The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20
PRESIDENT QUIZzED
ON TREATY'S AIMS
Continued from Second Page.

tary lansing had looked that up and
told you. can only reply from my own
knowledge and my own knowledge came
after ! reached Paris.
Senator Borah-When did the secret
| treaty between Great Britain, France
and the other nations of Europe with
reference to certain adjustments in
Europe first come 70 your knowledge?
Was that after you had reached Paris
also?
The President-Yes. the whole series
of understandings were disclosed to me
! for the first time then.
Senator Borah-Then we had no
knowledge OF these secret treaties so far
! as our Government was concerned until
YOU reached PARISH
| The President-Not unless there was
! information at the State Department of
which know nothing.
Senator Borah-Do you know when
these secret treaties between Japan.
Great Britain and other countries were
! first made known TO China?
Tells of First Suggestion.
The President-No, sir 1 do not !
reOember a meeting OF what was popu-
larry called the Council of Ten, after our
reaching Paris. in which 1t was first sug-
gested that all these understandings
should be laid upon the table of the con-
! ference. That was some time after we
reached there, and l do not know
whether that was China's frst knowl-
edge of these matters or not.
Senator Borah-Would 1t be proper
| for me to ask II Great Britain and
| France insisted upon maintaining these
secret treaties Mt the Peace Conference
| as they were made?
The PRESIDENT think II is proper for
IN" to answer that question, sir. / will
put It in this way: They felt that they
could not receds from them, that Is TO
say that they were bound by them, but
when they involved general interests
such as they realized were involved,
they were quite willing. and indeed 1
think DESTROYS, that they should be re-
considered with the consent of the other
parties / mean with the consent SO Tar
as they were concerned of the other
parties
Senator Swanson-Can you tell us or
would It be proper TO do So OF your
understanding with Japan as to tho re-
turn OF Shantung-a question which has
been very much discussed?
! The President have published the
wording of the understanding, Senator
l cannot be confident that 1 quote II
! literally out 4 KNOW that L quote II In
substance. 1t was that Japan should
return to China in full sovereignty the
old province of Shantung so far as
Germany had had any claims upon It.
, preserving to herself the right to es-
tablish a residential district at Using
tao, which is the town of Kiachow Bay
that with regard to the railways and
mines she should retain only the rights
OF an economic concession there, with
the right, however. to maintain a spe.
cial body OF police on the railway the
personnel of which should be Chinese
under Japanese instructors nominated
by the managers OF the company and
appointed by the Chinese Government
think that 10 the whole of It,
Senator Borah-Was that understan nd.
ing oral?
The Presidknt-Senator Borah asked
whether this understanding was ora
or otherwise. l do not like to describe
the operation exactly II 1t is not perfectly
discreet. but as a matter of fact this was
technically oral. but literally written anC
formulated, and the formulation agreed
upon.
Senator Johnson (CaL)-When, Mr.
President, is the return to be made?
The President-That was left unde
cided. Senator. but we were assured a
the time that It would be as soon al
possible.
Senator Johnson-Did not the Japa.