The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-02-11
TREATY CRUEL,
SAY SENATORS
Borah and Knox DenounCe
"MurderouS" Clauses.
ASSaiI Hoover.

Washington, Feb. 1l.--Debate on
the peace treaty was revived yester-
day In the senate. although leaders
technically had laid the pact aside for
another week.
Irroconcilable opponents OF ratifi-
cation who Monday voted against re-
suming consideration OF the treaty
yesterday brought the subject to the
senate floor. Senators Borah, OF
ldah and Knox, of Pennsylvania
both republicans, denounced the
troaty's economic clauses as cruel
and "murderous" in it's effect on the
conquered peoples and In the less di-
rect consequences on the rest of the
world.
Senator Borah also assailed Her
bert Hoover's stand on the treaty
ana called on him to reply to the list
of questions which have been put by
the Idaho senator To several repub-
lican and democratic candidates for
the presidency,
Tho debate was preceded by com
pletion of the parliamentary steps
necessary to restore the treaty to IA
status making formal consideration
possible. the foreign relations COM
mltteo reporting the pact back to the
senate with the republican reserva-
tions framed at the last session OF
congress, The committeo's action
taken under instructions voted by
the senate Monday, was entirely per
functory and without discussion ol
record vote.
Notice that formal consideration In
the senate would bc requested Mon
day was served by Senator Lodge, oil
Massachusetts, the republican leader
who said tho delay had been agreed
on because of the absence OF many
senators on both sides of the cham
bcr
Tho announcement of the republican
loader developed no discussion aud II
was In the midst OF legislative business
that the treaty Inter was brought to
the fore by Senator Horah. Both he and
Senntor Knox declared II would "im-
poVerish" Germany. Austria and Hun
gary aud that the result would ho 10
destroy commercial CornerstoncH on
which rested the financial stability of
Europe.
Senators Hitchcock. of Nebraska. the
democratic leader. and Sterling, repuh-
licnn. of South Dakota replied briefly
declaring tho only wny the United
StutcH now could throw It's influence for
stability was by becoming il party TO the
treaty.
"lt ia ono thing" declared Senator
liorhh, TO punish Germany, hut IL Ia
AN entirely different thing to reduce
countless thousands 10 starvation. II ia
nm unjust thing to put upon q debtor
n debt which he cannot pay but IL II
cruel and murderous thing to put on
debt which Involves indirectly. as this
one does. tho distress or others
Yet we are asked here 10 agree 10
this treaty which will impovcrish mill
Hons and then we are asked 10 nppro-
prihto money TO feed the people we have
Impoverished"
President wilson the Idaho senator
declared Ind held out against some OF
the proposed cXnrtioua from Germany,
but hnd been ovefrnlcd by prcmlers
Clrmcnccau and Lloyd George. After
ward the European statcsmcn. MIR
liornh nsscrtcr. were reported to have
realized that they had gone too tar. but
to have L"cu unable to convince Prcsl-
dent Wilson tho conference should re-
Codo
Mr.. Hooycr'a statement Sunday night
that he was for the treaty with amy res
ctvhtipnA necessary To safeguard tho
constitution and the nations traditions.
WIS declared by Senator Botah TO put
Mr. Hoover apparently In the same at
utudc HH the irrcCoHcilablcs.
suggestions that Lloyd George had
been ted 10 mnkc impossible cNnctions"
OF Germany hy promises given in the
heat of a political campaign" Senator
Hitchcock declared the United states
could bcat exert it's effort for alienation
Of the peace tcrms by ratBuE tho
treaty ana accepting membership on the
powerful rrpnrntious commission.
without such representation. hc argued.
this country would he pnwUrlcss 10 In
t"rcrdr. To this Borah replied that
since tho European nations had over
ruled the United States once on that
proposal they could he expected 20 do
$50 ugBiu. while Senator Knox dcc'u 'urrd
that white the German rsparntions hin
could he increased under the troatv's
provisions hy simple majority OF the
rcpuratIoua committee. it would take
unanimous consent 60 reduce 10