Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-22
Leaders Confer With Presi'
dent and Secretary Lansing
and Get Data.
Mr.. STONE TO ANSWER
SPEECH OF Mr.. ROOT
Will Cite Action of Roosevelt Ad-
minist1ation in Korean Affair as
Precedent in Belgian Invasion.

Discussion of foreign affairs on the
floor of the Senate by administration
senator's was awaited with unusual m
terest today. following last night s
iWhite House conference between Pres
ident Wilson. Chairmen Stone and Flood
of the Senate and House foreign af-
fairs committees and Majority Leader
Kern of the Senate.
| The conference was held at the IN
stance of Senator Stone. who is to ad-
dress the Senate later in the week on
the admittedly grave situation result
| ing from the announced intention OF
the central powers to sink, after Feb
ruarv 90. all armed merchant ships OF
the enemy.
The conference was said authorita lively
| today to have been held in order that
! the President might inform the con-
| gressionai leaders on the status of the
negotiations with Germany over SUD
marine warfare.
| Senator Stone. it was said, asked to
! see the President to learn what the
| facts in the negotiations really We're
| The President thought Senator kerh
| and Representative Flood should have
the same information and asked them
| to be present.
The President told the three leaders
that although the foreign situation
was grave, it was not critical at the
present time. 1t is understood that he
said the United States would remain
| firm in it's position that merchantmen
have d right to arm for defensive pur-
poses.
Secretary Lansing discussed the situa-
ton further with the President this
morning, but said he had received no
| information today regarding the Ger
man situation.
! The President does not believe there
| should be much discussion OF the fos<
egn situation in Congress, because OF
| the danger of embarrassing the nego-
tiations being carried on by the state
Department.
Senator Stone. however. will make
speech later this week. replying to for
mer Senator Roots attack on the ad-
ministration before the republican state
convention in New York.
Gets Data From Mr.. Lansing.
Following the conference Senator
Stone talked with Secretary Lansing,
who il was said. furnished the senator
with information TO BsnS used in his
speech.
While defending the course Of the ad-
ministration in regard to the foreign re-
lations of the United States. 1t is ex-
pected-- Senator Stone will reply to the
recent speech of former Senator Root OF
New York attacking the policy of the
administration, and will attempt to draw
a deadly parallel between the action
of President Roosevelt and his Secretary
of State, Mr.. Root, toward Korea (now
chosen) in 1904. and the course of the
administration in regard to the INVASION
of Belgium in 1914
The Senate yesterday adopted res
olution offered by Senator Stone calling
for the correspondence between the
United States government and Korea
when Japan occupied Korea during the
Russo apanese war.
Administration officials said they pro-
posed to show by the correspondence that
the United States was bound by treaty
to aid Korea. whereas the treaty with
Belgium provides only that the United
States should respect the neutrality Of
Belgium.
The treaty of 1882 between the United
States and Korea contains the follow
"if other powers deal unjustly or op-
pressively with either government the
other will exert their good offices, on
being informed of the case, to bring
about an amicable arrangement, thus
showing their friendly feeling"
They declare that both Col Roosevelt.
as President, and Mr.. Root. as Secre-
Korea.
The foreign relations committee dis
covered
respondence bearing on the matter was
in it's files.
Yueng- -Tchen, special envoy Of Korea,
without credentials. dated December
10. sos. said:
"Since your visit we have received the
following communication from Mr.. Kim,
the regularly accredited charge daft
faires Of Korea in Washington:
"I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your note of the gath
ultimo, informing me that by agree
ment. signed November II. by the plen-
ipotentiaries of Japan and Korea. by
which Japan becomes the medium for
conducting the foreign relations OF Korea
you had. under date of the 24th ultimo.
telegraphed the American minister to
withdraw from Korea.
81 have further to inform you that
] have this day received instructions
from Mr.. vi Wan Yong. the acting
minister of foreign affairs of Korea
to transfer to the japanese legation
the archives and other property in my
charge.
Mr.. Root Refused to Intervene.
I'm view of this official communica-
| ton. 1t is difficult to see how the gov
ernment of the United States can pro-
ceed in any manner upon the entirely
different view of the facts which you
tell US personally you had been led to
| take by the information which you
have received. 1t is to be observed
moreover, that the official communica-
tions from the Japanese government
agree with the official communicat tions
from the Korean government and are
quite inconsistent with your informa-
Ition.
| "If, however. the difficulty of COM
plying with your wishes were sur
mounted. we should be met by the fact
that on February %, 1904. and on Au-
gust 22. 1904. the Korean government
concluded with the japanese govern
|ment treaties which are not now in any
respect impeached or questioned, by
which Korea gave to Japan extensive
control over her affairs and put herself
SO completely under the protection of
1.-THE government of Japan as to render
completely impossible the application
of the provisions of the treaty with the
limited States above quoted.
THE aforementioned treaties be-
tween Japan and Korea appear to be
of such a character as practically to
| give Japan control over the foreign re-
lIations of Korea and to make the latest
| treaty of November II, 1905. which is
now called into question. but a slight
advance upon the relations of control
previously existing. Those previous
relations of control amount to a COM
lplete bar to any interference by the
United States under the treaty Of 1882
bound to advise you that the govern
ment of the United States does not
consider that any good purpose would
be subserved by taking notice OF your
lstatemfpt'"