New-York tribune., 1921-03-10
Harding Makes
Special Plea for
ColombiianP act
Sends Message to the Senate
Urging Ratification of the
Treaty; Strong Opposi-
ton in Both Parties
Open Hearings Asked
Opponents of Agreement
Favor Postponing Action
Until the Extra Session
Fron, The Tri5u,,e's yyashtnoon B,y>n.

FROM The Irt6n,le's WdSttn0o., Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 9.--Presideni
Harding, in special message TO the
Senate to-day, asked that the Colon
bian treaty be considered and ratified
at once. The message went to the
| Senate in executive session and was
not made public.
In spite of the fact that the Presi-
dent has asked that the treaty be acted
on, strong opposition to ratification is
daily becoming more apparent.
Difference Of opinion developed in
the executive session. Opponents of
the treaty insisted it should be con-
sidered in open session and not be-
hind closed doors, and at the same time
efforts were made to have the whole
question postponed until the extra ses-
sion. Senator Underwood, Democratic
leader, urged that the treaty be de-
layed until the extra session, and there
is much support for this without re-
gard to party.
canvass of the Republican side Of
the Senate has been made by oppo-
nents of the treaty. This dlscloses that
twenty or twenty one Republican Sen
ators are opposed to ratification. Just
how many Democrats will align them
selves against it has not been revealed.
Senator'S Shields, of Tennessee. and
Watson, of Georgia, are against it, and
the Republican opposition hopes to
muster enough Democrats to defeat it.
Protracted Controversy Seen
The situation as it stands tonight
indicates that bitter and protracted
controversy will develop in the Sem
ate, with the outcome uncertain. In
the end the Admins stration may be able
to marshal enough votes to drive the
treaty through, but this is not GER
tainty.
President Harding's special message
was brief. 1t is understood to have
been less than 500 words in length.
1t did not make any detailed argument
for ratification Of the treaty, but took
the broad ground that ratification
would help relations with Latin Amer
ica. 1t was presented and read so
quickly that many Senators who were
few minutes late in arriving or were
in the cloak rooms did not hear it.
Senator Lodge urged that the treaty
be taken up and ratified, but Senator
johnson expressed the view it ought
to be considered in the open session,
just as was the Treaty of Versailles
Senator Lodge opposed this, but said
that if it was considered in the open
he desired personally to make certain
statements relating to the situation
that made it desirab to ratify the
treaty and he wished to make them in
executive session. Senator Lenroot spoke
vigorously against ratification. He
favored consideration in the open, and
so did Senators Borah and Kellogg.
Lodge Will Urge Action
Thereupon the whole matter went
over until tomorrow. Senator Lodge
then will move that the treaty be
taken up. Senator Underwood will
session. If the treaty is to be taken
up, Senator johnson will offer a mo-
tion for consideration in the open.
If Senator Lodge is able to have his
motion for consideration passed to-
morrow there will be several days of
debate over the merits of the treaty
before a vote can be had. The debate
will be moro prolonged if there are
open sessions. Efforts will be made
by advocates of the treaty to get a
vote within week if they can get tho
treaty considered now.
When the treaty is taken up an
effort will be made to get the amount
Of pay for Colombia scaled down from
Swanson, of Virginia, Democrat, has
long advocated this. Those who are
leading the fight for the treaty will
contend that Colombia would not ac-
cept the 100000 and that it would
be useless to ratify the arrangement
with such an amount in it.