Evening star., 1921-09-24
PEACE PACT VALID
WITHOUT GERMANY
ACCEPTING CHANGE
Reservations Proposed by
Senate Committee Regard
ed Solely as U. S. Issue.
SENATE TODAY TAKES UP
| TREATY CONSIDERATION
Lodge Stresses Need of Prompt
Action-Borah Still Stands
Alone in Opposition.

The view that German acceptance
will not be necessary to validate the
two reservations proposed by the Sen
ATE foreign relations committee to the
GERMAN treaty was indicated today in
high administration quarters.
NO official would express definite
position on the subject, but il was
argued that neither of the reserva-
tlons would affect Germany's present
understanding of the meaning - the
treaty, and that therefore it would be
wholly unnecessary to specifically bind
the German government to accept the
form of ratification recommended by
the committee. 1t was said that the
only possible reason for forcing Ger
man acceptance of any reserva ton
would be to change the actual under
standing held by German officials of
some part of the treaty, condition
inapplIcable to either of the commit
tee reservations.
Regarded Domestic Problem.
In the view of the administration
the reservation proposed by Senator
Lodge providing that the United
States shall not be represented on any
OF the foreign commissions created
under the treaty of Versailles except
by specific authorize ton Of Congress
deals entirely with domestic prob
lem in which Germany has no interest.
The treaty provides that the United
States shall participate in these COM
missions only as il decides to do So
and ii is held that the manner in
which that decision is to be made can
be of no possible concern to the Ger
man government
In the same quartersit is felt tha'
the second reservation. specifyin
th.s protection given 10 the Unite'
Sistes in its property interests un
der the treaty shall apply as we'll
American nationals. accomplishes Il
result except 10 further clarity wha
ii is maintained already is stated i
the treaty itself Thus il is argue
that German acceptance of this re-
erration would be entirely supe.
fuouS.
Commissioners Not Concerned.
1t is also the view of administrI
ton officials that adoption of the reG
ervations by the Senate would in II
! way invalidate any of the function
of American commissioners who ar,
now sitting with European commits
SlonS. 1t is pointed out that the su-
preme council, in which the Unitet
Sta:eS is represented by Amba aSss 7oI
Harvey. is in no way a creation
the treaty and has no direct connec-
ton with ii, and that the America
representative with the reparatiou.,
commission is serving in a capacit!
of observer only.
The Senate today began considera-
tion of the treaty with Germany SEN
ator Lodge, republican leader and
chairman of the foreign relations
committee. moved Immediately after
the session opened that the Senate go
into open executive session for dis
cuSSion of the treaty, and his motion
prevailed.
Ratification of the treaty with Ger
many, and also of the treaties with
Austria and Hungary, which the
President sent to the Senate along
with the German pact, is expected,
but not. however, without a consider
able amount of debate.
Prompt Action Urged.
The debate was opened by Senator
Lodge. who stressed the need OF
prompt action on the German treaty.
and also those with Austria and Hun
gary. He said that he has no inten-
ton unduly to press for action. bur
that he hoped the Senate would Sus-
tain him in his effort to get quick
disposition of the treaties.
There seems to be no alternative, il
these treaties are not ratified, except
to remain Indefinitely in state of
technical war with Germany. Austria
and Hungary said Senator Lodge.
81 am sure that Congress and the Sem
ate and the country are anxious TO
bring that anomalous condition to an
end"
Senator Lodge said that the sooner
this technical state of war is ended the
sooner will business be, stabilized. He
had read to the Senate a note which
hs had received from President Hard
ing on the reopening of Congress this
week in which the President strongly
urged prompt action on the peace
treaty.
In Harmony With Congress.
In his note he President declared that
the conventions with Germany and the
other powers negotiated by his admin-{
istration were in complete harmony with
the peace resolution adopted by Con-
gress. He said tina; the executive had
endeavored in fact to carry out the eX-
press wish of Congress, and added that
it would be most gratifying if the Sem
ate could act promptly and thus make
it possible to put aside the last veStige
of war and bring about a return of
peace.
Today single senator, Borah of
Idaho. is she outstanding figure in the
opposition to the ratification of the
treaty with Germany. 1t is his con-
tention that the treaty, if ratified, will
inevitably result in the United States
becoming again entangled in the af-
fairs of Europe. 1t was to prevent
such entanglements that Senator Bo-
rah entered upon the fight against
the ratification of the Versailles
treaty and the league of nations COW
enant To vote now for the ratifica-
ton of the Harding pact, ne feels,
would be to abandon the principle for
which he has fought during the last
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