New-York tribune., 1920-02-08

tary OF naval forces OF the united
States under any article Of the treaty
ticular case the Congress, which under
the Constitution has the sole power
to declare war or authorize the en-
ployment Of the military or naval
forces Of the United States, shall by
act or joint resolution 80 provide.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to
impair the obligation in Article XVI
concerning the economic boycott
1.-THE reservations which the Presi-
dent refers to as mine were the Ave
reservations which presented to the
Senate November 10 after they had
been approved by the Democratic
caucus. In the Senate they received
forty-one votes"
Lodge Rejected Hitchcock Idea
The reservation on Article X quoted
by Senator Hitchcock was written By
him and proposed to the Republicans
in the bipartisan conference as com.
to-day, was on the point Of agreeing
to it, when the "irreconcilables" met
in the Office Of Senator Johnson, OF
California, after which Senator Lodge
informed Senator Hitchcock that he
could not accept the reservation, and
that he would not compromise his own
reservation. The "irreconcilabies" re-
garded the Presidents letter to-day az
q declaration that Mr.. Wilson was will
ing to compromise on every point exc
cept the principal one, Article X.
The fight between the Republicans
under Senator Lodge and the President
over Article K all along has been over
the form Of reservation, It was stated.
1ofn
insisted that the reservation specif-
cally declares that the United States
assume no obligation under the article,
while the Presidents followers in the
Senate have sought to have the reser-
walton read that the United States rec
Ognized the obligation unless Congre IS
should decide otherwise.
Wilson Statement Fcreshadowed
When the President conferred with
the Foreign Relations Committee at
the White House last summer he made
statement similar to that contained
told the Senators at that time that he
had no reason to fear that the other
nation would ask the United States to
assume the obligation under Article X
unless Congress so should decide at the
time. He told the Senators that there
was no legal obligation involved for the
United States to employ its military or
naval forces to preserve the territorial
integrity or political independence of
any other nation, because the Constitu-
tion of the United States gave Congress
sole power to decide when that should
be done. Ha insisted, however, that the
article in the league covenant did bind
the United States by a moral obliga-
ton, and a moral obligation, he told
the Senators, was stronger than legal
obligation.
Senator Lodge and his associates
have contended that the moral obliga-
tion will exist unless a reservation de-
claring that the United States assumes
no obligation is adopted.
"Mild" Senator's for Compromise
The mild reservationists" on the
Republican side moved to-day to have
the Lodge reservation on Article x
compromised. They had conference
while the Democratic caucus was in
session, and later presented to Sena-
tor Lodge three modified drafts of the
Lodge reservation and asked Senator
Lodge to accept one Of them. They
were written by Senators Lenroot, Of
Wisconsin,; Kellogg, Of Minnesota, and
others, following the failure Of the
UApdIIlSdu COulSXcuC0 W AkI00 upon
compromise reservation. The proposed
substitute reservations retain the
principle Of the Lodge reservation, but
are worded differently.
Senator Lodge told the mild reser.
vationists" that he would show theil
proposal to the "middle ground" Re.
publican Senators, who favor ratifca
tion with strong reservations, and il
the middle ground group would ac-
nvt nf <Eo
he would accept it himself.
The mild reservationists" also told
Senator Lodge that they would deal
only with the Republicans and that
they would not join with the Demo
crats in any compromise plan.
Lodges Intentions Secret
Senator Lodge is keeping his plans
secret, and the Senators on no side
tonight know whether he will propose
ratification of the treaty with modified
reservations or with his original res.
ervations
Senator Hitchcock prevented a revolt
IN the Democratic caucus to-day by in
Slstlng that Democrats make no plans
whatever until after Senator Lodges
plans are known. A large group o1
Democrats, however, are prepared tc
vote for modified Lodge reservations
regardless Of the Presidents attitude
During the caucus Senator Simmons, OF
North Carolina, heretofore an Admin.
ittration' follower; Senator McKellar
OF Tennessee, and others declared the
democrats must accept whatever res
c1vations they can get from the Re-
publicans. Failure to ratify the treaty
under the present circumstances. thew
declared, would fix the responsibility
Tor the defeat of the treaty on the
Dem mocrsts.
VIII Help to Recall Treaty
Discussing the Democratic caucus
Senator Underwood, Of Alabama. said !:
"The truth is that the conference
did little except to receive the letter
from President Wilson that Senator
Hitchcock presented. It was agreed
that we would stand by Mr.. Lodge in
his efforts to get the treaty before tho
Senate: That means that when he
makes hts motion to suspend the rules
and later to re-refer the treaty with in.
structions for an immediate report we
Will vote with him to do 1t. But that
is as far as we got, except to talk. and
am not at liberty to say what was
involved in the talk.
II was asked to make a statement Of
the parliamentary status Of the meas
ure and did SO. I pointed out that 1t
was necessary to refer the treaty back
to the committee in order to get rid
Of cloture. 1t Is quite impossible to
arrange a Democratic program until
we know what Senator Lodge will pro-
pose when the measure comes back
from, rnm m iffaa Wa ora not iufnr,c al