New-York tribune., 1920-02-01
Treaty Debate
May Be Forced
By Republicans
Party Leaders Reluctant
to Permit Democrats
to Seize Control of the
Situation on February 10
Netc York Tribune
Wdsh,u0ton Bur.ny

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Republi-
cans OF the Senate may not wait for
their Democratic colleagues to make
the formal motion TO bring the peace
treaty before the Senate for debate on
February 10, and already are thinking
over the idea of starting the treaty dis
cusslon again next week No plan has
been adopted to forestall the Demo-
Gratis, but there are many influential
Republicans who do not care to see the
majority party in the Senate step aside
and permit the minority to take control
OF the situation in this fashion.
Formal notice was given the Senate
to-day by Senator Walsh, of Montana,
that motion will be made on February
lO to bring the treaty up. There was
no debate over the announcement, and
in view Of the breakup yesterday Of
the bipartisan conferences on compro-
mise reservations, the announcement
caused no surprise.
Walsh Acts for Hitchcock
Senator Walsh said he made the
statement on behalf of Senator Hitch
cock, acting minority leader, who is out
OF town.
The Republicans are under no obliga-
tlon to wait until the Democrats wish
to make their motion. There has been
no agreement OF any sort about when
the treaty should come up, and there
was a growing feeling Of discomfort on
the Republican side to-day at waiting
for the Democrats to act. Although
the Republicans do not admit that
enough members of their party would
vote with the Democrats to give them
q majority and bring the treaty out on
the floor, some Of them evidently fear
such q result and prefer to have it
done With, the Republicans leading and
not falling in behind the Democrats.
Republican leaders declined to con-
firm the report that su-h a plan is in
contempla ton, but it circulated about
the Senate with unusual speed and
many Senators will be surprised if it
does not develop in the open early next
week
Factions Expected to Agree
The position of the mild reserva-
tionists" is still in doubt, but the view
was expressed to-day that these Sena-
tors Will not oppose the bringing of
the treaty to the floor before the date
set by the minority Senators. like
wise, the ''irreconcilables" are expect
eu TO snow 10 OPPOSITION 10 the lQed
-of having the treaty fight removed to
the floor In fact, they are understood
to be inclined to having the struggle
taken from the committee and made
the regular order OF business on the
floor, believing that this will result
in the earliest death for the pact.
Republican Leader Lodge VIII IKE
advantage of the next few days to 4ge
the Republican majority thoroughly p
accord on the proposition of referring
the treaty fight to the Senate fool.
and no definite decision viii be mad
until thorough canvasses haze been
made of all the majority members to
avoid conflict that might tend TO re
tard the speedy disposal of the treaty
problem. 1t was reiterated to-day by
the Republicans opposed to any change
in the Lodge reservations that they
held thirty eight votes on the. treaty
and their full strength would be ex-
erted to oppose any steps that might
be taken to withdraw from any of the
reservations suggested by the majority
leader