Evening star., 1920-02-08
Public Opinion Alone Thought
Able to Force Rati-
ficati0n.
PRESIDENT STILL FIRM
AGAINST LODGE PROGRAM
Most Sanguine Republicans Hope
Only for Change In
Phraseology.

"
many is taken up again in the Senate
tomorrow, the pact faces practically
the same deadlock under which II
went down on November 19 last. Only
the pressure of public opinion after
the treaty is again under considera-
tion can force ratification. it was said
last night.
President Wilson once more has held
up his hand to halt any move on the
part Of the democratic senators to
yield to the so-called Lodge reserva-
tions. A letter from him to Senator
Hitchcock, the administration leader
in the Senate, in which he reiterates
his objection to the Senate reservation
on article Y Of the league covenant
pledging the members of the league
to guarantee the territorial integrity
Of the other members of the league,
was read to the conference OF demo-
cratic senator's yesterday.
Yet Senator Lodge. the republican
leader, and other republicans have
said that this reservation must not be
changed. Even the most sangu1ne OF
the republicans-the mild reserva-
tionists-admit that only changes in
the phraseology Of the reservation
may be hoped for.
WOulA Chm Relations.
The Presidents letter was written to
Senator Hitchcock ten days ago, before
tho bipartisan conferences broke up.
Speaking of the reservation on article
x, proposed as q compromise at these
conferences. and which according to
hoA
aGreed upon, the President said:
TO the substance Of it, I. Of course.
adhere. am bound to. Like yourself,
I am solemnly sworn to obey and main
tain the Constitution of the United
States. but think the form Of it very
luton stating that the United States
assumes no Obligation under such and
such an article uniess or except would,
sam sure, chill our relationship with
the nations with which We expect to be
associated in the great enterprise of
naintaining the worils peace"
1t b true that the Presidents letter
was written before the viscount Grey
letter expressing the Willingness Of Lon
don to accept the Senate reservations
was published. But it is reported that,
instead Of causing the President to yield
in his attitude, the Grey letter has had
tie opposite effect
desiring ratification expressed the be-
lief that the Presidents letter does
not foreclose an agreement in the Sen
ate. They pointed out that for the
first time the President formally
states that he is willing to accept
reservations-the reservations pro-
posed by Senator Hitchcock just be-
fore the close OF the debate on the
treaty last session of Congress
One democratic senator said that
"once the cracking begins. the
avalanche may go all the way"
Back In Same Old Rut.
On the other hand. one of the mos,
ing the. situation, remarked: "The
treaty is back in the same old rut."
The so-called irreconcilables on the
republican side Of the chamber were
clearly jubilant over the situation
They believe that the President has
out Of the fire for them-that his let
ter will prevent ratification.
After the conference yesterday i,
was said that all the democratic SEN
ators present expressed a desire to
obtain some action on the treaty
stood that some vehemently 'eX-
pressed the opinion that the Senate
should go ahead and ratifY the
treaty with such reservations as they
could obtain without further refer.
ence of the matter to the President
may bolt-in fact, have said they
will do so-it is believed that enough
will stand by Senator Hitchcock anG
the President to prevent ratification
of the treaty with the Senate reser'
vati0ns practically intact.
Tho only decision reached at yes.
terdays conference was to cooper.
ate IN. the parliamentary action nee
essary TO reopen the question of rati
ficatioh and to work for an accepta
what sort of compromise should b'
considers ed acceptable was debated
in the light of varying interpreta
tions of the Presidents letter, bu
there was no attempt to frame
definite reservation program.
No Change Indicated.
Senator Hitchcock declared no chang,
in the democratic attitude was indicat
ed, either by the letter or the proceed
ings Of the conference. The democrati,
Senate forces remained determined. N
said, not to accept the republican articl,
X reservation unless it were modified.
The Hitchcock Reservations.
The Hitchcock reservations to which
the President formally gave his approva
follow:
That the government OF the United
States understands and interprets thi.
treaty as follows:
That any member nation proposing
TO withdraw from the league on tive
years notice is the sole judge as Il
whether its obligations referred to il
article ] of the league of nations hav,
been performed as required in sait
article.
That no member nation is required
10 submit to the league, its council o.
its assembly. for decision. report o.
recommendation, any matter which j
considers to be in international Law
domestic question. such as immigra
tion, labor, tariff, or other matter re
lating to it's internal or coastwis
affairs.
That the national policy of tn
United States. known as the Monro
doctrine, as announced and interprete
by the United States. is not in an,
way impaired or affected by the cove
nant of the league of nations and i
not subject to any decision. report. o
inquiry by the council Or assembly
Free to Accept or Reject.
That the advice mentioned in ar
tfcle x of the covenant of the leagu
which the council may give to tn
member nations as to the employ
ment Of their naval and militar
forces is merely advice which eac
member nation is free to accept o
reject according to the conscience an
judgment Of it's then existing govern
ment, and in the United States thi
advice can only be accepted by actio
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