Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-01-27
Finis Comes Quickly When Re.
publican Chieftain Refuses
Compromise on Article X and
The Monroe Doctrine.
LEADERS FAIL TO VISION
ANY HOPE OF AGREEMENT
Question Will Likely Be
Fought Out on Floor Of
Senate and Opening Guns
May Be Fired Today.

Washington, Jan. 2o--Thc ques-
ton of peace treaty ratification was
flung back to the senate floor with
the virtual collapse today Of the BIZ
partisan conference.
The end came with swiftness, after
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,. re-
publican leader, had informed demo-
,crats led by Senator Hitchcock that
there could be no change in the res
ervations Oil the Monroe doctrine
and Article X.
Democrats walked out for con-
ference. agreeing to reply to Sena-
tor Lodge early tomorrow.
First news of the break was given
BY Senator Hitchcock in a statement
which broadly intimated that failure
of republicans to give ground in an !
effort to reach compromise was
due to the threatened revolt OF re-
pub1icans. Senate leaders frankly
admitted tonight that they could sec
no hope of agreement. This meant,
they said, that the question would be.
fought out OH the floor, beginning
probably tomorrow. Senator Hitch
cock declired to speculate on the
possibility of so curly renewal OF
hostilities, but most democrats de-
clared nothing was to be gained by
further conferences.
Hitchcock's Statement.
Senator Hitcfcock's statement
said:
"When the conference assembled
Senator Lodge advised the sena-
tors present that he had been called
into meeting by certain republic
an senators and for that reason had
not been able to attend the last con-
ference Friday.
He regretted to say that he
found it impossible TO resume the
conference for compromise ex-
cept upon the understanding that
no change shall be made in the
reservation on Article X or on the
Monroe doctrine. The democratic
members retired for private con-
ference and will make their reply
to Senator Lodge Tuesday morn
ing at meeting at 1880.
The conference up to the time
its meetings were interrupted had
tentatively agreed upon the pre-
amble and all sections of the reser-
vations except that relating to Ar
ticle X, the Monroe doctrine and
one or two minor matters, and an
agreement was apparently also con-
summated on Article X when ad-
Journment suddenly came, followed
by the Intervention of the irrecon-
cilable republicans"
Statement of Lodge.
Senator Lodge at first declined to
comment OH the meeting. saying
there was nothing to be given out.
After beilr2 informed OF the Hitch
cock statement. however, he said:
No change in the reservations af-
fecting Article X of the league OF
nations covenant. or the Monroe
doctrine provision of the peace
treaty, will be acceptable to the re-
publicans.
Senator Lodges statement was
formulated after his conference Sat-
urday with Senators Borah, Idaho;
Johnson, California, and other re-
publican senator's opposing the
treaty.
Both democrats and republicans
professed to see difference in the
situation as expressed by the lead
ers.
1T looks as if the jig's up de-
clared Senator McNary. republican,
of Oregon. leader of the mild res
ervaton group, and this seemed to
hit the nail on the head in the opin-
ion of most senator's.
Democrats discussed generally
their line of procedure and it was
tentatively decided, in the event Of
utter failure of the conference tomor-
row, to present to the senate modi-
heahons TO the treaty agreed upon
by democrats and insist upon a vote.