Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-02-02
bRIT0NS WILLING
TO ACCEPT TREATY
WITH ITS CHANGES
Lord Grey, in Letter, Indicates
Reservations Are Not Objected
T O by His Government.
HAS FAITH IN AMERICA
From today's New York Times.

From todays New York Times.
Washington, Feb. IA profound
impression has been created in Washing
ton by the letter of Viscount Grey Of
Falloden, Special Ambassador of Great
Britain to the United States, in which
he gives his impressions of American
sentiment concerning the League of Ma
tons covenant.
While Lord Grey asserts that his OBJ
scrvations regarding the American atti-
tidc represent only his own personal
opinion and are simply given AS those
Of private individual, there is the strong
est belief here that before publishing
his letter he submitted il to the London
Foreign Office and members of the British
Cabinet.
Republican Senators who have been in
the thick of the treaty fight asserted
that the Grey letter merely confirmed
them in what they had known for some
time. namely, that Britain and France
would be willing to have the United
States enter the League on its own terms
and with the Lodge reservations rs re-
ported from the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations. Democrats generally
were reticent, but were inclined to re-
gard the letter as likely to become an
important factor in the present effort 70
While il is too early to correctly gauge
the ultimate effect of the Grey letter, it
is asserted by reservationists that it opens
q way for the President TO reach q COM
promise with the Republicans of the
Senate over the League project, and
that if he should fail to avail himself of
this opportunity, the effect should be 10
strengthen the fight for the defeat of the
treaty unless the Lodge reservations were
accepted.
Careful canvass OF the situation in the
HIGHT of Lord Grey's written revelation
that he would be willing to accept the
treaty with tho Lodge reservations de-
veloped some very important facts which
would probably not have been disclosed
at this time but for the publication Of the
Special Ambassadors letter. One of the
most striking developments here tonight
Is the fact that many Senators were found
who were as familiar with the position of
Lord Grey as if he had not written his
letter to Tho London Times. One Sena-
tor after smother was found who stated
that he had been In conference with Lord
Grey In connection with the latter's eff
forts to obtain a correct voice Of Anieri-
can sentiment toward the treaty and the
League project.
Lord Grey, If was learned, had many
informal talks, no with a few, but with
many Senators. Il. talked with Repub-
lican and Democratic Senators and with
men of varying shades of sentiment ON
the treaty. While many Senators tonight
stated that they had engaged IN conference
with Lord Grey, individual Senators did
not care, for reasons OF their own, TO he
quoted 70 that effect, though there were
Senators who did not object TO the fact
10 lax thrrx be- 81
conferences. Lord Grey talked with the
leaders of both SIDES, including Senators
Lodge and Hitchcock, as well as with
others not quite so prominent In the fight.
SHOWED LLOYD GEORGE MESSAGE.
II is learned that LLOYD Grey himself
made it very plain to different Senators
that the British Government was will
ing 10 accept with reservations, and
even the Lodge reservations, which have
served as the basis for the treaty fight
In the Senate. would be acceptable to
the British Government. Lord Grey
was IN close touch with the British Foreign
Office while he was sounding the Sena-
tors, and u can he stated that TO some
Senators he has exhibited At least one
telegram from Premier LLOYD George In
which the latter indicated the Lodge
reservations As voted on the Senste on the
closing days of the special session would
n accepted by the British Government.
From different Senators IL Is learned
that Lord Grey took the same position
that he has set, forth so clearlv IN his
letter IL IS learped that Lord Grey msde
II plain that neither he nor his Govern
nasnt were concerned over the Monroe
Doctrine reservation, nor worried about
the famous reservation under Article Y
of the League convenant, and 10 fact |
thst the only one Of sll the Lodge reeerva- |
tlons that Was represented by the special |
Ambassador was occasioninC real concern |
WAS that known 81 Reservation No IA, |
dealing with the votes OF the British colo /
MES IN the League assembly. So far As
England herself WAS concerned, the /
various Senators gathered from their
talks with Lord Grey, she WAS not wor-
rie6 about Reservation No. II, but IL
was feit that u might give rise to some
difficulty IN the self-governIng domin-
IONS OF the British Empire If they wen.
deprived OF their votes Ia the League
assembly. In his letter Lord Grey makes
II plain that the British object h 10 main
tam the status OF self-governing dominions
and mot TO secure a greater British than
American vote. and we have no objection
In principle TO increase of the American
vote. Lord Creys suggestion In this re-
sp-ct Is interpreted as pointing the way for
bringing about an amendment of the
League project So as TO meet the American
objection of the SIX to one vote plan and
az the same time satlsfyIn the domin-
IONS IN the British Empire.
WILLING TO TRUST Us.
Despite the bitterness and vigor with
which the fight has been waged in the