The New York herald., 1920-01-23
ONE MORE HOPE
FOR THE TREATY
Democratic Conferrees Accept
Substance of the Lodge Res
ervation Programme.
WARNED BY FRELINGHUYSEN
Any Material Change in Reservations,
He Declares, Will Mean
Rejection.
WARNED BY FRELINCHUYSEN
by DONALD A. CRAIG.
Special Despatch to The Rcrald


Especial Despatch to the Herald
WASHINGTON, D. c., Thursday-Twc
important developments in the treaty con.
.troversy today indicated that the pact may
yet be ratified during this session OF the
Senate as the result of a practical sur
render OF the Democratic Senators and
the acceptance Of the substance Of the
Lodge reservation programme, which re-
ceived a majority vote last November
No other means seems possible no..
Senator Frelinghuysen, Republican, OF
New Jersey, speaking for himself and a
substantial group Of Republican and
Democratic Senator'S who svoted for the
Lodge reservations in November, served
notice on Senator Lodge that if any ma
terial changes are made in the original
reservations there will be a serious re.
volt from the Lodge leadership and
enough Senator'S will join the sixteen
irreconcilables" OF both parties to de-
feat the treaty in its entirety.
The Democratic Senat tors on t., informal
bipartisan committee, faced with the al
Tentative of yielding to Senator Lodge OF
withdrawing from the conference, wen:
so far this afternoon as to conccde that
the United States should assume no obli-
cation even to use economic pressure &c
protect the territorial integrity OF the
other league members.
"Progrcss" Is Reported.
The original Lodge reservation to Ar
ticle y. destroys entirely the obligation tc
give such protection. The first sugges'
ton of the Democrats made at the begin
ming Of the conference. was that this coun
try assume no obligation TO use it's arm!
and navy for that purpose, leaving th'
obligation as to economic pressure an(
moral suasion. Now they have com,
nearer TO the Lodge position against an,
obligation at all.
This development caused both Senator
Lodge and Senator Owen, Democrat OF
oklahoma. members of the conference. tC
say after today's meeting that import
ant progress" had been made. But befor,
an agreement cal be reached on the res
ervation to Article Y it seems certain
that the Democrats will have TO go all the
way and consent that the obligation bt
wiped out entirely.
The Republican revolt threatened b,
Senator Frelinghuvsen is of so serious
nature as to MAKE IL impossible for Sen
ator Lodge. even il he wished to do So e
accept any obligation for the United
States unde' Article Y. or any vita
changes in the other reservations Sena
tor Moses, Republican. CT New Hamp
shire, and Senator Shields, Democrat, o
Tennessee. were among those who ap
proved of the statement of Senator Ere
linghuysen before he made It public. There
are already fourteen Republican and TIVE
Democratic ''irreconcilables' who ar,
against the whole treaty. even with the
Lodge reservations. 1t would only b,
necessary 20 add seventeen Senators tC
this group to prevent ratification under
the two-thirds rule.
senator FreIinghuyscn's UItimstum.
The Frelinghuyscn ultimatum is as fol.
dows--
I'm tho consideration Of the treaty and
tho League of Nations covenant during
the last session Of Congress the Foreign
Relations Committee reported certain
reservations which protected the interests
of America and the liberties or our people
After an exhaustive debate a ma jority
OF the Senate voted for their adoption
There was not sufficient two-thirds vote
to adopt the treaty and League Of Nations
thus changed. owing TO the attitude oi
certain Of the administration Senator's
THE stand taken by the Senator's for
tions protecting Americas rights was
clearly defined. l fear that efforts are
now being made 10 accomplish by com
promise what the debate and deliberat tions
Of the whole body failed to accomplish
the weakening of the restrictions placed
in the reservations and the surrender OF
the principles therein contained.
II have heard that n secret conference
of n self-appointed committee is under
taking TO effect such a compromise
Il wish TO state that i will not be bound
by any agreement made. tentative or 9th.
erwise. which In any way materially
changes in substance the reservations
adopted by a majority vote OF the Senate
"If reservations sufficient 10 protect
the sovereignty OF our government and
the liberties Of our people arc not con-
tanned in the resolution of ratification. !
shall vote 10 reject the treaty in its en-.
tirety. There can be no compromise on
article y. The difference is fundamental
IL am unwilling that the United States
shall be bound, either morally or legally
to protect the territorial integrity and
the political independence Of any nation
unless and not until Congress shall say so
II am unwilling to vote TO enter any
league which gives England more power
and influence than America insist that
the reservation of our rights under this
agreement must be Acknowledged and ac.
ceded TO by other parties to the contract
II am convinced that others who con.
scientiously voted for the committee res-
ervations as the irrcducible minimum feci
do