The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-12
HITCHCOCK
BELL Ties
KNOX BILL
Denounces Resolution as
Bid for Separate Peace
With Germany.

Washington, May 2.-Democratic
attack upon the Republican peace
resolution was launched today by
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, ad-
ministration spokesman, who de-
clared in addressing the senate that
the measure was futile and incon-
sistent and inimical to the treaty
OF Versailles.
THE mountain has labored and
brought forth a mouse" he said.
THE peace resolution is before us.
1t is not exactly still-borne, but its
feeble character suggests dis
turbed CESSATION and dubious fu-
ture.
Great expectations for an act
of congress that would force a
peace settlement are to be dlsap-
pointed. High hopes that resolu-
ton by congress should be made to
perform the functions Of peace
treaty are abandoned Instead OF a
peace settlement to be forced by q
resolution OF mandatory require
ments as the price OF seVering COM
mercial relations, We are merely to
repeal the war declaration, declare
the war at an end and invite the
president to negotiate separate
peace"
Can't Make Peace.
Senator Hitchcock denied that
congress has the power to make
peace although it has authority to
declare war. The states voted
unanimously against giving con-
gress peacemaking jurisdiction, he
said.
Senator knoX's recent argument
that the war actually was at an end
was dismissed summarily by Hitch
cock, who conceded the point and
asked:
Then why this resolution? Hos
tilities ceased Is months ago and
our army was promptly demobilized
and reduced to a peace basis. Since
that time commerce fhas been re-
sumed We have sold hundreds OF
millions of dollars worth OF prod
ucts to Germany and purchased
much from her. The war which the
senator from Pennsylvania pro-
poses to end by this resolution does
not by his own admission exist.
His able argument and historical
citations prove that it ended many
months ago.
What then is the senator from
Pennsylvania attempting to do by
this measure, which he calls d res
olution to terminate the war? He
is making an utterly futile and
hopeless attempt to make a peace
settlement with Germany to take
the place of the Versailles treaty"
The peace resolution adopted by
the house last month was denounc-
ed especially by Mr.. Hitchcock, be-
cause of its proposals for an en-
barge against Germany within 45
days in event of German objections
to the resolution and its provisions
for reserying rights under c the
treaty.
In the house resolution" he
said, I'VE demand the benefits of the
treaty which we have refused to
ratify."
House Republicans, Mr. Hitch
cock charged, were called into con-
ference and the house action ar
ranged, although he declared that
the house never had been permitted
voice in peace proceedings pre-
viously Upon receipt of the house
resolution by the senate, however,
Mr.. Hitchcock said, there was a
sudden change of plans and the
present resolution was drafted as
futile plan for Republican en-
dorsement.
Attacks Separatists.
Senator Hitchcock criticized es-
pecially the proposal in the resolu-
ton that the president be asked to
negotiate separate treaty with
Germany
Only few months ago." he said,
1.-The same senators who now pro-
pose this request were violent in
cOndemning any such suggestion
They holly demanded that the presi-
dent unite firmly with other nations
in making peace"
Reading from an article written
by Senator Lodge and appearing in
a magazine in December, 1918, in
which the Republican leader de-
clared 1T would brand us with
everlasting dishonor and bring ruin
to us also if we undertook to make
a separate peace" Senator Hitch
cock asked: