New-York tribune., 1920-03-07
Rebuff of Democrats Who
Sought Conference Bee
lieved to Make Defeat
of Covenant Certain
Republicans Stand
Firm on Article x
President Said To Be Ir.
ritated by Hitchcock's
Effort at Compromise


From, The Taibune's washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 6.-Presis
dent Wilson to-day declined to asa
sumo sole responsibility for the fasS
of the treaty in the Senate, bua
through unofficial channels he pefe
mitted it to be stated that he wiz
not deposit ratification if the origts
nal Lodge reservation on Article X
is contained in the resolution Of
ratification.
The President will deposit rattle
cation, however, if the Senate adopte
the bipartisan conference reserva-
ton on Article X in place of the
Lodge reservation, it was authorita-
lively stated.
The result of the Presidents ac-
ton, while it brought CONSERVATION
to the Democrats in tho Senate for
a time to-day, is that the deadlock
still continues to exist, and there is
little hope that the treaty will be
ratified.
Action Declared Fatal
The only basis upon which tha
President will deposit ratification
that is, the acceptance Of the biz
partisan conference reservation by
the Republicans-is expected to
bring about the defeat Of the treaty
when the final vote is taken next
week. The sole remaining hope, UNI
less the President changes his posi-
tion-and he is not expected to do
so-is for the Republicans to surs
render, they declared to-day.
Senator Lodge in the Senate this af-
ternoon, after the Presidents action
had become known at the Capitol, de-
clared the Republicans never will con-
sent to any modification Of the princi-
pies of the Lodge reservation. Tho BIZ
partisan conference reservation, hs
said, would surrender those principles.
Senator Hitchcock, on behalf Of tbs
Democrats, then announced that they
would not vote for ratification with the
principles Of the Lodge reservation re-
tanned.
The President rebuffed the Democrat.
ic Senators who, in q letter sent to him
by Senator Hitchcock, had asked him
to confer with Senator Simmons OF
North Carolina with view Of holding
a formal conference with other Admins
lstration Senators on the treaty situa-
tion, when 1t was announced at the
White House that the Executive would
not discuss the treaty situation with
his followers in the Senate.
Ultimatum to Glass Stands
It was stated at the White House
that the President had told Senator
Glass. of Virginia, his attitude on rsti-
with him two or three weeks ago. Sem
ator Glass said the President had told
him very emphatically that he would
not deposit ratification If the Lodge
reservation was incorporated in tho
ratifying resolution. Asked If the
President would deposit ratification
with the bipartisan reservation that
forty Democratic Senators have signed
a pledge to support, Senator Glass saids
"It Is my conjecture that he would.
It Is only conjecture, however. The
1
would do. He told me what he would
not do. I am drawing my conclusion
from what he said he would not do"
The Presidents reply to Senator
Simmons's request for an interview
probably will be communicated to the
latter Monday. So far as the purpose
Of the Senator'S mission is concerned
1t was definitely indicated in official
circles to-day that the President re-
mains absolutely unyield!ng In his re-
fusal to accept the Lodge reservations.
His position, it was explained, had
been made clear to Senator Glass two
House, at which time the Presidents
reiterated that he would accept only
"interpretative" reservations, and that
he regarded the Lodge reservation to
Article Z az cutting at the heart Of the
treaty.
President Said to Be vexed
Incidentally it can be stated that the
President Is considerably nettled over
the reported efforts Of the Administra~
tion Senators, as he sees it, to shift
their responsibilities to his shoulders.
So far as he is concerned, It Is iadi-
Gated, he Is still willing to have tho
treaty fight carried over into the sIse-
tions.
The President is understood to bs
particularly displeased over the pub
lication Of the fact that Senator Hitch
cock had written him letter urging
that he grant the interview to Sena-
tor Simmons and comply with the sug-
gestion which the latter would make
for definite statement as to whether
he would pocket the treaty il passed
with the Lodge reservations.
Undertaking to justify the Rresi-
dents position with regard to the
Lodge reservation, former member
Of The American peace delegation ct
| Paris declared to-day that the Presi-
dent himself. In the Paris negotiations.
had made al the reservations that were
necessary to protect American sover-
eighty. Throughout these negotiations,
| this informant declared. the President
| was constantly impressing upon the
Allied REPRESENTATIVES that nothing
could be written into the treaty or the
league covenant which would in any
way ignore the fact that any obliga-
tion entered into by the United States