New-York tribune., 1920-02-06

coS4 SAID.
Foes May Not Be Invited
ut may be that the Democrats who
are opposed to the treaty viii. not be
invited to the conference"
Senator Hitchcock was told Of a re-
port that he had received Letter from
President Wilson as to MI Wilson's s
position on the peace treaty at this
time?
81 have had number of communi-
cations from the White House, but
aave received nothing on the general
proposition of the treaty. said Mr.,
Hitchcock.
This report was to the effect you
received a letter from the President
about the time the bipartisan confer
~l.ce negotiations came TO an end the
-}enator was told.
II did not receive "a letter then;
neither have l received one since. I
have had up from time to time indi
reservation on Article X" replied Mr..
Hitchcock.
HAS there been any change in the
Presidents attitude on the treaty."
the Senator was asked.
"I don't think | can tell you that"
ne said. "The Democrats have no OBJ
lection to Senator Lodges proposition
to take up the treaty. There is strong
feeling in the Senate for early rati-
fication, and Democrats are willing to
do what they can to speed up final
consideration. ! do not find that they
have yielded anything on account of
the Grey letter. We will try to get
the treaty through as near to its pres
cnt form as possible
"Do you think the treaty will be
ratfed?" Mr.. Hitchcock was asked.
Democratic Sentiment Divided
II do not know" was the answer
There is a good deal of division of
ne can tell better as to the final out
come after our meeting Saturday.
Many Senators favor compromise, but
not very many are in favor Of a sur
render. Acceptance Of the Lodge pro-
gram would be a surrender
What has been the effect Of Wis
count Grey's letter." Senator Hitch
cock was asked.
II don't think the Grey letter will
have very large effect" he replied.
ut may influence some men who have
thought the treaty would be rejected
by the Allies if the Lodge program of
reservations was adopted. l have never
felt that either Great Britain or France
would send protest if the reserva-
tons could be left to acceptance by
acquiescence. There was danger so
long as the preamble required specific
acceptance in writing.
II think the Grey letter was written
for several purposes. One of the rea-
sons was that of quieting the feeling
in Great Britain against the United
States. Another purpose was to bring
about ratification here by indicating
that Great Britain had no objections to
the Lodge reservations. Nearly every
one understood that.
Britain Didn't Ask Six Votes
left for England: l understood from
him that Great Britain did not ask
for the six votes in the league and
hadn't any particular interest in the
subject 1t might cmbarrass her with
her colonies, however, if the colonies
were disfranchised. To declare that
the United States would not be bound
by any decision or action in which the
colonies voted is equivalent 10 dis
franch;sing them
"Don't you think Senator Hitch
cock was asked, "that Great Britain
would rather have the Johnson amend
ment, giving the United States six
votes, than the Lenroot reservation,
providing that the United States shall
not be bound by any decision in which
Great Britain and her colonies cast
more than one vote %
81 don't think Great Britain cares
how many votes we have, but she
does object to disfranchising her
ternal troubles" replied the Senator,
"How do you regard the publication
of the Grey letter in Englaud?" Mr..
Hitchcock was asked
ut was a very extraordinary thing
for a British official to come out in
the papers the way Lord Grey did" he
replied. "He did it for purpose. He
could not do it here. He observed the
proprietes while in this country. 1t
has the appearance Of being done 70
placate British feeling against the
United States. | do not consider it a
discourtcsy to this country"
Senator Hitchcock was asked further
about his conversation with Lord Grey
before the latter left for England.
Opposed by Colonies
Lord Grey told me before he left
this country that London did not obj ect
20 the reservations, but the colonies
did" said MIR. Hitchcock. They espe-
cally objected to the Lenroot reserva-
cion on equality OF voting. He also
said that Paris did not object.
ne NfeN lctteF lncldent has been
magnified beyond its Importance. AS
EAR as its influence on Senator's is con-
cerned do not find that it has changed
any Senators on the Democratic side" Z"
"How are you going to answer the
charge that those who oppose the
Lodge reservations are more English
than the English" the Senator was
asked.
"That answers itself" said Mr.
Hitchcock. 1--WE never have been for
he British. We have BEEN against the
Lodge reservations because wc wished
the United States to euter the league
OF nations whole heartedlv and not be
cause we feared it would be rejected
by the Allies"
Hitchcock said that no matter what
Niscount Grey or other European gov
ernment officials may say, Article X
Is Americas affair. The question OF
American obligation under it must be