But Canada, Australia.
New Zealand, South Africa and India
still would be permitted to vote.