Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-03-18
NEW RESERVATION
TO PEACE TREATY
Provides That u. s. Will View
with Grave Concern" Any
Upheaval Threatening the
Peace of Europe

Washington March ia general dec
laration Of International policy, under
which the United States would view with
grave concern" any future upheaVal
threatening the peace and freedom Oh
Europe, was agreed on by republican
Senate leaders to-day and presented as
"a new reservation to the peace treaty.
Intended to replace the more dennite
pledges of article ten, the reservation
Is to be pressed in the Senate as the
farthest step the republican leaders are
willing to go toward abandonment OF
American isolation and participation In
European conflicts. Its text follows:
ut shall be the declared policy of this
government that the freedom and peace
of Europe being again threatened by any
power or combination OF powers. the
United States will regard such a sttua-
ton with grave concern. and will consider
what. II any. action It will take In the
premises"
Senator Lenroot Of Wisconsin drafted
the reservation in consultation with
other republican leaders and introduced
it In the Senate at the end of a day OF
debate on the Irish question which de-
layed action and blocked the plan TO set
a day for a final vote on the treaty's
tonight, however, that discussion of the
remaining issues of the treaty controversy
soon would spend itself and that the
ratification roll call would come Friday
or Saturday.
Not many democrats had had an oppor-
tunity tonight to study the new repub-
lican proposal, and 1t was uncertain how
much support il would command from
that side of the chamber. Some senators
predicted, however, that it might have
the effect Of softening the resentment OF
the administration over the republican
article ten reservation and win owe,
enough more democratic votes to ratify
the treaty.
A claim Of further gains in break
ing down administration resistance
was made on the republican side dur
ing the day and some of the republican
leaders were asserting tonight thai
the roll call would show total YER,
| close to the two-thirds required tc
| ratify with the republican reserva
tions. 1t is understood to be the pur
pose, If ratification fails, to reconsider
! and take a second vote in the hop.
that after they have made their rec
ord of opposition, handful more o
the democratic senators will leave thu
| treaty from another failure.
| The new reservation follows the genera
outline of declaration which was con
tanned in a resolution introduced sew
eral months ago by Senator Knox. re
publican, Pennsylvania and never actet
on by the Senate. Those who support 1
| declare that while it would leave tn,
| United States free from any definit,
promise to Intervene in European affairs
1t also would give evidence of the ma
TONS vital interest in any future war
such as the one just closed.
The words grave concern" one senate
pointed out, usually carry deep signifi
canoe in diplomatic usage and frequentl.
have been employed to describe an at
titude contemplating possible action. Sup
porters of the reservation declare that Il
It's moral effect such declaration woul'
be a powerful deterrent should any ma
ton again purpose to despoil Europe a
IGermany did.
| 1t is expected that II also will he ar
|gued that the reservation would lend i'm
mediate moral support to the struggling
new nations of Europe and would be re
assuring to France. whose defensv
treaty with this country still awaits rat
LITIGATION here and faces a bitter fight
lit Is called up for action.