The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-08
Chief Executive Strikes Di- rectly at Republican Res ervatiOn on Article Ten as Likely to ''ChiIl" Rela- tions Between America and Other Powers
ay A.sssIatss rr,..

" dSulnElOns IA letlcr from President Wilson. renewing his objection to some features of the peace treaty reservations framed by the re- publican majority of the Senate, fur nished the basis of an earnest dis cussion today in conference of demo- cratic senators called to consider what course the treaty's friends should pur- sue when 1t again comes before the Senate next week.
 The only decision reached was to CO., operate in the parliamentary action necessary to reopen the question of ratification, and to work for an accept able compromise on reservations. Just what sort of compromise should be considered acceptable was debeated in the light of varying interpretations of the Presidents letter, but there was 4 no attempt to frame a definite reserva- y tion programme.
 Striking directly at the repub-
 hcan reservation on Article 10 and
 various proposed substitutes. the
 President wrote that any reserva-
 tiOn which said that sxhe United
 states assumes no obligation under
 such and such an article unless
 and except- would be likely to
 
 this country and the other powers.
 VERY UNFORTUNATE
 substitute Article 10 reservation containing this language, which had been under consideration by the re- gently disbanded bipartisan compro- mise committee, the President wrote vas very unfortunate" in form though he agreed with it's substance The letter was written on January 26, while the bipartisan negotiations were in progress and before publica- ton of the letter of Viscount Grey, for mer British ambassador to the United States, on the acceptability of the re- I publican reservations. It was ad F \ dressed to Senator Hitchcock of Ne. hraska. the democratic leader of the Senate, who laid it before the confer enc9 today.
 Wide disagreement swas revealed in the conference and in private discus- sion among senators regarding the Il probable effect of the commute tion i on the treaty's chances of ratification. fl Some interpreted the letter as merely H a reiteration of the views previously II expressed by the executive. while others professed to see in it tendency toward compromise.
 Comparing 1t wifh former utter- IN ancex of the President, these sen- " ators pointed out thnt 1t contained M no statement that he considered the language quoted nuIIifying \ the treaty constituting a rejec- ion
 10 CHANGE IN ATTITUDE Senator Hitchcock declared no I change in the democratic attitude was indicated either by the letter or the proceedings of the conference. The democratic Senate forces re- mained determined. he said. not to ac- l. cept the republican Article 10 reserva- 1. ton unless 1t were modified. In some quarters significance was I seen In the fact that the letter of the l President was written four days be- fore the bipartisan negotiations col | Ia psed following the refusal of the re- | publicans to consider modification of | the reservations relating to Article 10 II and the Monroe Doctrine. It was sug- | gested that the restatement of the \ Presidents attitude might have had | weight with the democratic ccZssrees | in agreeing to transfer the wha<& &ght | again into the Senate
 N Besides Article 10 the President touched on the reservations respecting with, | no objection to qualifications on these subjects He also gave his approval oi ! the interpretive reservations presented by | Senator Hitchcok just before the treaty | failed of ratification last November. The letter was made public by Senato
 
 HTTCHCOCK'S STATEMENT s-The Presidents letter, dated Januarl @ was called forth by letter which wrote him oh the evening of the day il which the bi- partisan conference in Sen ator Lodges office came so near t agreeing to reservation Article 10 My letter to him was as follows: My Dear MT. President: The confer ences between Senator Lodge and hi .thyee associates and myself and fou democratic senators have now reached tn sixth day.
 .On Article 10 the effort to reach compromise has now reached stag where both sides are seriously considerin a proposition as indicated by the inciose clipping.
 We resume consideration of 1t to morrow afternoon. Yours truly.
 "'G. M HITCHCOCK.
 -'JanuAry z2. 1920
 'rne clipping referred to in the lette was the following proposed compromis reservation on Article 10: \ PROPOSED COMPROMISE
 'sThe United States assumes no obi gation to employ it's military or navs \ foxces or the economic boycott to pre- serve the territorial integrity or politics Independence of any other country unde the provisions of Article 10, or to en
 ploy the military or naval forces of u
 United States under any article of tf
 treaty for any purpose, unless in any pa k ticular case the Congress. which, undt Tv the constitution, has the sole power
 declare war or authorize the employmel
 of the military or naval forces of u
 United States. shall by act or joil
 resolution so provide. Nothing here
 shall be deeTned to impair the obligatic
 frnutfnurd m Page T~0l