The New York herald., 1920-01-11
Republicans Unwilling to Take
Up Treaty Until NebraSkan'S
Strength Is Known.
NEXT MOVE RESTS
WITH DEMOCRATS
Must Show Enough Support for Com
promise Before Negotiations Will
Be Resumed.
By DONALD A. CRAIG.
Herald Bureau,
No. 1902 II Street, n. W.,
Washington, ID. g., Saturday.

Washington, ID. g., Saturday.
Before another serious effort is made by
the Republicans in the Senate to reach an
require definite showdown between the
Democrats who are willing to take the
advice of William J. Bryan and accept in
substance the Republican reservations, ana
those who intend to support the stubborn
position of President Wilson against any
compromise.
The situation was presented in that form
to the Democrats today after a confer
ence hetween Senator Lodge, of Massachu-
setts, chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee, and three of the Republican
mild reservationists"-S Lenroot,
of Wisconsin; McNary, of Oregon, and
Colt. OF Rhode Island
Senator Lodge, as the Republican leader,
is unwilling to permit the treaty to come
again before teh Senate unless he is as
sured that sixty-four. Senator'S have
agreed upon basis, of ratification. The
Republican leaders do not place much
faith in the statements of some of the
Democratic wouldhe coinpromisers that
they can command enough votes for rati-
fication.
The meeting of Senator Lodge with the
three Republican mild reservationists' this
afternoon was the most important confer
ence on the treaty held since the dramatic
end of the debate last November. 1t was
preceded by a conference between Senat tor
Lodge and Senator Underwood, Democrat
OF Alabama, who agreed to a still further
postponement of his resolution for the ap-
pointment of a conciliation committee
] Il 1sN.ar NI.l
Democrats.
Move to Test Democratic Sincerity.
The decision of the Republican leaders
to demand a Democratic showdown OF
the treaty is n shrewd move to test their
willingnessNto accept the Lodge reserva-
tions, and, in case they fail to do that, tc
place the blame for further delay squarely
at the door President Wilson and his
loyal supporters in the Senate
Senator's Colt and McNary were selected
to lay the matter before the Bryan Demo
Gratis. Late this afternoon they met will
Senators McKellar, Of Tennessee, ant
Kendrick, of Wyoming, who are sponsors
of the Bryan reservation programme pre-
sented to the mild reservationists' sew
eral days ago.
These two Democratic Senators were in
formed that Senator Lodge is willing t
make two or three minor concessions from
the Republican programme, in order to OBJ
tain early ratification of the treaty, al
though he is not willing to accept tn,
Bryant cKellar-Ke Kendrfck scheme as
stands. They weer asked to canvass thei
side carefully and report back to the Re
publican emissaries what they could guar
antee in the way of votes for compro
mise scheme which would embody the sub
stance of the Lodge reservations, especial
Ily the reservation on Article Y of tn
League covenant.
Little Real Hope of Agreement.
! None Of the Republicans except a few
Of the mild reservationists" has any rea
hope of an-early agreement on the treaty
because they cannot discover enough vote
on the Democratic side to make up tn
necessary two-thrds of the number 81
long as the irreconcilables of both parties
sixteen in number, are willing to vote 70
the treaty even with the Lodge reserva
tons.
But the policy of the Republican leader
will be to dangle before the Democrats th
Lodge reservation programme as the onll
hope OF notifications and continue to ex
press their willingness to talk "compro
mise" for the sake Of saving the treaty
They well know, and so do the Democrats
that there will be no ratification withou
the Lodge reservations. ana such Trims
| as n real compromise Is out OI lHc queS
ton. especially since Mr. Bryan has de
clared so emphaticallv in favor OF thu
Lodge reservation to Article y. OF thu
covenant which is regarded as the mos
vital in the whole treaty.
Nothing short OF q complete surrender
to the Republican reservations, with jus
enough verbal changes to save the fac,
of the Democrats. can come out Of the
present tangIe. and the Democratic leaders
know it That would mean a bolt Of
twenty-nine Democratic Senators from thu
leadership of Mr.. Wilson-something tina
is now only a remote possibility
Hard TO Follow both.
"The trouble is remarked a Demo.
cratic Senator, chat we are finding II
very difficult TO follow Mr.. Bryan and
not oppose the President at the same SINE
But we have some very hopeful Senators
on our side and they are still trying &c
accomplish the seemingly impossible"
The initiative in the treaty negotiations
has now passed entirely from the Re.
publicans to the Democrats. There was a
very noticeable reaction against MIR VIII.
son today and evidence of increased Demo.
cratic impatience over being forced tc
carry tho burden for the President. But
while this feeling Is shared by all OF tho
<s-..ss...a au Pare TNo. Col. Three.)