The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-05-12
DEMOCRATS BEGIN
ATTACK ON c. O.P.
PEACE RESOLUTION
Senator Hitchcock, Of Me-
braSka, Releases 0ratoriCaI
BrOadside at - Measure.
Says 1t Is Futile.

WASHINGTON, May 12.--Demo-
cratic attacks upon the Republican
peace resolution was launched today
by Senator Hitchcock oil Nebraska, ad-
inlhiStration spokesman, who declared
in addressing the senate that the meas
ure was futile and inconsistent and in
imical to the treaty of Versailles.
The mountain has labored and
brought morth~a mouse he said4 The
peace resolution is before us. 1t is
not exactly still born, but its feeble
character suggests disturbed gesta =
tion and q dubious future.
Great expectations for an act of
congress that would force a peace set
tlement are to be disappointed: High
hopes that resolution by congress
could be made to perform the functions
OF peace treaty are abandoned. In
stead of peace settlement to be forced
by resolution of mandatory require
ments as the price of severing COM
mercial relations, we are merely to re-
peal the war declaration, declare. the
war at an end and invite the president
to negotiate a separate peace"
Mr.. Hitchcock cited three similar
resolutions which he said had been
sponsored since last November by
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, the
Republican leader, and Senator Knox
Of Pennsylvania, author Of the pending
resolution. The latter, Mr.. Hitchcock
said, Is the fifth peace resolution Of
fered by the Republican leadership.
In reaching this important conclu-
sion, he said, of the pending measure,
"the supporters Of the novel plan have
staggered from side to side over a
zig-zag course for nearlysix months"
Congress Lacks Authority.
Senator Hitchcock denied that con-
gress has power to make peace, al
though it has authority to declare war.
The states voted unanimously against
give congress peace making jurisdic-
ton, he said. -
Senator Knox's recent argument that
the war actually was at an end was
dismissed summariy by Mr.. Hitchcock,
who conceded the point and asked
Then why this resolution? Hostilities
ceased Is months ago, and our army
was promptly demobilized and reduced
to peace basis. Since that time COM
merce has been resumed, We have
sold hundreds of millions OF dollars
worth Of products to Germany and
purchased much from herr The war
which the senator from Pennsylvania
proposes to end by this resolution does
not by his own admission exist. His
able argument and historical citations
prove that it ended many months
ago.
what then is the. senator from Penn
sylvania attempting to do by this
measure, which he calls resolution
to terminate the war? He is making an
utterly futile and hopelesS attempt to
make a peace settlement with Ger
many to take the place OF the Versailles
treaty"
The pending resolution. Mr.. Hitch
cock asserted, was chiefly the work
OF Senator Knox, although it abandons
some of the proposals in his earlier at
tempts at a peace resolution"
Instead of declaring peace" he
darIarao a
war at an end. Thus we have raised
the interesting distinction between de-
claring peace and declaring war at
end. What is the difference?
THE peace resolution adopted by
the house last month was denounced,
especially by Mr.. s. Hitchcock, because
Of its proposals for an embargo against
Germany within As days, in event OF
German objections to the resolution,
and it's provision for reserving rights
under the treaty.
I'm the house resolution" he said,
1--WE demand the benefits Of the treaty
which we have refused to ratify."
Reviewing the. course of other peace
resolutions, Mr.. Hitchcock said a pre-
vious resolution by Senator Knox was
abandoned on the senate doorstep,
like its predecessors.
But the effort to do something to
escape from the constitutional method
of making peace was not abandoned
he continued Something had to be
done. Intransigent statesmen who had
refused all efforts to reach an agree
ment or compromise on the peace
treaty felt the growing responsibility. ="
House Republicans. Mr.. Hitchcock
charged were.-~Caled into conference
and the house action arranged, although
he declared that the house never had
been permitted a voice in peace pro.
ceedings previously Upon receipt OF
the house resolution by the senate,
however, Mr.. Hitchcock said, there was
a sudden change OF plans and the pres
ent resolution was drafted as futile
nlan for Republican Endorsement.