New-York tribune., 1920-06-22
Colby Receives
Final Orders
From President
Confers at White House, Be-
fore Departure for Con-
vention, on Fight for
Endorsement of League
Bryan To Be Smothered
Democratic Senators Who
Fought Treaty Also Are
Marked for Discipline

From The Tribunes Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 21-Last-
minute instructions on the part he may
be called upon to play in the Demo-
cratic National Convention were con-
veyed to Secretary of State Bainbridge
Colby to-day by President Wilson.
The President and Mr.. Colby con-
ferred for an hour previous to the lat
ter's departure for New York tonight
to take the Twentieth Century to-
morrow for the convention city.
The President is understood to have
discussed fully with the Secretary the
Importance he desires the League of
Nations to assume in the conventions S
platform. The Executive wants William
Jennings Bryan and the Democratic
Senators who favor reservations to the
treaty properly disciplined by the con-
vention's indorsing unequivocally the
pact as written
Senator Carter Glass, of Virginia.
who is reported to have received from
the President the treaty plank desired
by Mr.. Wilson, is now en- route to San
Francisco. Secretary Colby's interview
to-day with his chief was sort @:
follow-up on the Glass conference,
which occurred last Saturday.
League and Treaty Issues
When asked the significance of his
visit to the White House, Secretary
Colby remarked that he had "riers-
ant chat with the President" He de-
cined to indicate whether the Presi-
dent has decided definitely not to be
candidate for q third term. When
asked if he could speculate what the
convention would do, Mr.. Colby re-
plied
"The convention is going to meet in
serious and amiable temper to dis
cuss matters of the highest moment"
What matters?" Mr.. Colby was
asked
"Well," he replied, 81 think some al
fusion will be made to the Versailles
treaty and the League Of Nations, and
| may say to you that | am in favor
of the League Of Nations and the rati-
fication of the Versailles treaty"
with or without reservations ?"
W lChout any reservations, certainly,
that are multiplying" said Ma Colby.
Qualifications on Reservations
"And l don't believe that the docu-
ment requires any interpretative reser-
vations," he continued. "The docu.
ment, in other words, is so clear that
interpretative reservations can hardly
be urged as necessary. However, if
reservations or paraphrases will clarity
there is no objection to them, but
reservations which stultify the main
purpose of the league and negative the
substance of the covenant are things
which no man solicitous about Ameri-
cas- honor can take into his recogn-
ton"
The first use of the direct wire serv-
ices between the White House and San
Francisco took place to-day, when
Homer S. Cummings, chairman of the
Dcmocratic National Committee, talked
with Secretary to the Pres de mt
Tumulty on the telephone The con-
versation was in the nature of re-
port of the preliminaries to the Presi-
dent.
Great optimism for Democratic vic
tory prevails in San Francisco. accord
ing TO Mr.. Cummings" said Secretary
Tumu]ty. ut was wonderful connec-
ton we had, as I could hear just as
plainly as though he was talking across
the street"