The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-03-26
Treaty Back to Wilson
Ratification Refused

sAANHe~S~-s
senate. the treaty with Germany wa
back in the keeping Of President VIII
son tonight, with note appended de
claring that ratification had been re
fused.
What the presidents next move viii
be remained conjectural. The genera
feeling OF officials will be that Mr.
Wilson probably will let the treaty
lie on his desk. whie the controversy
1t has raised is fought out in the poll
tical campaign. The treaty was tax
en- back to the White House early in
the day. It was receipted for by Sec
retary Tumulty, in the name Of the
president.
Scarcely had the bulky document
passed out Of the capitol building
when some of the senators who work
ed for ratification began movement
to recall it, but the prediction of lead.
ers on both sides was that no proposal
for another reconsideration would
take serious form.
slowup on Declaring Peace.
The unsettled state of senate opin-
ionhad the effect OF slowing up the
plans Of the Republican leaders for
passage OF declaration of peace, and
it was decided after many conferences
that the resolution for that purpose
probably would not be urged before
late next week. Previously, the pur-
pose had been to bring it up on Mon
day and press it for early action.
In making this decision, the major
ity managers are understood to have
been influenced in part by undetermin-
ed factors in the house, which also
would have to act on peace resolu-
tion and whose leaders baked at a
similar proposal last December Most
of the ranking members of the house
foreign affairs committee, in whose
hands the peace resolution would fall,
were out OF town and had not inform
ed their associates OF their attitude.
WAr-at-End Plan in House.
The senate was not in session, but
the question Of peace declaration
was raised in the house by Represen-
tative Tinkham, Republican, of Mass
achusetts, who introduced declara-
tory resolution and had it referred
without debate to the foreign affairs
committee. 1t follows the resolution OF
Senator Knox, Republican, of Pennsyl-
yania, which Is backed by the Repub-
lican senate leaders. Both provide for
repeal of the declaration Of war, for
certain settlements with Germany and
for declaration Of international pol
Icy.
Until some affirmative action is
taken by congress or the president to
end the war status legally, the tech
nical position Of the country remains
officials say just what 1t was the day
the armistic was signed.
Wilson lnsIsts on Peace by Treaty
War legislation continues in force,
and under the war department inter-
probation of the situation, the presi-
dent retains his war powers as COM
mander-in-chief. to keep American
troops at whatever post in Germany
he thinks necessary to enforce the
armistice terms.
The president has expressed disap-
proval Of securing technical peace
status by any method except ratifica-
tion Of the treaty. Republican senate
leaders expect that IL they pass a
peace resolution he will veto it. They
hope however to win enough Demo
cratic support to repass 1t in both
houses by the necessary two-thirds
majority.
Senate officials who have had GUS
tody of the treaty since July 10, when
President Wilson carried 1t In person
into the senate chamber, lost no time
today in obeying the mandate to re-
turn it to the White House.
The big volume, wrapped in brown
paper and bound with red tape, lay on
a desk for an hour while Mr.. Tumulty
went for a talk with the president.
After the receipt had been signed, one
of the messengers took up the treaty
to hand it to Secretary Tumulty, but
the latter demurred.
Let it lie there" said he and the
secretary Of the senate and his mes
sengers departed. 1t is said that it |
probably will 90 now to a vault in
the state department.
Three courses are open to Mr.. Will
son. He can return the treaty to the
senate, In which case the Republican
leaders declare 1t will be pigeon-holed
he can do nothing, while |
he waits Tor tho verdict OF the people !
In the political campaign; or he can
treat tie treaty - lnr ~ internaticn- |
ii Diplomacy Il ooaesrnaA. = : closed