Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-06
' ! PARTY CONFERENCE
REME TREATY DEBATE
TO BE RESUMED SOON
Oenocrats Prepare for Action When
~ Pact Comes Hack to SEN
ate Floor.
ny A.s,n,n,.dp,.-1

~ 0ASHINGTON, Feb 5.--Plans OF the
setca. treaty debate hogan 10 take form,
IsSdEy. although II was said there prob
|a5lz would be no final decision as 20
|thetNtreaty actually is called M. for
reconsideration Monday. Senator Hitch
feock, the acting Democrats leader, re-
IIurnfng to washington after 4 weeks
|absencc. called party conference for
saturday to consider some OF the points
likely to be raised when the treaty
Republican side there were numerous
consultations among the leaders. but 1t
|IsIpdications today that the influence
|Sf President Wilson might again he
1sls in the Senatt controversy dcvelopcd
ties but there her o1 waa 'G nothinE to reveal
how active part he might play when
the figh. is rsnewed in the OPEN !,
Democratic Senator'S. and the Renuhl-
i nt s deeline9 9't TO- discuss discus that
letter setting forth the executives
views on compromise reservations had
been sent to the Democratic leader.
Consider Grey'S Letter.
The White House also took notice
during the day of the recently pub
lished letter of Niscount Grey, former
british ambassador to the United states.
In regard to reservations. officials close
to the President indicating unoticially
that they felt the ordinary diplomatic
this government be consulted before
such a document was made public.
While taking the position that they did
White House officials said there was no
foundation in fact for reports that the
president knew or the Grey Aettcr prior
Reports that the letters publication
had led to diplomatic representations
ever. at the State Department. where
officials declared there had been no
exchanges, regarding i either before
AmonE senators the. Grey letter con
tinued subject Of widespread DISCUS.
sion, apparently foTeeasting that It
weeks debate.
VIII Refer Bill to Committee.
i Although there has been no formal ma
chanicaI process OF getting the treaty
back before the Senate. II Is expected
both sides that %hen .h IS oI asn
Relations COMMITTEES, which immedi-
stely will report 1t withou: any at
step. it was explained. will be merely
a technical one in order to get the
trYaty. out from under the cl.trre at.
committee reports, senator Lodge. or
Miii move the adoption nf Of reserva;ons
which are Yet to be decided on by the
Republican Senators. lie may present
the original Republican reservations
adopted at the last session OF Con-
gress, but some of his advisers want
him to submit in their place the modi-
fled draft as far AS it was agreed on by
the disrupted bipartisan compromise
ION the Democratic side, it is said.
the procedure will not be determined
until the plan OF the Republicans Is
revealed, although some points may
be settled at Saturdays meeting. The
reservations OF the compromise COM
mittce, II is expected, will in any case
form the basis OF the Democratic pro-
gram.
VIII Not Limit Debate.
Unless all present indications fail
the treaty debate will begin without
any. limitation on debate. The question
of a modified cloturc was taken up to-
day at meeting of the rules COM
mfttea. but the only action was refer
Snee or the whole subject TO a subcom-
mfttee which does not expect to act
until after the treaty cons lie ration Is
we'll under way. II the debate runs
away with the leaders, however. It is
believed that some effort Will be made
later to get cloture.
Some Senators believe that the re-
ported letter from the President to
Senator Hitchcock may be laid before
the Democratic conference Saturday
on the trend OF the treaty fight. In
Democratic quarters. however. there
was no confirmation of the report. and
the White House remained silent re-
garding the Presidents Droba Bile