Evening star., 1920-03-09
ALTERED Reservation
Has Support of
q Both Parties.
DEMOCRATS FEAR
POCKET OF PACT
Some Unwilling to
Vote for Change ON
This Account.


Notwithstanding the Presidents let
Ger to the democratic leader, Senator
Hitchcock, criticising severely pro-
posed reservations on article Y, ne
gotiations looking to compromise
which would bring about ratification
of the peace treaty were continued by
republican and democratic senators
today.
A compromise reservation on article \
satisfactory to the republicans and also
to democratic senators has been drafted.
Some of the democrats, however, while
agreeing to the substitute reservation'
are still unwilling to vote for 1t unless
President will not pocket the treaty.
They do not wish to do what they con-
slider futile thing.
VIII ORer Substitute.
Tho republicans plan to offer the
Dubstitute reservation in any event
If 1t is adopted and the resolution
spf ratification is finally defeated
Through the opposition of Senator
Hitchcock and the other administra-
in a position to say that they offered
compromise and that the treaty was
defeated by the administration. II
by any possibility a sufficient number
Of democrats should join with the re-
publicans to bring about ratification
the treaty will then be up to the
President. Should he pocket it. the
republicans feel the country would
blame him for delaying peace. Should
he exchange ratincations. the repub-
that they Americanized the treaty be-
fore putting 1t through.
The compromise reservation on ar
ticle x, it was said today. does not
yield the principle Of the Lodge reser-
walton on that article. 1t was con-
sidered at some length yesterday
afternoon at q conference between
Senator Lodge, the republican leader.
former Senator Elihu Root Of New
York and Senator Watson Of Indiana.
who has been conducting the negotia-
tions with the democrats.
Text sf Compromise.
The text Of the compromise reserva-
'Nrhe United States assumes no obli-
cation to employ its military or naval
forces, its resources, or any form Of
economic discrimination to preserve the
territorial integrity or political indie
spendence Of any other country, or to in
!terfere in controversies between nations,
whether members Of the league or not.
under the provisions of article 10. or to
employ the military or naval forces Of
the United States, under any article Of
any particular case the Congress in the
exercise Of full liberty Of action shall by
net or joint resolution so provide"
While the negotiations for a bipar-
hhe feeling persisted that a sufficient
number OF democrats would follow
the lead of Senator Hitchcock and
hhe President to prevent ratification.
If it appears that there is any chance
of ratifying the treaty with the COM
mi ho
tions are likely to continue for sew
eral days and a final vote may not be
reached until Saturday or next week.
h.-however. 1t seems that the treaty
cannot be ratified. a final vote may
be taken within the next couple Of
days.
sDiscuss Presiaent's Letter.
The Presidents letter and article
* quickly became the subjects OF
Senator Lodge declaring that the
communication from the White House
. had laid bare the difference in prin-
ciple between Mr.. Wilson and the
Senate majority.
There isn't an objection made by
1he opponents Of article X,'' said
the republican leader, that is not
admitted and advocated in this letter
1t Is set forth as a definite and bind
ing article founded on naked force
issue can be veiled no longer. 1t JUS
tines the position we have taken on
this side all along-that there can be
left no binding obligation On the
United States to carry out the pro-
visions of that article"
Lodge Deplsres Allusion.
Quoting the Presidents declaration
that the French militaristic- element
had been defeated at the peace con-
hfrf had Cd
troll. Senator Lodge said he thought
the alluslon most unfortunate
Il think the reverse is the case" he
continued. land regret extremely
such reflection on one Of our asso-
ciates in the war. / do not think
France is in the least militaristic.
think she desires to have protection
against recurrence of the sufferings
she has endured. and / think that is a
feeling in which we all must share.
Il regret that the President also
should have taken occasion to say
something about Italy. l have be-
Ieved that Fiume should have been
given to Italy because of sympathies
of the population there. But the
President says Italy's desire fol
Fiume is based on considerations OF
military strategy. That is true.
Under the pact Of London. Italy
could have claimed much more than
she needs now. but she was willing
10 give up " holu
because il was her defense against
future aggression. Since when has il
become a crime for a nation to seek
self-protection? To condemn Italy oil
any other nation for seeking to defenC
3tself seems to me harsh measures.
Does Not Concern Us, He Says.
From my point of view, it is to be
regretted that the President shoulG
have interfered in a question which
does not concern us. Our relations
with Italy have been friendly. l an
CORY we should be put in a position
of deserting her now"
Senator Lodge also read the Presi
dents statement that he was not will
ing to trust to counsel Of diplomat
the working out of any salvation o
the world" and continued:
The whole peace conference was
collection of diplomats. The resul
was an alliance in which the repre-
sentatives of all countries are diplo
mats governed by the interests o
their own governments and by con
siderationS of political expediency
The Presidents statement cuts a
every provision in the covenant bu
article X. That article, however,
founded on absolute guarantees o
naked force, and that is why we ar
So much opposed to IT,"
President Wilson restated for demo
cratic senators yesterday his opposition
to any peace treaty reservations whic
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