New-York tribune., 1920-01-07
Group of A. Senators
Represented in First
Definite Proposal to
Seek Basis of Truce
Aim at Agreement
By End of the Week
6 Mild Reservationists -
Pledge Twelve Votes
to Proposed Program
New York Trbwms
Vdshiasg gto7, Bureau

New York Trsbans
Washington Bureou
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.--Over-
lures for compromise on the peace
treaty were submitted to the Repub-
licans to-day by group of Demo
cratic Senators acting without the
authority Of their party leaders in
the Senate. The Democratic Sena-
tors hope the plan will furnish the
basis for an agreement that may be
reached on Friday or Saturday, af-
ter the Jackson Day dinner of tho
Democrats Thursday night. =.
The influence of William Jennings
Bryan in the Senate is credited with
the effort that is being made to
reach an agreement. The Senators
who are actively in charge of the
negotiations include Bryan follow
ers, among them Senator Kendrick.
Of Wyoming; McKellar, of Tennes-
see, and Swanson, of Virginia.
The proposal was the first definite
step toward compromise that has
been made by the Democrats. It IS
submitted to the mild reservation
ists," who will discuss it's terms with
other Republican Senators, including
Senator Lodge, and then negotiate
with the Democrats until a plan is
agreed upon that will secure the
support Of enough Senator'S to ratify
the treaty.
FOrty-fOur Democrats Pledged
The support OF fcrty-four Demo
cratic Senators was pledged by the
group of Democrats 20 any compromise
that might be reached in the informal
negotiations that will be carried on
during the next two or three days.
The mild reservationists" on the
Republican side pledged at least
twelve votes for any agreement tha.
might be reached, giving the COM
more than a majority Of the Senate.
should the effort succeed. With ma
Jority Of the Senate pledged TO support
a definite compromise plan the advo-
Gates of the proposed agreement plan
to secure control of the treaty situa-
tion in the Senate and keep the COM
promise proposal alive until the sixty
four votes required for ratification Of
the treaty have been secured.
Rivals Not In Movement
Senators Hitchcock and Underwood.
rival contestants for the Democratic
leadership in the Senate, and Reed.
Of Missouri, who is an ''irreconcilable"
opponent of the entire treaty, will not
be asked to support the movement
Senator Swanson was selected as the
representative of the group of Demo
cratic Senators to conduct the negoti-
atoms with the mild reservationists."
Senator McCumber, of North Dakots,
is representing the Republicans.
The mild reservationists" discussed
the proposal submitted to-day in in
formal conference. and later declared
that the Democrats have asked for too
many odifications of the Lodge reser-.
yations. The mild reservationiste"
said they would consent to modify the
preamble, but that the Democrats .
must make important concessions be-
fore an agreement can be reached.
Notifications Sought
Briefly outlined, the compromise PRO
posed by the group of Democratic Sen
ators was based on the Lodge reserva-
tions. with the following notifications.
Eliminate from the pre-
amble the provision requiring the
written acceptance Of the reserva-
mons by three other great powers.
SECOND-1nsert the phrase 'by
its military or naval forces" in the
Lodge reservation on Article X That
would make it read that the United
States assumes no obligation to pre-
serve the territorial integrity of any
nation by the use of it's military or
naval force unless Congress shall so
determine.
THIRD-Eliminate commerce, coast
wise traffic and suppression Of the
traffic IN women, opium and other
dangerous drugs from the list of do
mestic questions declared to be out
side the jurisdiction of the league Of
nations.
Monroe Doctrine Weakened
FOURTH-Strikc out the provision
of the Monroe Doctrine reservation
declaring that the United States shall
have the sole power" to interpret
the doctrine.
FIFTH The Lodge reservations
~VASVAhiuk titc dppUiltlhcuL ol rep
resentatives on the various connie
sions and bureaus created in the
treaty would be eliminated alto
gether.
.SIXTH-Eliminate ali mention of
China and Japan from the Shantung
reservation, making it read simply
that the United States withholds its
assent to the Shantung settlement.
.SEVENTH--Make the reservation
on the labor sections. which reads
that the United States withhcids its
assent to those sections. read that
the United States assumes no cbliga-
tions under them.
EIGHTH-The wording of the res.
ervation on the equality of the vot-
ing power of the United States and
the British Empire is changed to
soften the reservation.
NINTH-Thc reservation on with.