The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-16
NO FURTHER ACTION 9N PEACE TREATY, ONDERWOOD'S VIEW
Adoption of Resolution Yes terday M a ks Closing Scene of Drama for Pres ent, Says Democratic
 Leader
By Associated Press

Washington, May 15.-No immediate ac- tion by the Senate looking to the ratifl- cation of the treaty of Versailles now ap- pears probable, Senator Underwood, oI Alabama, the democratic leader, declared today in the Senate in opposing the re- publican peace resolution.
 This seems to be the closing scene or the drama" said Mir. Underwood, as far as this Congress is concerned in the attempt to conclude peace Wlth Gei- many. "The action of the majority party (the republicans) seems to nave foreclosed further action on the treaty ok Versailles at least for the present
 Delivering his first important aooie . since he was elected democratic leaoer' Senator Underwood charged the repup- licans with responsibility for the present situation, and their peace resolution, ne declared. would not accomplish results that would be beneficial to the Amer ican people,
 s'The republicans took the responslpii-' ity of returning the treaty to the Pres- ident without amendment or suggested amendment. Senator. Underwood con tinued. "In that way the treaty was re- iected by the majority party so far as IL was possible for them to reject 1t. It could not be expected that under those circumstances the President would pro ceed further with the negotiations unless it was indicated by the Senate that some amendment could be agreed to. and no such suggestion has been mace.
 Deelaring the majority had the power to strike out the League of Nations cove nant from the treaty by amendment Senator Underwood added:
 .sJf that had been done all that ls desired by this resolution would nave been done and more.'
 Peace cannot be accomplished py the pending resolution" Senator underwooo confirmed. though it attempts to tie the United States under the terms of the yer xaiiles treaty and declare peace therepy' Am perfectly willing to admit that nos f;Tties have ceased, and that the status of peace between belligerent countries can be established and recognlzed si- Iently, by the passage of time. But t'a' time has not yet come.
 o,rbe resolution seeks to repeal war leg islation, much of which is not accep.aoae or necessary to our people in tune oi peace. That can easily be done py al- rect methods. Yet the political party which has a majority in both houses oi Congress, and which l do not represehe' has taken no step looking toward US re- peal by direct action" ,
 Only by contract-a treaty-can dipio- matic and commercial relations with Ger many be legally established, Senator Underwood declared, He described the resolution as wall of paper camon- flage., and asked if it was intended as sbluff."
 conceding that if the Versailles treaty were not ratified another treaty wollu have to be negotiated, Senator under wood asked why Senator Lodge, Massa- chusetts, the republican leader had stricken from the Knox resolution me provision requesting the President to ne sotiate a separate treaty to restore oipio- matic and commercial relations.
 Senator Knox, author of the peace resolution, said he had consented to elin,ination of the clause, because with inc state of war ended, it would be the sohvious duty of the President to nego- tiate a treaty of peace with Germany.
 "The only object of that provision, said MT. Knox, twas to accentuate that fact. I didn't care to rub it in on the President" - lsenator Underwood replied that Sen g for Knox had conceded that the reso- lution would not effect peace. MT Knox replied that the supplemental treaty he contended would be necessary would not be treaty of peace, but of "comity ana commerce."