Evening star., 1921-09-25
VERSAILLES ECHOES.
RESOUND IN SENATE.
DEBATE ON TREATY
Borah, IrreconcilabIe, Fires
Initial Broadside at Pact
With Germany.
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION
ALSO READY TO CRITICIsE
Reed Declares His Opposition.
Lines Drawn With Lodges
Opening Statement.

resounded yesterday as the Senate
began debate in open session on the
new peace treaty with Germany. The
lines. were drawn with an opening
statement in behalf of the new treaty
by Senator Lodge of Massachusetts,
republican leader and chairman OF
the foreign relations committee, and
an initial broadside in opposition by
Senator Borah of Idaho, republican
"irreconcilable'
Confidence in early ratification was
expressed by Senator Lodge. as ne
presented letter from President
Harding requesting prompt action so
that we may put aside the last rem
nant Of war relationship and hasten
our return to the fortunate relations
Of peace" o.
Opposition was indicated, however
in addition to Senator Borah. by
Senator Reed of Missouri. demo-
cratic "irreconcilable." while several
other democrats intimated that they
would criticise the new treaty.
Senator Lodge declared that there
was no alternative, in establishing
peaceful relations with Germany. 9TH
er than the pending or a similar
treaty, and President Harding. In the
letter presented by Mr.. Lodge. as
serted that the new peace treaties
are in complete harmony with the
resolution tthe Knox-Porter peace
measure) adopted by the Congress
indeed, they are the outcome OF the
executives endeavor to carry out the
expressed wish Of the Congress-.
Discussing the reservations. favored
by the foreign relations committee.
Senator Lodge said he did not believe
that offered by Senator Pomerene'
democrat, Ohio, extending to the
American Individual the property
urote ction accorded under the treaty
to the United States government, TO
be absolutely necessary, but was
agreeable to its Incorporation: Senator
Pomerene took issue on the points OF
necessity, declaring the Lusitania ais
aster and other claimants should be
protected.
The republican leader supported
strongly the other COMMITTEES reser-
walton to require an act Of Con-
gress before appointment OF an
American representative in the rep
arations or other foreign commissions,
saying 1t constituted sound pro-
cedure."
Senator King, democrat, Utah, ask
ed If the administration intended to
participate in the reparations COM
mission. and Senator Lodge In reply
said he did not know whether the
administration had decided to recon-
mend appointment Of an American in
the commission.
1T might seem very desirable to
be represented in the reparations
commission" Senator Lodge added.
But l do not believe that involves
US in anything of the relation of an
alliance"
We'll be back in the league Of
nations" interjected Senator Watson,
democrat, Georgia. "If we go into the
antechamber were pretty sure to
he led into the living room. The
question is whether this teraty, In
its ambiguous clauses. will not be the
beginning of our entrance into the
league"
Sees No Such Danger.
Senator Lodge replied that he saw
no such danger and that Congress had
to be trusted to decide whether
America should join the reparations
commission.
Discussing withdrawal Of American
troops from Germany. Senator Borah
said that presence of troops was re-
o;,isite to execution of the Versailles
treaty.
IT am in favor of withdrawing
American troops" he continued. but
am not in favor of claiming rights
and benefits under the Versailles
treaty which French troops secure.
II we are TO have their advantages,
then every moral sense insists that
we shall do our part in the execution
of the treaty.
we CdHuOI tdhO ShC POSaIiSh ehN
maintain it before the world that we
wfu place on France the burden of
exscuting the treaty and then claim
NJ, the privileges. 1t is an intoler-
able. an indefensible position and
predtct we will not maintain it long.
1--WE are tied In completely to the
Versailles treaty. We can never get
auy benefit from 1t except as we help
excuse It,"
1t would be necessary to secure
rights from the reparation commits
sion, Senator Borah argued, "or else
maintain our position as a separate
and independent power"
If any man thinks he has scrapped
the league Of nations by getting into
the reparations commission" Senator
Borah added, he'll be due for q sad
awakening after he gets in there" =
Senator Reed said he thought a
treaty of peace was to settle>the diff
culties with Germany. the Knox
resolution, he argued, having ended
the state Of war.
"This treaty" said Mr.. Reed. set
tied moro of these questions. It
leaves us in the same position as the
Knox resolution. except that Ger
many accepts"
III. .