Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-06
Editorial Comment
The Compromise
portland Press

portland PreSsp
When the Senate convenes today 1t
is probable that steps will be taken to
effect a compromise on the treaty.
There would be more certainty of this
had the Democratic leaders had any
encouragement from the President.
He has not made any effort to confer
| with the leaders Of his party in the
Senate, nor intimated that he would
favor an effort to find some common
grounds upon which the treaty could
be ratified.
| There are some members of both
parties who still oppose compromise.
These wish to make the ratification
Of the treaty an issue in the ap-
preaching presidential campaign. 1t
is possible that the President. having
third term in mind, may be inf1u-
enced by the same desire. But the
majority of the senators Of both par
ties are sincere in their desire to
eliminate the treaty, as a partisan
question and to deal with it on it's
merits. In the end this element in
F.! the Senate will undoubtedly prevail.
1t is in accord with the wishes Of the
most Of the people.
| To bring about Il compromise it is
evident that concessions must be
! made on both sides. The Lodge res
ervations will be accepted as the ba-
sis for ratification. American inter-
! ests will be safeguarded in any event,
although the language in which the
reservations are made may be modi-
fled. The preamble. of the. Lodge
resolutions, for example. will quite
likely be changed. Instead Of requir-
ing the acceptance Of three of the
four powers concerned, the accep-
, lance of two will be substituted. So
far as Article X is concerned. it is
said that modification in the reserva-
lions may be necessary. The Lodge
reservations specifically declares that
, the United States assumes no obliga-
ton to preserve the territorial inte-
gritty Of other nations. The Demo-
| Gratis insist that the obligation be
admitted. It may be that compro-
mise may be reached by changing
the reservation so that it shall re-
main with Congress to finally decide
"AC@bCt tio CHitSO oldteS assumes
the obligation in each specific case.
AS to the Shantung provision of the
treaty, it may be that all reference to
China and Japan in the resolution
will be eliminated. This will amount
to the same thing as Withholding the
assent Of the United States to it and
leave this country free at any time to
act in the matter.
The Democrats will strenuously OBJ
pose the Lenroot resolution with ref
erence to the voting power Of Great
Britain In the league. The President
is believed to be opposed to this be-
cause under it's provision Canada and
Australia are disenfranchised. 1t is
likely that this particular reserva-
ton may be somewhat changed, pre-
venting any Of the votes of Great
Britain from being effective when
disputes arise in which she is con-
cerned, but otherwise giving her CO.
lonial dominions equal powers with
other countries.
or course there will be a prolonged
and probably bitter fight to accom-
plish these results. The several fac
tons in the Senate are likely to en-
gage in efforts to force their will
upon the others, while some senator's
will make long speeches upon those
questions merely to let themselves
down easy SO far as their constitu-
ents are concerned. In the end, how
ever, providing the President does