The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-10-17
'DEEKS CLEARED
FOR BIG BATTLE
Proponents Of League Con.
contrate Fire on John
son Amendment.
DEFEAT FoRESYADoWED
Hale, Of Maine, Will Vote No,
~ He Believes Resolu.
tions Will Do.
(By J. BART CAMPBELL.

/ washington. Oct. 17.-U. N. S.)-
opponents of the German treat,
VINO are working for its rejection cen
.ered tneir opposition today upon the
Johnson amendment as their last and
strongest nope. for changing the doc
umenl textually, with the defeat, O.
tne Snantung amendment by a vote
OF % 70 30, senators opposed to tex =
tuai changes predicted that the John
son amendment and all other pro-
posed amendments still pending
would also meet with failure.
Inc johnson amendment Is the
strongest card the proponents of
amendments have.
| Hale Opposes.
| The declaration of Senator Hale. of
Maine, one OF the socalled mild
reservationists" on the republican
side' during yesterdays debate that
ne would vote against the Johnson
amendment, as well as all other
amendments, because he believed
reservations would do just as well,
was a blow to those favoring amend
ments.
Opponents of the treaty are basing
their fight for the johnson amend
ment on the basis of Americanism.
They argue that under the present
covenant Of the league of nations the
British empire would have six votes
IN the league assembly, while the
United States would have but one.
Administration leaders argue that the
British empire would have six votes
IN the assembly, but not in the coun-
cli, and therefore its voting power
m hA CsA
Shantung Vote.
Whlle Iourteen republicans voted
against the Shantung amendment
Yesterday this cannot be used as
nass for prediction of vote on
the Johnson amendment. Several of
tne republicans voting against the
Shantung amendment did so with the
explanation that they believed the
same purpose-disavowal of Japan's
right to Shantung-could be accom-
pushed by a reservation. A reserva-
tlon cannot achieve the purpose of
the Johnson amendment, it Is argued.
ana there Is every reason to believe
that even some of the mild reserva-
fionists will be forced to vote for the
amendment because of the strong
pressure that has been brought to
bear "at home" for equalization of the
voting power between the United
states and Great Britain in the league
of nations.
The vote on the Johnson amend
ment will probably be close.
Gaining Strength.
A4 This amendment has been steadily |
gaining strength since vote upon it |
was prepared some weeks ago.
Senator Lodge chairman of the |
senate foreign relations committee, |
was expectant today that a vote |
would be reached on the johnson
amendment next week. The plan was
to proceed with the reading of the
treaty today, and if debate can be
checked the reading of the treaty nrny
be completed before the close of to-
lays session.
Reservationists are already prepar-
ng for the fight for strong reserva-
lions. Unless President Wilson re-
covers from his illness sufficiently to
confer with administration leaders in
he senate the reservation fight will
oe greatly complicated. Proponents of
ne treaty recognize that they must
accept compromise on reservation,
out they are unable to see the presi
lent and determine how far they
should go in their compromise.
Yearly a score of tentative drafts of
reservations have already been drawn
n preparation for the struggle for
itrong reservations to the treaty
Conceding that the defeat of the
'hantung amendment doomed other
textual changes in the Ger
nan peace treaty, republican leaders
Il the senate today adopted a plan
o dispose of all remaining amend
nents with the utmost possible speed. |
was decided that the one Fall
mendment still pending that involv-
ng American representation on the
eparation committee should be called
p in the senate this afternoon and a
etermined effort made to bring it to
vote before the end of the day.
With the last of the Fall amend
1ents thus disposed of it was agreed
hat the johnson amendment to
qualize the voting stregnth of the
jnited States and Great Britain in
ne league of nations assembly should
e brought to the attention of the
enate tomorrow for final action.