The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-13
SPLIT Of
BRYAN land WILSON
PEACE TREATY AID
Movement for Ratification
Given Stimulus in U. S.
Capital by Several Things.
May Hasten Action on Pact.
by DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent Of The News
ErAals~

Especial Correspondent Of The News
Seimitar.)
WASHINGTON. Dee. l3.-It's an i'll
wind that blows no good-and. survey
ing the situation created by the eN-
pressed difference of opinion between
President Wilson and William Jennings
Bryan on making the treaty campaign
issue, there Is no doubt that h total
effect has been 10 hasten rather than
rctard efforts toward a ratification Of
the pact.
Several things have combined t. give
a stimulus IN Washington TO the move
ment for ratification me is the news
nom abroad telling of the exchange Of
ratification between the allies and Ger
many and the establishment OF the
league Of nations.
Far from being a document that can
now be revised and rCframed TO meet
the wishes Of American senator's, It Is
now n choice between. American particl-
patton or isolation, and more than two
thirds u the senate favurs our Joining
the partnership that is to govern The
peace Of the world.
The fact that the United States is
outside for the time being whilst other
nations are going ahead with the job
Of operating the peace treaty has
brought a certain reaction. Nobody Is
wholly pleased with what has happened
not even the Battalion of Death, "
as the senators have been called who
favor the absolute rejection Of the
league-nor can look with satisfaction
on the uncertainty hat has arisen
abroad concerning the true intent Of
America in foreign policy.
Situation in Senate.
The situation In the senate resolves
itself into this; Democrats are ever
more active than before In trying to get
Il compromise. Many Republicans are
working tremendously with them To
reach an agreement on the reservations.
No new-found reverence for the views
Of William Jennings Bryan is RESPONSE
bic for the attitude of the Democrats.
but most Of them feel he hit the nail
on the head in his jackson day speech
and that he sized up public opinion
accurately.
As for the letter written by President
Wilson, his friends still insist hat II
Is not up to the president to take the
initiative in the compromise process,
and that he would stultify himself be-
fore foreign governments. II, after sign
ing a contract with them, he openly
receded from his position before the
senate acted.
They declare that whenever an Amer
lean program of reservations Is adopted
1t will become the duty of the president
to argue In favor OF acceptance of those
reservations. and that he must clearly
demonstrate to foteign government,
that he kept his w pledges In working
for the unqualified adoption Of the
peace treaty,
out reservations, II Mr.. Wilson mus
go before them with a plea for changes
because, while the preamble of thu
treaty Is going to be modified to elm
mate the necessity of a formal ex
change of notes between the allies ant
America on tho reservations. the United
States government will be obliged Il
obtain, nevertheless, the acqutesence o
the powers
Wilson's Future Duties.
Mr.. Wilson will be required, through
the secretary Of state, to plead 70
reservations or interpretations adopted
by the senate. II these constitute, II
effect, a rejection Of the treaty, the al
lies would refuse to exchange Tatifica
ton with the United States. TIL,
changes that are now being discussed
In the compromise conversations ar,
designed to make it possible for for
eign powers to accept Americas sig
nature without debate.
The president has heretofore sal
that, when the reservations are adopted
by the senate, he must know whethe
the senate has ratified or rejected tn
treaty. 1t Is possible for him not 4
decide that question himself. but to pu
it squarely before the European pow
ers.
one hears in the senate corridor
much talk about the impossibility o
compromise until Mr.. Wilson says wha
he will accept or reject. Those VIII
don't want to do business with tn
Democrats Of the compromising sort
insist on written credentials from tn
president himself, This is well-nigI
impossible. But the Democratic sena
tors know that, If the reservations d
not uullify the provisions of the treaty
Of course, the president will accep
them.
They are going ahead on that as
sumption and, in seeking to fix tn
responsibility, not for what has hap
pened in the treaty debate in tue past
but In the present, II will be intefestinI
TO watch how far the Republican lead
ers will go in insisting that Mr.. Wilson
underwritc everything the Democrats
senators offered in the way OF n com
nTOmiSc,