The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-12
U. S. Would Not Interfere in
Affairs of Other Nations.
SITUATION is STILL CLOUDED
Even Party Leaders Don't Know
Where They Are At.
Republican Attempt to Reunite
Scattered Forces Fails.

tute Tor the Republican Article Y res
ervation to the peace treaty was intro
duced in the senate today by the Re-
publican leader, Senator Lodge of
Massachusetts. In general it follows
the form of the draft agreed on sew
eral days ago in bipartisan compro-
mise negotiations.
When the reservation was offered,
il was declared among the Republi-
cans that the negotiations had lined
up almost enough votes to ratify the
treaty on that basis. but that final
agreement had not been reached. The
Republican leaders planned to obtain
a vote late today
The compromise is a modification
of the Watson-Simmons proposal,
which itself was modification of the
original Lodge reservation.
The compromise reads:
THE United States assumes no OBJ
legation to preserve the territorial in
tegrity or political independence of
any other nation by the employment
OF its military or naval forces, its re-
sources, or any form of economic dis
elimination, or to interfere in any way
in controversies between nations,
whether members of the league or
not. under the provisions of Article X,
or TO employ its military or naval
forces under any article of the treaty
for any purpose unless in any par
ticular case the congress. which under
the constitution. has the sole power TO
declare war or to authorize the use
OF military and naval forces. shall in
the exercise of full liberty of action
by act or Joint resolution so provide"
In offering the proposal, Lodge
said: Il do this in consonance with
what l have many times repeated to
the senate-that 1 didn't feel justified
in insisting on the defeat of the treaty
on mere question of wording. II |
thought what / have offered affected
in any way the principle of substance
of the original reservation, I not only
would not have offered it but I would
vote against the ratification of the
treaty"
The original Watson Simmons COM
promise provided that the United
States assume no obligation to en-
ploy" military, naval and economic
force or its resources in. preserving
other nations against aggression.
The amended form provides that
the United States assumes no obliga-
tion to preserve" the territory and in
dependence OF other nations against
aggression.
The first draft, some Republicans
thought, left the obligation to pre-
serve" which was the very thing they
objected to. 1t provided only refusal
of an obligation "to employ certain
means in fulfilling the obligation Ito
preserve" they said.
The amended draft leaves no doubt,
the senators think. about the intent of
the United States to keep from pledg
ing itself beforehand to engage in
European wars.
But while this change may have
gained some Republican votes. it is
considered likely to lose some Demo-
cratic ones. Hence the situation is
still clouded and uncertain.
Immediately after Lodge offered
the compromise, Senator Frelinghuy-
sen, New Jersey. began speech OPP
posing II. Frelinghuysen is one of
those who told Lodge some days ago
he would not accept any modification
of the original pact.
Washington, March 1e-with po-
litical and business forces urging them
on. many senators today continued ef-
forts to save the peace treaty.
They dare not give up, they said, so
long as the slightest hope remains.
They may be forced soon to let the
question go to a test vote in the sem
ate. which will demonstrate conclu-
sively whether ratification is possible.
Senator Penrose, Pennsylvania, has
arranged a pair which indicated he
will vote against ratification it was
stated today by several senators.
Penrose voted for ratification last
session, but Is said to have been pre-
vailed upon by Senator Brandegee of
Connecticut. one of the Republican
"bitter enders.' to change his position.
Washington, March 12.-Nobody
could tell today what was likely to
happen in the treaty fight
So many cross currents have ap-
appeared in the negotiations for an
acceptable compromise on Article Y
that even senate leaders are at a loss
TO understand where the pact is drift
ing. Republican leaders consented
yesterday to changes in the wording
of the disputed reservation hoping to
unite their scattered forces. but were
not entirely successful Meanwhile.
Democratic advocates of an agreement
undertook to work for the substitute
claiming thirty votes for il. but Sena-
tor Hitchcock neutralized their oppo-
nents to some extent by rallying his
followers to support President Will
sons stand against qualifying the
clause With the uncertainty existing
on both sides. il remained to be seen
whether the Republican or Demo-
cratic mild reservationists would intro
duce the substitute or If 1t would be
submitted to the senate at all The vote
on Article y is not expected before