The Washington herald., 1920-02-06
SENATE FIGHT
ON TREATY TO
COME MONDAY
Lodge Will Move Suspen-
sion of Rules to Bring
Issue to Floor.
GREY LETTER SCORED
Reed Says Ambassador S
Passports Should be
Cancelled.
GREY LETTER SCORED

ySSAFhudS preparing AOi TIC hhi
pending treaty fight. which will be
preeipitated Monday. when Senator
Lodge moves suspension of rules
so reservations to the treaty may
be taken up in the open Senate.
There were several important de-
yelOpments in the treaty situation
during the day.
Administration Leader Hitchcock
returned from Nebraska and issued
call for a Democratic caucus Sat-
urday. which will be attended. as
the Nebraska Senator expressed 1t.
by friends" of the treaty. with a
view of agreeing upon a definite
and concerted plan to be followed
by the Democrats when the treaty
comes up on the floor.
Hitchcock had barely reached
Omaha when the events which fol-
lowed publication of the letter
written by Lord Grey with light
ning-like rapidity caused the Ne
braska leader to return Immediate
ly to Washington.
"IrrrconcIIabIes- Meet.
Ten of the ''irreconcilablcs" met
in Senator JOhnson's Office yester-
day afternoon and discussed action
they probably will take When
they learned the Democrats will
caucus tomorrow they postponed
action until then. hoping to know
more definitely by that time Just
what the Lodge program is to be.
Republican National Chairman
win II. Hays held a lengthy con-
ference with Senator Lodge. Hays
would make no statement concern
ing the object of his talk with the
Republican leader.
While the cali issued yesterday by
Senator Hitchcock for tomorrow's
meeting OF the Democrats was spoken
of as a conference to be attended only
ny democratic friends of the treaty,
IL will in reality be a Democratic eau
GUS The policy to be followed by the
Democrats and the extent to which
they will yield toward compromises
viii he fought out. II was said yester-
day that President Wilson is expected
10 communicate his attitude garding
The Grey letter situation generally to
ftS followers at tomorrow's confer
ence.
"a present Democratic Senators are
in 4 quandry as to how to vote on the
final question of the Lodge reserva-
ttOnS. and are eagerly waiting for
some word from the White House
which will help them out of their
dilemma.
When Senator Hitchcock reached
Washington yesterday he found the
Democrats badly disorganized. with
many of the most staunch administra-
tion followers wavering i'm their al
leEiance and disposed toward accept
hg the Lodge reservations. After
calling a number Of disgruntled ones
together. Senator Hitchcock announc-
ed that in his opinion the Grey letter
will have little or no effect upon the
Senate on its final action on the
treaty
However. several administration
Senators have already broken away
from the Hitchcock traces. and there
are several others who would openly
announce their intention of voting
for the Lodge reservations were they
not bound by their pledge made in
party caucus when the treaty first
came up for consideration.
Reports were current yesterda Y
that an Official announcement w..
BE- forthcoming shortly from II
British government disavowing
n VaN
In case such action Is not taken
and Great Britain allows the i'm
preston to prevail that Lord Grey's
letter reflected British official opin-
ion number OF Senators predicted
that President Wilson may send a
letter to senate Democrats TeafTirm-
ing the position taken by him in
his letter read at tho Jackson Day
dinner here several weeks ago.
This. il is believed. would result
in the total defeat OF the treaty
and automatically throw il as an
issue in the impending Presidential
campaign. should the President re-
main silent. II was freely predicted
yesterday in both Democratic and
Republican circles, the treaty will
be ratified within ten days or lgs
with the Lodge reservations ap-
pended.
Lansing Denies Reports.
Secretary Lansing denied reports
that President Wilson through DIR.
Crayson. his physician. had asked
him to protest to Great Britain at
Lord Grey's action. declaring that
he knew nothing or heard moth
ing concerning the Presidents atti-
tude on the matter.
That there is a real division in
the Democratic ranks was indicated
Yesterday by Senator Hitchcock
himself when he admitted that there
is much difference of opinion among
the Democrats and that there are
several who favor unconditional sur
render to the Lodge forces Many
Senators favor a compromise" he
said. but there are not very many
who are In favor of a surrender.
Acceptance of the Lodge reserya-
tions would be a surrender"
So far the treaty program in the
Senate is this: Senator Lodge will
on Monday move to suspend the
Senate rules in order that the treaty
may be taken up. His motion re-
quirs a two-thirds vote for passage.
and il II is defeated Senator Hitch
cock on the day following will offer
a motion calling the treaty up for
debate, which requires only a ma
jority vote. 4
In anticipation of this action,
again opening up the floodgates of
oratory the Senate Rules Committee
met yesterday to consider two
amendments to the Senate cloture
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.