Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-08
WILSON VOICES OPPOSITION
REVIEWS HIS OBJECTIONS
TO PACT RESERVATIONS
senator Hitchcock Makes Public Cor
rchpOndcnce He Had with
the President.
1py Associated Prexr.l


publican majority of the Senate, fur
nishcd the basis OF an earnest discus
sion today In conference OF Demo-
cratic Senators. called TO consider what
course tho treaty's friends should pur-
sue when ii again comes before the
Tho only decision reached was to
corporate in tho parliamentary action
necessary to reopen the question OF
ceptablc compromise on reservations.
Just what sort OF compromise should
be considered acceptable was debated
N tho light OF varying interpretations
Of the Presidents letter. but there was
no attempt to frame u definite reservat
ION program.
Fears chill of Relationship.
striking directly ut the Republican
reservation on Article y. and various
PROPOSED substitutes, the President
wrote that amy reservation which eaid
thut the United states assumes no OBJ
itgaton under such and such an ar
10 chill" tbs relationship between THIS
country aud the other powers. a sub
aiming this language, which had been
under consideration by the recently
1isbanded bipartisan compromise com
nittce. the President wrote. was very
unfortunate" in form, though he agreed
With it's substance.
The letter Was written on January
ton OF he letter Of Viscoun, Grey.
uaited state ttsss" on the sasceeeptabi,y Of
The Republican reservation. Il was
addressed TO Senator Hitchcock. OF Ne
hrasla. the Dcmocratiu leader Of the
~onstc. who laid IL before the confer
cn:c today.
Wide disagreement was revealed in
nc conference and in private discus
sion among Senator'S regarding the
probaoie effect OF the communication
Some Interpreted Tho letter az merely
i rei,cration OF tho views previously
others s'I protested -" to see in it ten
dency toward compromise.
Comparing IL with former utterances
Of tho President. these Senator'S point
ed out that u contained no statement
hat he consdGred the language quoted
as nullifyins the treaty OF constituting
No Change Is Indicated.
Senator Hitchcock declared no change
Gated either by the letter or tho pro-
c.edinss OF the conference. The Demo-
cratic Senate forces remained deter
nincd, he said not TO accept the Re
publican Article Y. reservation unless
u were modified.
In some quarters Significance was
seen In tho fact that the letter OF the
President was written four days before
The bipartisan negotiations collapsed
following the refusal OF tho Repueii-
cans to consider modification OF the
reservations relating to Article y. and
he Monroe Doctrine. 1t was suggested
that the rcstatemcnt OF the Presidents
attitude might have had weight with
the Democratic confcrccs In agreeing
20 transfer the whole night again into
the senate.
BESIDES Article ". tho President
touched on tho reservations respect
ing withdrawn and mandatories, say
ing he had no objection 10 quaiihca-
lions on these ubjects. He also gave
his approval Of the Interpretive reser-
Atoms presented BY senator Hitch,
cock Just before the treaty failed Of
ratification last November.
Letter Written by Hitchcock
The letter was made puplc by SEN
ator Hitchcock in the following state
lncnt:
'.The Presidents letter. dated January
80 was called forth by letter which
] wrote him on the evening OF the day
in which the bipartisan conference
n Senator Lodges office came so near
20 agreeing TO rsserv.uon on Article
My Dear sir. President:
The conferences between Lodge
and his three associates and myself
and four Democratic senator's have now
reached the sixth day.
ION Article Y. the EFFORT TO reach
=, compromise has nov reached stage
~here both sides are seriously con
sidered in position as Indicated by
the Enclosed clipping.
eve resume consideration OF ~ TO-
MORROW afternoon.
&c NJ. HITCHCOCK
The clipping referred to In the let
,ers was the following proposed com
promise reservation on Article X:
Refers to Obligation.
THE United States assumed no oei!-
cation 10 employ It's military or naval
forces or the economic boycott to pre-
serve the territorial integrity or po-
ltca' irdere ndehce OF any other coun-
or to employ the military or. naval
article OF the treaty for any purpose,
unless in any particular case the Con-
Gress. which, under the Constitution,
~ n
authorize the employment OF the mill,
,ary or naval forces OF tho United
States, shall by act or joint re ssn', on
deemed to impair the obligation In Rule
IS concerning the economic boycott"
The reservations which the Presi.
dent refers TO as mine were the FIVE
reservations, which l presented to the
senate November. ls. after they had
been approved by the 49,. pem rs.sivad
II votes.
Letter written by President.
The Presidents letter follows:
"26th January, 1870.
my dear Senator Hitchcock:
Il have greatly appreciated your
thoughtful kindness In Keeping me IN,
and some OF your colleagues have had
with spokesman of the Republican,
@ hs treaty tns Of peace
send this line in special appreciative
acknowledgment OF your letter OF the
ina. return the chipping you "e'e
ITO the substance OF 1t I. OF course,
adhere. am bound to. Like yourself.
am solernnly sworn TO obey and
maintain the Constitution OF tho
Tpred States. But think the form
~ It very unfortunate. Any reserva-
SHr or e., resolution stating that the
on Her such and such an article unless
o. ,Xcept' would; 1 am sure. chill our
which we expect to be associated in
y the great. enterprise OF maintaining
the worlds peace.
Association Serious One
THAT a ss0eiat i, must in any case.
and far-reachnE Implications OF honoS
and duty, which sh , am sure we shall
it is the moro important not to " crents
Tho impression that we arc trying to
"But ! realize that negative crit,-
cism IS not all that Is called for in
be able to add. therefore, that / have W
onco moro gone over the reservations