The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-02-07
Wilson's View of
Treaty Unchanged
Writes Hitchcock, Approving
Reservation Senator Urged
Before ConfereeS.
WHITE HOUSE SAYS LORD
GREY ONLY AIDED FIGHT
Outside Interference" Has
Caused Reaction Against
Lodges Plan.

Washington, Feb. 7.-President
Wilson has written Senator Hitch
cock, the democratic leader, a5prov-
ing the reservations to the treaty Of
versailles which tho senator pre-
sented to the bipartisan conferences
committees which recently failed to
reach an agreement. The letter was
written before the publication Of
Vlseount Grey's letter stating that
the Lodge reservations were accent
able to Great Britain.
The White House today took the
view that Viscount Grey's indorge-'
ment of reservations to the treaty
has aided the president in his fight
against reservations, while house
officials declared that there is evil
dence of sweep OF sentiment
against the reservations as the re-
suit OF what is termed outside in
terference by member OF the diplo-
matio corps.
Tho letter. which was addressed
personally to Senator Hitchcock, sets
forth the presidents position as un-
changed In insisting upon ratifica.
tion of the treaty with nothing more
than interpretatlvo reservations.
Senator Hitchcock will be allowed
to use his own discretion In using
tie letter with the conference OF
democratic senator's or making ID
public. IL was stated at the White
House.
In the letter the president In
dorsed the position taken by Senator
Hitchcock In opposition to the reser-
walton on Article X, it was learned.
The presidents letter. II was said.
largely reatflrms the position which
he took in his message TO the Jack
son day dinner Of the democrats.
PROCEED WITH PLAN,
After listening TO a letter from
President Wilson reaffirminq his
stand against any but interpretativs
reservations to the peace treaty,
democratic senators decided In con.
ference today TO proceed with their
previous plan 20 help bring the treaty
up in the senate Monday and to work
tor reservation compromise.
The letter Is understood to have
expressed the presidents willingness
to accept any interpretative reserva-
tlona that the democrats might frame.
but TO have omitted discussion OF
any specific reservation proposals.
Letter CauBsdfa YHow.n @
| President Wilson's letter was read
TO the conference, and according to
one senator who left shortly after
ward. IL caused row" Those OF
the democrats who favor step to-
ward compromise attacked tho
presidents policy, which was vigor-
ously defended by Senator Hitch
cock After more than two hours
senators began leaving the confer
ence, which was still In session, and
stated that no headway was being
made.
No agreement was reached and
senators who left the conference said
Il had been largely talk, with some
quoting Wilson, some quoting Bryan
and some quoting the Bible"
stand by the president" was the
slogan OF many members OF tho con-
ference, but there were nearly as
many who took tho position OF Bryan
that tho treaty should be ratified by
concessions II necessary.
senator Hitchcock said RfterNard
that the conference developed no dis
sent from the bipartisan committees
conclusions. but that the course OF
the democrats In the senate next
week would be shaped by the moves
made by the republicans.
Attitude Unchanged.
The democratic leader also de-
clared there had been no changes in
the attitude OF the democrats and
that they remained as determined as
over not TO accept the republican res-
orVatlons TO Article y without mode
iication.
resident Wilson's letter Is under-
stood to have been written In re.
Sponse TO a memorandum from Sem
"tor Hitchcock outlining the course
OF democrattc@ members OF the blpar~
tisan committee.