The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-27
SPLIT
OVERPOL|CY ON
PEACE TREATY
''lrreconciIables" and "Reserv-
ationists" Take Different
Views on Treaty.
BY J. BART CAMPBELL,
international News Service.


Republican and Democratic Sem
ators continued today to interpret
various provisions Of the German
American peace treaty in accord
ance with their oft-expressed atti-
tude toward the Versailles pact and
the League Of Nations.
Treaty Is Chief Topic.
While most of the Senators who re.
main at the Capitol despite the Con
gressional recess were chary OF com
menting publicly on the new treaty,
it's relation to the Versailles document
was the chief topic for private dis
cussion.
The divergence in viewpoint follow
ed closely the OLD line Of demarcation
between the "irreconciiables," those
Senators who fought for the complete
rejection Of the Versailles treaty and
the League OF Nations covenant, and
the ''reservationists," those who
favored ratification OF both with reser-
vations by the Senate.
The indications are that, while the
German American agreement VIII
probably command the two-thirds' vote
essential to its ratification by the Sen.
ate, debate on 1t may develop into an.
other protracted discussion OF inter
national relations generally, and the
League of Nations particularly.
See Definite League Split.
The 'irreconcilables are disposed to
interpret the new treaty as a definite
declaration to the world that the Hard
ing Administration does not propose to
be bound by either the League OF
Nations, or anything its council and
aa NM or mr.
They have long since construed the
league as dead" and they regard the
declaration Of the Administration
policy with reference to IL as the last
nail to be driven In its coffin"
The failure Of the treaty to ex-
plicitly contain a Reputation by the
United States Of those provisions
Of the Versailles pact which CAV,
Shantung to japan, Mesopotamia TO
Great Britain and Syria to France,
they are inclined to view with dis
satisfaction. They think the treaty
could well have been more explicit
regarding those provisions OF the
Versailles document extending be-
yond the league covenant about
which there has been so much Sen
atorial criticism, and they may seek
to have it amended SO that II shall
be.
ReservatlOnists Pleased.
The "reservationists' expressed
complete APPROVAL OF the treaty,
which they regard practically as a
ratification of the Versailles treaty,
with the wholesale reservation that
while the United States shall not
be denied any of the benefits &C.
cruing from II. the American peo-
pie are not to be bound by any of its
provisions except in so far as this
country shall elect" They believe
the position of the United States is
similar to what 1t would have been
had the Senate ratified the Versailles
treaty with reservations.
1t is also pointed out that the
treaty stipulates that the United
States shall not be bound by the
provisions of the Versailles treaty re-
lating to the league unless 1t shall
expressly give its assent to such
action"
Question Of Authority Raised.
The question is asked as to wheth.
er the United States in this respect
is to be construed as the executive
branch of the Government, or as the
executive and legislative branches
acting together. and whether such
assent could be given by the Ad
ministration without the advice and
consent of the Senate. 1t is not he
lieved however that the Administra
ton would attempt to give such as
sent without first securing the sane.
ton Of the Senate.
The attitude of the Senate will have
much to do with a decision upon with
drawal of the American army of &C.
cupation in Germany. 1t ID. believed
here. The Administration has let It
be known that once the treaty Ia rati.
fled II Is not the desire of this nation
to add to Germany's burden. Senti.
ment among the American public as
to whether the army of occupation
should remain in Germany will prob
ably be the turning point in the de-
cision, and 1t is probable that the AID.
ministration will look to the Senate
for this expression of public senti.
ment.