Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-13
DECKS CLEAREDFO
FIGHT To FINISH ON
LEAGUE Of NATIONS
Committee Reports Favor
ably Amended Knox Reso-
luton Divorcing Covenant
From Treaty of Peace

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE SEN
ate foreign relations committee to-
day by q vote Of eight to- seven or
dsred = favorable report on the Knox
resolution to separate the League of
Nations covenant from the treaty
proper.
senate would notify the world that
the United States reserves the right
to delay its decision on membership
in the League of Nations until the
senate and the people have fully
determined whether they wish such
Those voting in favor Of reporting
the resolution are Lodge, Borah,
Brandegee, Fall, Knox, Johnson, Cal
ifornia; New and Moses, all Repub-
leans. Those opposing it are Nc
Cumber, Republican, and Hitchcock,
Williams. Swanson. Smith, Arizona
Pittman, Shields, Democrats.
The committees action was almost
coincident with Introduction of a
resolution by Senator Sterling, South
Dakota, to except the United States
from o"-npl,ance with article 10 Of
the league covenant.
Big Fight Begins
Today's developments were regard
! ed as the opening of the great fight
to amend the treaty, If successful,
Republican leaders admit, may re-
suit finally in the United States
making a separate treaty with Ger
many
Senator Harding, who was absent
from the committee meeting was
paired with Senator Pomerene, who
therefore could not vote Senator
Harding, it was announced, would
have voted for the resolution and
Senator Pomerene was opposed to 1t.
Hho ~
ed up to s.
Senator Hitchcock voted for Sem
ator Shields. who was &bse t, but
who opposed reporting the resolu-
ton. The report was ordered liter
two hours of warm debate in which
postpone consideration until next
Monday. BY a vote of to 6, the
committee approved Senator Lodges
notion striking out section 5, of the
resolution, which pledged the Un1teC
States, in case Of a future assault
on civilization, to come to humanity 5
rescue Just as it did in the recent
war. It was felt this was unneces-
sary to the resolution. Democrats
wanted 1t left in.
The committee rejected Senator
Hitchcock's suggestion that acting
Secretary of State Polk be summon n
ed at once to tell the committee IN
confidence what effect passage of the
resolution would have on peace nego-
tiations. The vote was to 3, SEN
ator McCumber voting with the he
publicans.
Senator Hitchcock also moved to
strike out the preamble, but this was
defeated to 6.
Bitter Debate Coming
senator Knoxawas authorized TO
renort the resolution to the senate
at once, It is certain. senator's DE-
clare. to be the center OF the most
hitter debate yet heard on the league,
as administration forces regard 1t as
the beginning Of the campaign first
to divorce the treaty and the league
covenant and then to kill the cove
nant. ,,.
1rtion NAV DEPEND the final votes Of
a number of senators. 1t was pre-
dicted today, as they regard any
pledge by the United States to guar
antee the territory or independence
Of other nations as a fatal surrender
Of Americas sovereignty.
Adjournment to Monday
When Senator Knox later asked
unanimous consent to present the IA
vorable report in the senate today,
Senator Robinson, Democrat, or Ar
kansas, objected. The Arkansas sena-
with the understanding that the SEN
ate would adjourn from today 10
Monday. so there would be no deoate
this week. The report then Went In.
With the investigation Of how treaty
comics reached New York brought TO
a standstill almost as soon as II
> started, the senate today again turn
ed its attention to the more direct
issues involved in the League OF
Nations fight.