New-York tribune., 1921-09-23
Fight ON Peace
Treaty Hinges
On Rhine Army
Opposition Senators Con-
tend Approval of Pact
Would Keep u. S. Troops
in Germany Indefinitely
Preparations Issue Raised
Harding to Name Member
of Board; Senators In
sist OH Confirmation
From The Tribume's Washington Bureau

W NAoAAAt<N O4N, sept. ZZ.--At the
meeting of the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee to-day signs of opposi-
tlon arose to the German peace treaty
IN its present form. No action was
taken and the committee will consider
the treaty again tomorrow.
To-day's discussion revolved chiefly
about the questions whether under the
treaty the American troops would be
kept on the Rhine indefinitely and
whether the United States would an
point member Of the reparations com
mission.
AT the request Of the committee.
Senator Lodge consulted Secretary
! hughes on these two matters. AL
i though Senator Lodge made no state
| ment as to what Mr.. Hughes said at
this conference. Senators were in
formed that the policy of the State De-
partnlent. with the support of the
PRESIDENT, would be to appoint mem
per on the reparations commission if
the treaty should be ratified. They
were informed further that Secretary
Hughes took the position that it was
an open question, never passed on by
/ the Supreme Court, whether the Ex.
ecutive had the power to appoint to a
place existing under treaty without
the advice and consent of the Senate.
! Insist on Confirmation
| Under the circumstances the oppo-
! sition to the treaty will assume that
the Administration intends to appoint
a member of the reparations commits
sion without consulting the Senate or
asking authority of Congress, and will
aemand a reservation in the form of
NO. OF the Lodge reservations to the
league covenant, which will require
| such an appointment to be authorized
by Congress and the appontee to he
| confirmed by the Senate.
senators Borah, Brandegee and John
! son among the Republicans, and Sena-
! tor Shields, on the Democratic side
were disposed to raise questions as to
! the treaty. Senator Borah, as is we'll
known, is fatty against it and he took
tne lead in pointing out objections
to it. N'''''' ,
| Senator Borah contended that if the
united States ratified the provision
with reference to guarantees it wonld
De morally bound to keep troops on
the Rhine to help in their enforcement.
he said in the committee that techni
cally the troops could be Withdrawn
but In fact if the United States accent,
ed these guarantees it would have to
keep troops abroad if France and Eng.
land demanded it. Senator Borah held
that it would be immoral to claim the
advantages and not consent to assume
the sponsibilities.
Senator Lodge thought the I1n;t.d
States would have the right to with
draw the troops and assumed no obli
cation to keep them there
Urges President to Act
Senator Borah said there was one
way In which the question of retention
OF the troops could be removed from
debate quickly and that was by the
President sending word to the COM
mittee of the Senate that the troops
would be withdrawn
With respect to the reparations com
mission Senator Borah said that if this
country ratified the treaty it would po
inevitably into the reparations com
mission and become entangled for forty
years in every conceivable political
financial and economic question of Eu
rope. He said the United States should
adop. Reservation of the Lodge reser-
vations.
Senator Borah held that ratification
sailles treaty "by the back door"
Senator Johnson expressed great in
terest in Senator Borah's contentious,
as did Senator Shields. Senator Bran
degee indicated that Secretary Hughes
wanted to name an American on the
reparations commission.
Senator Kellogg thought this ought
to be done, but Senator johnson de-
clared that under no circumstances
should it be done.
The meeting ended in debate, which
will be resumed tomorrow. Almost
half of the committee was absent. in
cluding Senator Knox and Senator
Hitchcock
Lodge Consults Hughes
At the request of the committee.
Senator Lodge, as chairman, called on
Secretary Hughes this afternoon and
laid before him the objections and
questions which had been raised. 1t is
understood the Administration does
not view the treaty as obligating this
country to keep troops on the Rhine.
These troops are there under the
armistice, not under treaty.
What view Secretary Hughes ex-
pressed as to adopting Reservation is
not disclosed. Senator Lodge did not
say whether he would oppose the res
ervation. 1t is the belief of those who
oppose the treaty that the reservation
VIII be accepted. ITO adopt it would
not require Germany's consent.
Senator Lodge is understood to have
given Secretary Hughes assurance this
afternoon that tho trootv would 10