New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-30
Ask Wilson to
Accept Lodge
Reservations
Leading Men and Women
Appeal to President to
Resubniit Treaty So U. S.
Can Enter the League
Disputes to Referendum
Senators i'm Washington,
However, Look With
Disfavor OH Proposal

From The Tribame's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 29.Prcsi-
dent Wilson Vas urged to-day, in pc
tition signed by group of prominent
men and women, to accept the Lodge
program of reservations to the peace
treaty with Germany on which an agree
ment was reached, so that the United
States could enter the league of ma
tions without delay, and to reserve his
light for his own conception Of the
league covenant until later.
The petition was taken to the White
House by Samuel Colcord, of New
York, and placed in the hands of Jo-
seph P. Tumulty, secretary to the Pres
ident.
q Mr. Colcord said he was not acting
for any organization or for any politi-
cal party. The names attached to the
petition, however. included those of
many members OF the League to En-
force Peace, which has advocated rati-
fcation on the best possible terms
since the treaty fight started.
On the petition, among others. were
the names of President Lowell Of Har-
ward University, Cardinal Gibbons
Cleveland II. Dodge. formcr Attorney
General George w. Wicke rsham, Au-
gustus Thomas. Hamilton Holt, Jacob
Il. Schff Edmund Dwight anad Major
George Haven Putnam.
Asked to Resubnit Pact
The petition urged that the Presi-
dent resuhmit the treaty to the Senate
and ask that it be ratified with the
reservations upon which two-thirds OF
the Senate were agreed before the vote
was taken March 10. when ratification
failed. The Article X reservation and
other disputed provisions Of the treaty
the petition suggested. could be car
risd into the election for decision
Republican leaders were absent from
Washington tonight. but Senators OF
all factions said the plan would not
be considered. Republican Senators
pointed out that the principal fight has
been over the obligations the United
States would assume under Article X
and they would be unwilling, they said
to ratfy the treaty without strong
reservation on that article.
The plan presented to the President
was outlined as follows: That by. IN
Outstanding between the President ane
a sufficient number of the majority
and minority Senator'S we at once &C
cept the inevitable and join the
league Of nations upon the basis OF
what are known as the Lodge reserva-
tons.
Summary of Letter
The letter to the President read II
part as follows:
what we offer is more than an ap
peal. AS devoted friends Of the league
of nations, we respectfully propose
plan by which the world and we as
part Of it may Immediately enter upor
the benefits of our membership in the
league of nations on whatever basis O.
agreement may be definitely reached
and the irreconcilable points OF differ
ence be settled later by referendum O.
otherwise, as may be deemed desirable
Thus you might take the question
of the adoption of your highest ideal
respecting the league Of nations be
fore the electorate, and the opposing
view be presented, on the other hand
without keeping the world waiting 70,
our aid and without subjecting tn,
vital question of our becoming a par
of the league of nations to the uncer
tainties and perils of a partisan pc
litical campaign"