New-York tribune., 1920-02-17

Drop Wilson
Treaty Plan
Continued from page /

knew nothing about the reasons for the
Presidents note.
Immediately after Senator Lodge
moved to take up the ratifying resolu-
ton embodying the original Lodge
reservations, which he reported to the
Senate last Wednesday in accordance
with instructions from the Senate, he
moved to amend the first reservation
which covers withdrawal from the
league of nations.
Senator Lodge proposed that instead
of having the reservation provide that
notice of withdrawal could be filed only
by means Of a concurrent resolution of
Congress, it could be filed "by the
President or any Congress alone when
ever majority Of both houses may so
declare"
Lodge Defends Amendment
The amendment, he explained, was
his own. He said that it was discussed
at the bipartisan conference on the
treaty, and the conference, he said, was
evenly divided on whether to accept the
change or require the adoption of a
drawal that would give the President
power to veto the withdrawal Of the
United States from the league Of ma
tions if such a resolution should be
adopted by Congress.
"The first reservation as agreed to
by the Senate" said Senator Lodge,
lis wholly ineffective. In providing that
notice of withdrawal could be given
by concurrent resolution of Congress
the purpose was that Congress should
have the right to give the notice. That
right is not obtained by the language
of the original reservation.
This league is an experiment, to
speak of it in the most fattering Ian
guage. In seeking to give Congress the
right to say that we can withdraw from
it there is no reflection on this Presi-
dent. His rule is limited TO a com
paratively short time. 1t is aimed at
future Presidents. I personally have no
objection to conferring the power to
give notice Of withdrawal on the Presi-
dent alone. and ! think it is Of the
most importance that the two houses
Of Congress have the right | admit
| do not mind facilitating Withdrawals"
McCumber Opposes Lodge
Senator McCumber objected that the
was IAN improve Nent from
the standpoint of those WI want.to
get us out OF the league" lie said he
opposed the amendment and favored
having notice Of Withdrawal filed
through joint resolution that re-
quired the Presidents approval.
Discussion soon turned to Article X,
the principal obstacle to ratification.
Senator McCumber demanded that the
friends of the treaty reach an agree
ment on q reservation.
Il am tired of this eternal disagree
ment," said Senator McCumber There
is large number of Senators ready to
support ore of three reservations, the
Lodge reservation, the Taft reservation
or the bipartisan reservation"
Senator McCumber said he blamed
both the Republicans and Democrats
for failing TO reach an agreement
The Taft reservation is not our res
ervation." interrupted Senator Hitch
cock. Our reservation was purely in
terpretivc. We have abandoned our res
ervation and are willing to accept either
the Taft reservation or the reservation
framed by the bipartisan committee. To
me personally. however, these two res-
ervations are both distasteful"
Says Democrats ''p!ayed Politics"
Senator McCumber contended that all
three of the reservations mean the
same thing" The Democrats refused
" SNSPS l4iN iAObSc tiOH, ne QC-
clared, because they had played poll
tics" with the treaty.
I'VE are not playing politics." denied
Senator Walsh, of Montana, "or if we
are. why should the Senator place all
the structures against the Democrats
ii it is true that politics has been
playec both sides are TO blame"
Il am making structures against both
sides sand Senator McCumber. This
Is not a partisan question at all. 1t is
a contest between the opponents and
friends OF the treaty.
senator hitchcock challenged Senator
McCumber to name any Republican
Senator who had gone to the Democrats
with comprom,s" proposal.
"The Lodge reservations themselves
were compromise" replied Senator
Nc Cumber
"fhe Republic&ns are not Offering a
compromised said Senator Hitchcock.
They are demanding surrander.o
That is not tue" Senator NcCur,-
bcr declared, because you yourself
lave offered substitute reservation
that means the same thing as the I.od,re
! leservation. There is no line Of DC
narcation between the factions. The