New-York tribune., 1920-11-06
Allies Eager
To Aid Harding
In Association
Cables to Washington Re-
port France and Britain
Ready to Abandon Wilson
Pact: Confer or New One
Wish u. S. to Lead Way
Filibuster Could Easily
Block Action if President
Again Submits Treaty
By Garter Field

discussion of the possibility of Presi
dent Wilson submitting the peace
treaty to the Senate during the short
session Of Congress opening in Decem-
ber arose here to-day, following Sena-
tor Hardng's declaration that the Will
son League of Nations was deceased. -
While such an action is frankly ad
mitted to be entirely out of tune with
.ne working Of the Presidents mind in
the past. several reasons are advanced
Why he might decide to do So One of
these is that this would obviously be
the last chance.
The Precedent may feel" very
strong advocate of the league said to-
cay that ..he country has decided
against him so far as adopting the
league with the obligations is con-
eerned. He may decide to do the next
best thing and obtain ratification of
The league. perhaps even with Article
Y and the obligations imposed In other
sections absolutely eliminated by text
nal amendments. | suggest this not
because | desire the textual amend
ments instead Of resorvatiAns. but be-
cause in view Of the vel llact of the
country on Tuesday, the Senate may
now wish to drive q harder bargain
than it offered last spring and one
year ago
"This course would avoid the long
DELAY which viii be occasiOncd bv the
new negotiations proposed by Senator
Harding, which, Of course. cannot real
ly be heEun, officially at least. until
after March 4"
Filibuster Would Be Easy
Against this possibility it was point
ed out that the irreconcilable group Of
Moses. Brandecee, Fall. La Follette
Gronna and Norris. of the Republicans
and Reed. Thomas ard Shields OF the
Democrats, con.d easily conduct fill
buster which would make ratification
imposs Bile. The session starting on
December viii expire by aw at noon
on Marcn ), ana IN that period all IT,.
appropriations bills viii have to be
pa.
Then, again, the Republicans might
deco, q purty n.,-sure th;. tn,
thing 20 DO would be to force delay on
the whole question until Harding is
inaueurated.
So that, while there is some sDecu-
laton on what President Wilson may
do about t e treaty, there is more dis
cusslon Of the exact form Of procedure
TO be followed by the incoming Presi-
dent
Assuming that nothing is done be-
tore March !, Il is expected that the
first act O the extra session Of Con-
gress which Will undoubtedly be called
soon after March 4 viii be to pass Il
resolution declaring peace with Ger
many. Mr.. Harding, as early in the
campaign as last July, promised that
this acuon would be taken without de-
lay. and Congress has already shown
this resolution at the last session. only
70 have It vetoed By President Wilson.
Conferences on New Plan
After this resumption Of the legal
status Of peace President Harding is
expected to begin conferences with
members of the Senate aud House, and
WITH the best brains Of the country"
women as vol as men, as ne frequent
" promised on the stump. with view
10 Offering the other nations pro-
gram Of association for peace which
would have the approval of America,
ana INTO wnich America would be will
ing to 60
This stage completed, President
harding is expected to present this
Amercan plan OF league of nations
70 the world. Information which has
peen pourlng over lie cables, not only
since the election bu; in period just
PRIOR to the election, the first real hint
OF winch vas given by Mr. Harding in
us speech at Greencastie, Ind. the
speech waich aroused the mirth Of
governor CnX and brought an inquiry
from Mr. Wilson. is all to the effect
,nat britain and France are eager to
near Just such proposals. The larger
nations are represented as being ready
70 throw overheard in part or whole
the Wi son league. Leading newspn-
peis IN Britain and France particularly
indicate that they expect this country
to lead he way.
The Passage Of the peace resolution,
incidentally, is intended not for its
effect or the treaty Of Vcrsail ics-Ger
manys obligations TO the Allies will
not De affected by that, according to
me best opinion obteinable-but it Is
.raue re atlOns. 1t would carry with
u repeal of all the obnoxious war
legislation, with its extraordinary pow
eTs granted TO the Federal depart
ments
An interesting point about any new
pfoposal for at association of nations
LOT peace is that many Of the objec-
uons which Senator's have had to the
nversailles treaty would not exist.
"hlie there Was more talk about the
.oVenant OF the league and about Ar
ucle X than any other portion Of the
treaty. II was other sections entirely
whch provoked several of the irrecon
enable group Of Senator'S to such a
strong stand.
Opposed Shantung Section.
Tor instance. Senator Norris, OF
",eoraska, one of the irrcconci ables,
aiu m not object nearly 80 much to Ar
..cie as he did to some of the pro
ris0nS OF the peace treaty outside the
etsse Covenant, notably the Shantung
Nseeton AS a matter Of fact. Mr..
sSorris was mildly in favor of the
league OF Nations idea, and it was
oa.y -ft', careful reading of other
Po'uons of the treaty that he decided
.e could not stand for ratification in
any form.
Senator Thomas was driven TO hi.
sMreme stand not by the league cove
nant but by the labor sections of the
ieafy, Even Senator Reed probably
me bttterest Of all opponents Of the
,eague idea repeatedly declared that he
"Suld DC willing to have an association
VI nations the chief idea OF which