Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-31
LODGE BLOCKS ALL
PACT COMPROMISE;
SPURNS TAFT PLAN
G. o. p. Leader Flatly Refuses to
Consider Any Article x Re-
scrvation Change.
TREATY TO SENATE FLOOR

man peace treaty informally adjourned
Yesterday sine die when it became APP
parent that Senator Lodge would not
agree 10 any change in his reservation IN
Article Y. Mr.. Lodge fatty refused 60
consider the Mckellar-Simmons or the
Taft proposition as substitute for the
one he drew, which was adopted by the
Senate.
The friends of the treaty will now ask
the Senate to proceed with the con-
sideration of the German peace treaty.
Notice To the effect that Senator Hancock
will. on February 10, call up the treaty
will be made tomorrow by Senator Walsh
Dem, Mont.) in the absence OF the Ne
braska Senator, who left for his home last
night.
The breaking off of negotiations in the
bipartisan committee came as surprise
10 many Senators. who had concluded
that Mr.. Lodge would yield enough TO
mskc an agreement possible.
LODGE FIsrLY REFUSES.
Eve presented the last Taft reserva-
tions on Article y as our proposition of q
COMPROMISE" said MIR. Hitchcock after
the meeting. There was some conversa-
tion as To the exact meaning of the rcserva-
tion. We urged the Republicans to say
whether or not they could accept or con-
slider it, Senator Lodge answered def
nitely that he could not accept IT.
The Taft reservation reads:
The United States declines to assume
ANY legal or binding obligation 10 preserve
tho territorial integrity or political IN
dependence of any country under the pro
visions of Article " OF TO employ the
military or naval forces Of the United
states under any article of the treaty for
l~... -. d hs.af.
under the Constitution has the sole power
In the premises, will consider and decide
what moral obligations, if any, under the
circumstances of any particular case when
it arises, should move the United states
IN the interest OF world peace and justice,
TO take action therein, and viii provide
accordingly
As to the future plans 70 get action in
the Senate, Mr.. Hitchcock said: sen
xtor Walsh of Montana, in my absence,
will give notice for me that on Tuesday,
February 10. | shall ask the Senate TO
proceed to the consideration OF the peace
treaty. II is my intention TO return to
Washington Thursday next
Yesterday after our two propositions
the Mckellar-Simmons and Taft COM
promise reservations-were offered and
turned down, we asked If the Republicans
ftJl fnHiittt fIbhOS1A VI NNAAhi tlitht titt,
Senator Lodge replied that he could not
make any proposition on Article Y other
than the one contained in the Lodge
program OF reservations. He said he
would not consent to any modification.
NO AGREEMENT MADE.
II suggested that perhaps we could
agree on some way of taking the treaty
up in the Senate, but Senator Lodge said
he did not care to have any meeting on
that subject"
Mr. Hitchcock was asked If he had
enough votes to call up the treaty for con-
'sideration. He answered that he was
net certain. He explained that forty
three Democrats and some Republicans
would support his motion. Recent polls
OF the Senate indicate that a majority
viii vote TO proceed with the treaty.
Senators Borah, Moses and Others OF the
bitter-enders will support the PROPOSE
ton because they think the best place To
kin the treaty Is 10 the Senate Chamber
Between now and February 10. many
conferences will be held to get line on
Just what TO expect from various groups
senator McNary said today that the
mild reservatIonIsts would vote TO take
the treaty UP IN the Senate and ratify it.
Senator Lodge asked the Democrats
Yesterday If they would stand by the
tentative agreements on all reservations
excepting those on Article Y and the
Monroe Doctrine. The answer was that
the Democrats would not accept a partial
compromise program. That leaves the
treaty just where II was when the informal
conferences began.
WILSON Nor CONSULTED.
senator Hitchcock said yesterday that
he had nor consulted the White House
about his plan for taking up the treaty
or the moves that failed.
After the break up today Senator
Lodge made an analysis of wha had
been done. He said.
For the past two weeks nine Sen
stors-fve Democrats and four Re
publicans-have been meeting TO con-
slder the question Of changes In the
reservations adopted by the Senate
before the adjournment OF the last ses-
sion OF Congreas, commonly known as the
Lodge reservations. No final agreement,
even TO submit any changes their col |
leagues in the Senate was reached. Some |
tentative agreements were obtained
Speaking for myself alone, | have only !
this to say, that was unable to agree to |
any change IN reserva ions and dealing |
with Article Y and the Monroe Doctrine. |
'Tbe change proposed in reserva- /
ton No. IN regard to the Monroe Doc |
trine was an absolutely vital one, because /
il was asserted as an official interpreta- |
ton by the representatives of Great /
Britain that the Monroe Doctrine under I
the treaty was to be interpreted by tn /
League. To this ! for one could never as
sent. and In view Of the statement made /
IN Paris by the British delegation, to which /
have referred, regard the line which it
was proposed to strike out as absolutely
necessary. The right 10 interpret the
Monroe Doctrine pertaining to 5he United
States alone must never be open to qlies-
ton"
The Democrats thought an agree
ment had been reached week ago, but
after Senator Lodge heard the protests
Of Senators Borah and Hiram johnson,
he notified the members of the bipartisan
committee thai be would not stand for
any change in his reservation on Article X. |
Some Democratic Senators now be-
Leye thst Senator Lodge belongs to the
Some Of them have sus-
pected him OF wanting TO kill the treaty,
but lacking the courage 10 do it outright.
Now they think he is shown in the true
light.