New-York tribune., 1920-02-07
President Stands ON His
Message to Jackson
Day Diners, Hitchcock
Reports to Senators
Is Democrats i'm
RebelliOus Mood
Ready to Support Lodge
Program if Necessary
to Get Treaty Ratified

From ne I77bune's washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Presi-
dent Wilson is standing by his dec
laration in the letter he sent to the
Jackson Day diners and wi. not
accept any reservations placed upon
the peace treaty by the Senate that
change its meaning" Senator
Hitchcock, leader of the Admins
tration forces in the Senate, said
tonight. Senator Hitchcock has
kept in close touch with the White
House during the progress of ne
gotiations for a compromise on the
treaty and since the bipartisan con-
ference Of Senators failed to reach
an agreement.
Mr.. Hitchcock made an effort to-
day to reach President Wilson and
discuss the entire situation with him
so that he could carry direct word
% the Democratic Senators at their
conference on the treaty tomorrow.
- was unable to see the President,
~ will make another effort before
nc conference tomorrow morning.
'!esislite Word Expected
kat tie President will send word
his position toward ratification
nth modified Lodge reservations
ither directly OR indirectly to the
Democratic conference through SEN
ator Hitchcock is fully expected by
Senator's on both sides who have
oeen working for an agreement.
Should the President make an effort
10 SWING the Democratic Senators back
INTO line against any changes in the
;reaty except interpretive reservations,
however, the conference. it is expected,
VI, break up, with a large group of
The Democratic Senator'S revolving
against the President.
The eighteen Democrats who sought
compromise with the Republicans
egardless of the Presidents attitude
said to-day they would demand at the
conference tomorrow that the Demo-
erats agree TO accept the modified
Lodge reservations that were agreed
upon at the bipartisan conferences.
If the support of all the Democrats
cannot be secured for that compromise
program, the group OF Senators said
they would vote for ratification on
the basis of the modified reservations
i possible. and tina. they would ac-
cept even the Lodge reservations in
order to get the treaty ratified.
Simmons Predicts Split
Senator Simmons. of North Caro-
lima, who has followed the Presidents
lead throughout the Senate fight over
the treaty declared there will be
cleavage in the Democratic ranks if the
President should demand that they
continue 10 oppose anything but inter
pretive reservations.
"A large number of the Democratic
Senators will insist tomorrow that an
agreement be made that will ratify the
treaty" said Senator Simmons. eve
Will go into the Senate when the treaty
is called up on Monday, regardless Of
what is done at to-morrow's confer
ence, and make the biggest fight ever
seen in the Senate to force a modifi-
cation of the Lodge reservations sub
stantialy along the lines agreed upon
IN the bipartisan conferences. If we
cannot secure modification of the Lodge
reservations we will accept them if we
have to in order to get the treaty rati-
fed"
Senator Hitchcock declared that there
Is no possibility of securing enough
Democratic votes to ratify the treaty
unless the Lodge reservations are sub
stantially modified.
Presidents Views Unchanged
Since returning from the West
~ t.ov,
with the President, but / have been able
to get at his IDEAS" said Senator Hitch
cock. 81 do not think that there has
been much change in the Presidents
attitude"
Mr.. Hitchcock, in reply to questions,
SAID that he considered the Presidents
attitude to-day to be about as it was
stated in his jackson Day dinner letter,
and that Mr.. Wilson was against
changes in meaning. 81 doubt if will
be able to tell the conference anything
but | cannot say definitely. | have
not had any communication from him.
Il don't imagine to-morrow's confer
ence will be large one, because twelve
or fifteen Senators are sick or absent.
Invitations to the conference were sent
to all the Democrats, but it was stated
that the conference was for those
friendly to ratification. Not to exceed
forty-three Democrats will be for rati-
fication, provided there is some meas
urable modification of the Lodge reser-
vations. | have received information
that takes one Senator out of the list"
Mr.. Hitchcock was asked if he meant
Senator Thomas, of Colorado, who, it
has been reported, will vote against
ratification.
Eyes, he has rather definitely indi-
Gated that that was his attitude" re-
piled Mr.. Hitchcock. He continued:
IF the President does not assent to