New-York tribune., 1920-01-15
Ratification
Basis Sought t
By End of Week
Both Parties Planning Get
Together Conference of
Senators to Push Final
Compromise on Treaty
NeW York Tribune
Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-Negotia-
tions in the Senate for a compromise
on the peace treaty were continued to-
day with the view of having Demo-
Gratis and Republicans who want a
compromise meet the latter part of this
week to work out basis of ratifica-
ton.
Senators Hitchcock. Underwood and
Lodge will not be asked to attend, it
was said, as the Senators behind the
movement for the conference do not
want the leaders in the treaty contro-
versy to have anything to do with the
get-together movement.
Senator Kenyon, acting Tor the Re-
publlcans who want a compromise. cir
culated petition on his side of the
Senate calling for the meeting. 1t was
signed by eight Senators. Senator
owen, at whose home the meeting of
Democratic Senators was held last
Sunday, circulated similar petition
among the Democrats.
The Senators on both sides of the
chamber who favor ratification Of the
treaty will sit around tapie. it is
planned, and freely discuss reserva-
tions that can be accepted by sixty
four Senators.
Silent on Conference
Senator Lodge conferred with Sena-
tors Underwood and Owen to-day.
None of the Senators would discuss
the conference, but the Democratic
Senators said that Senator Lodge had
told them he would not accept any
compromise that called for q modifica
tion Of the principle Of the reserva-
tion to Article X that was adopted by
the Senate.
The action taken by the Democratic
Senators at the leadership caucus to-
morrow will influence future negotia-
tons.
Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska, who
has been leading the Administration
forces in the Senate treaty fight, and
Senator Underwood. of Alabama, are
tne candidates for the position of per-
manent Democratic leader of the Sen
ate to succeed the late Senator Thomas
S. Martin, of Virginia.
Should Senator Hitchcock be elected
advocates of q compromise believe that
an agreement would be delayed and
that negotiations could not be conclud-
ed for many weeks. Senator Hitchcock
has stepped in during the informal ne
gotiations that have been under way
nothing in the way Of a compromise
unless it first receives the sanction Of
President Wilson. The Republicans
have informed the Democrats that they
will not compromise on any such basis.
Plan to Hasten Action
Senator Underwood's election. Re-
publican friends of the treaty believe,
would hurry q compromise. The Ala
bama Senator has declared in the Sen
ate that he is willing to make an
agreement on any basis in order to
get the treaty ratified without more
delay and has informed his Democratic
colleagues that he believes the Senate
should act first after the Democrats
have secured the best bargains they
could Oh reservat tions, and then submit
the result to the President.
The leadership election will be close.
While both Senators claimed tonight
to have majority, neither appeared
to be overconfdent. and Republicans
who have watched the progress of the
contest declared that the result is in
doubt. Three or four Democratic SEN
ators who have not announced their
position will swing the result, the Re-
publicans said.
There was drift to-day toward
Underwood, because Of his stand on the
treaty situation, but the managers Of
his campaign would not claim any last
minute changes Of Hitchcock supporters
going over to him.
A studied effort will be made by the
Democ ratio Senators to keep the COM
promise negotiations from coming up
for discussion at the caucus. There
was almost unanimous prediction to-
day that the treaty will not be men
toned at the meeting.
Carter Glass, who has been appointed
to the Senate from Virginia, but VINO
has not yet left the position OF Secre-
tary of the Treasury to be sworn in for
his new duties, will attend the caucus
tomorrow and vote in the leadership
election Il Was said tn-niqht