Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-12
SENATORS AIM TO
END TREATY FIGHT
At AN EARLY DATE
Twenty Democrats Join With Re
publicans in Conference and
Discuss Compromise.
SEEK WILSON'S APPROVAL

Washington. JAN 12.--Twenty Demo
crat members of the Senate met in infor na !
conference at the apartments of Senator
Robert l.. Owen of Oklahoma, at the Alta
mont last night for discussion of methods
bv which a compromise on reservations,
interpretative of the Treaty of Versailles
might be reached such as would command
the votes of SiXty-four members of the
Senate, and in the belief that in such a
compromise adjustment can be reached.
President Wilson may be prevail d upon
TO accept them and dispose of the treaty
uues ton without forcing it forward in the
next national campaign rs political issue.
The meeting was very well attended
considering the fact that arrangements
for it were made less than twenty-four
hours in advance. All the Democratic
members of the Senate were invited 10
participate in the conference which was
to ho 'rholly informal and unofficial.
Some were ont the city, while others
were unabl /, through prior arrangements,
10 attend Among those present were
Senators Underwood ofAlabama, Mckellar
of Tennessee. kcndrick Of Wyoming.
Smith of Georgia, Pomerenc of o 10,
Dial OF South Carolina Harrison of Missis-
suppI and Stanley Of kentucky.
After the bonfere &c Senator Owen
aaid that it had been very satisfactory,
and he was very hopeful that it would be
posi- le during the coming week to reach
an adjustment with the Republicans.
4 mod fed set 81 reservations which IS
declared not to be the work of any one
man. but To be representative Of the
combined efforts OF me on both sides of
the chamber. was informally considered
at the meeting, and If this program. oven
with notifications c9n goDlrylau tho
support of Republican members, ii IS he
lievCd BY Senator Owen and me Of the
other Senator'S who participated in tho
conference, that an adjustment can bC
re Ched whIc will meet with the anproyal
+ the President
Mr.. Wilson in his letter 10 the Jackons
Dav banquaters indicated that he was not
opposed 10 reservations of an interprcta-
tlvc character. but that he was opposed
To reservations such as he might regard
rs involving notification Of the treaty
ID was learned hat the tentative word
ing of the compromise plan involves the
elimination of the preamble from the
ratifying resolution and for a mOdlii cation
Of the reservation dealing with Article \
of the treaty. Tho Lodge reservation
provides that the United States assumes
no obligation 70 preserve the territorial
integrity or political Independence Of any
country or to interfere in controversies
between nations under the provisions oi
Article y or 10 employ the military or
naval forces of the United States under
any article Of the treaty for any purpose
unless IN any particular case the Congress
wfuch, under the legislation. has the sole
power 70 declare war or authorize tho
employment Of the military or naval
forces of the United States, shall BY act
or Joint resolution so provide.
This reservation relative To Article \
has been tentatively redralted in language
which some Of the Democratic leader
sre inclned to believe viii represent what
the Republican leaders desire without
st the Same time nulhfving the treaty
This redrolt il IS understood. provides
lhst IN ratifying tho treaty the Senate
understands that the naval and land
.orces of the United States are not TO be
GSed without express approval 81 Congress.
hut the effort has been To 80 word the
reservations as not to do away with the
moral obligations of the United States
snder the treaty or actually 10 nullify
the treaty.
1t is learned that the consensus Of opin-
nn of those present was that the treaty
,hould be ratified. that the Democrats