The Washington herald., 1921-09-23
Battle Prospects Causes
Lodge to Talk Changes
With Hughes.
OPPONENTS INTEND
COMBAT TO FINISH
Determined to Stop U. S.
Taking Any Part in
Foreign Affairs.

Administration efforts 10 hasten
ratification Of the German. Austrian
and Hungarian treaties. were halt
ed yesterday by demands in the
Foreign Relations Committee tod a
reservation TO prevent American
participation in international COM
missions. notably the repara tons
commission, set up by the treats
Of Versailles, without the express
consent of the Senate.
Opposition, led by Senator Rorsh.
assumed such a formidable aspect
that Senator Lodge, chairman n Of thr
committee, hurried TO the State De
partment and held a long confer
ence with Secretary Hughes Mr.
Lodge declined to discuss the re-
suit. 1t is understood that the sd-
ministration is not willing 70 accer-
such a restriction upon fits action
as that proposed by members Of
the Foreign Relations Committee.
Debate Several Hours.
The committee after several hou-s
lively discussion. adjourned with
out action. Another meeting will
be held today. Senator Lodge Is
expected to lay before his COL
leagues a report of his conference
with Secretary Hughes. Mr.. Hughes
may be asked to appear before t.e
committee again 70 answer oues-
tions on the treaties He conferred
at length with the committee last
month when the German treaty W.,
first made public
The line Of cleavage in the com
mittee over the terms Of the treaf-
les runs closely parallel to that
which split the Senate over the
Versailles treaty. The controversy
revolves largely about foreign en-
tanglements. Prospects are that .
sharp parliamentary struggle wfli
ensue over the treaty. A reserva-
tion TO cover the points in dispute
would be included in the ratifica-
ton resolution.
Borah Starts Flight
Senator Borah started the eon-
troversy when the treaty was for
mally taken up in the Foreign Re-
lations Committee. He called AZ
tention TO the section Of the tresrv
reserving to the United States tn.
right OF a representative On the ~
parations commission. He contend
ed that II this right were exer-
cised the United States would he
come involved Immediately in the
reparations dispute which forms
the crux Of the European problems
today. He asserted that IL the
United States participated in the
reparations and the enforcement
thereof, IL could not avoid entanRIe-
ment just as deep as that involved
IN the league OF nations.
The view was expressed IN the
committee that the administration
fully intended to exercise the right
to have representatives on the rep-
arations commission, and probably
on other commissions. At present
II is represented only BY unoncfsl
observers. Senator KeTlocr of
Minnesota. stoUtly defended the idea
OF having an American representa-
tive in the reparations commission
Senator Johnson, Of California.
strongly opposed such representa-
tion. Senator Shields. OF Tennessee
a Democratic irreconcflabIe. de-
clared that he would be unwilling
to support any provision Of the treaty
which would involve the Unf,es
States in European entanclrm,ptS.
Senator BrandeEee, OF Connecticut.
is reported TO have expressed similar
sentiments.
Congress Act Needed.
Attention was called 20 the fact
that when the Versailles treaty was
oefore the Senate. a reservation. No.
Z, on the Lodge resolution OF rstfn-
cation'rwas adopted to cover exactly
the point rsised by Senator Boran.
The reservation provided that no
person was authorized 10 represent
the United States on any body or
agency established by the Versailles
treaty except by specific act OF Con
gress.
This reservation met with sucr
favor when the Versailles treaty
was before the Senate that IN was
supported by virtually every Re-
publican.
Another objection raised by Sens-
tor Borah concerned the withdrawal
OF the American troops from the
Rhine. He contended that under the
terms of the treaty the United
states might find itself under a com
pelling moral obligation 10 main
tain an army on the Rhine for sears
TO come. Administration spokes-
men assured him, however. that ~.
troops would be withdrawn trnn--
diately upon the exchange OF rati-