The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-05-01
Declares Peace and Di-
reefs President to Re-
sumo Relations. q
DEMOCRATS TO
OPPOSE THE BILL.
Measure Leaves all Con-
troversies With Ger
man Unsettled Says
Hitchcock.
BY JAMES r. NOTRST.

fStaf Correspondent of Universal
Service)
Washington. April 5o.-The reso-
hutton drafted by Senator Knox TO
declare peace with Germany and
Austria and directing the president
to resume friendly relations with
those countries was agreed upon by
the senate foreign relations commit
tee today.
the senate next Wednesday at which
time Senator Knox wifi make the
opening speech for its immediate
passage.
The committees action was by a
party vote. nine Republicans voting
for IT. and six Democrats against il.
Senator Knox voted Senators Hard
ing, johnson and Borah for the res
olution and Senator Hitchcock cast
the votes OF Senators Williams and
Swanson against H. The votes OF
Senators McCumber Republican and
Shields, Democrats. who were also
absent, were not recorded.
REPEALS FOR LEGISLATION
The principal provisions OF the
resolution are that il repeats the dec
isrations OF wars against Germany
and Austria. provides for the repeal
of ali war legislation from the date
@Hen me resolution becomes pHeC-
tive. provides for the retention by the
United States of all alien property
rights acquired by the United States
during the war. and requests the
president to enter into negotiations
with Germany aud Austria for the
re-esta biishmert of reciprocal reia-
ttons between those governments and
the United States.
The resolution differs from the
rft tS Ia sxNnt ~
Austria and in the provision relating
10 the retention OF alien property.
Another important change from the
Porter resolution passed by the
house is the elimipation of the pro-
vision for ievying an economic boy
colt upon Germany in the event that
the conditions OF peace as laid down
within IS DAYS.
Senator knax and other Repuhli-
can member Of the committe OBJ
jected to this provision upon the
ground that il was an implied threat
almost equivalent TO q new declara-
tion of war.
That the resolution IS due for a
prolonged contest in the senate was
indicated by Senator Hitchcock and
other administration men who served
notice they intended to use every
means possible to block il. Senator
Hitchcock said:
DEMOCRATS TO OPPOSE.
Tho resolution leaves all the
controversies with Germany un-
settled For instance who is re.
sponsible for the war? Do we.
get any reparations9 Are the old
treaties restored to effectiveness
The resolution does not bind Ger
many at all All the effectiveness
l. =.
been taken out and il appears to
me to be pretty weak sort OF af-
fair, II takes the preposterous
position Of claiming all the bene-
Ats of the Versailles treaty tn
which we .re not entitled at all.
Senator Hitchcock said he believed
the resolution would pass with practi-
cally all the Republicans and a few
Democrats supporting it and that the
president would promptly veto IT,
Senator Underwood said he believed
most Of the Democrats would oppose
the resolution although he has made
no poll of the situation He counts
upon Senator Reed as one who will
certainly vote for it,
Senator David T. Walsh OF Massa
chusetts. declared himself entirely in
sympathy with the resolution. He
advised his colleagues that the Demo
Ii. He said
ut would. be most impolitic thing
for Democrats to oppose the peace
resolution. II they did 50 they would
he placed in the position of having
three times voted against peace-twice
when they defeated the treaty and a
third time in voting against the peace
resolution. Democrats aannot afford
to put themselves in such a position"
The mild reservationists" among
the Republican senators evidently hold
the key to the situation and their votes
will deteZ1ine whether or not the
resolution VIII pass. II they cast
seven or eight votes against 1t the Re
publican majority will be broken and
the measure will fail.
Senator Ienroot. leader of this
group. said he had not made up his
mind as to how he will vote on the
resolution and had not conferred with
any OF the other mild reservauorists"
TO ascertain what they will do,