Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-18
EXECUTIVE FIRMLY
|. OPPOSES PROGRAM
OF RESERVATIONS
Fears Plan Would Vitiat,
Work of Peace Con-
ference.
CONFERS WITH REPUBLICAN
SENATORS AT WHITE HOUSE
Colt Defends and Sherman At.
tacks League of Nations
Provision.
BORAH PROPOSES REFERENDUM
Idaho Senator Suggests Question OF
Disposition Of Treaty BE Sent
to Electorate.
BoRAH PROPOSES REFERENDUM
Idaho Senator Suggests Question OF
Disposition Of Treaty Be Sent
to Electorate.
tRv Associated Press. |

NV Associated Press
WASHINGTON. July IL How the
Versailles conference reached many OF
the agreements embodied in the treaty
of peace was described by President
Wilson today to three Republican
Senator'S invited to the White House
at the head OF long list of Republl.
can members whom he purposes to
take into his confidence. Afterward
one of his callers. Senator Colt. OF
Rhode Island. said Mr.. Wilson had
been able to place the Shantung set.
tlement in a new light and had clari-
fed other disputed points In the treaty.
Senator McCumber. OF North Dakota,
and Senator Nelson, OF Minnesota, this
others who the President, were
reticent as TO the subject discussed. hut
said the President had given them
much interesting information.
Senator Colt who announced hi.
general approval Of the league of ma
tions in Senate speech delivered
shortly before he went to the White
House. indicated after the conference
that his doubt over certain portions
removed. He said he was not ready
TO express an opinion regarding Shan
tung and tntimated that the President
might make public a statement soon
on the subject.
Confers with McCunber.
Senator McCumber is the only Re-
publican member OF the Foreign Re-
,ations Committee who has favored the
league. and II Is understood Mr.. Will
son talked over with him committee
action on the treaty and the general
situation on the Republican side of
the Senate.
Senator Nelson never has made
pubic declaration for or against the
s taS y
position to rese, vations of any char
acter in Senate ratification of the
No Right to Summon President.
The President tomorrow Will con-
tlnue his talks with Senators inclined
TO be friendly toward the treaty pro-
Visions though II is said that later he
every Republican Senator including
those who have most bitterly opposed
Kenyon. Iowa. both OF whom have kept
open minds on the treaty, have been
invited to call on the President to-
Nary, Oregon. a league supporter. and and
Gapper Kansas. who has taken no
dennite INT stand! stand: In the afternoon.
lons Committee with regard 10 meet
Ing the President as a body was ex.
cCin,hea chairman IN ndrs statement tonight by
sionat committee has any right or
should have any right to summon" q.
rresanent sd before It. and that Mr.. VIII
no prediction whether the committee
would accept later the President's OF.
,.er re-. to receive 1t at the White House.
but pointed out that so far COMMITTEES
consideration of the treay is in It's
preliminary stages
While the President was beginning
MS w nite House conference, the SEN.
ate debated Shantung and the Iea~ne
anu ADOPTED. without record vote, a
resolution by Senator Rorah. Republi-
relative 10 the Shantung negotiations
Spscihcally the measure. which was
not debated. asks the President for any
ihtormation as TO whether the Chinese
deieEates were "intimidat ed by the
Japanese, and requests COPY OF a
letter said to have been written on
behalf of General Bliss. Secretary Ian
sing and Henry White proiestsns
against the shantunE settlement.
Colt Supports League.
IN his address announcing acceptance
OF the league principles. Senator Colt
netc.area nto, the covenant would not con-
nor create supergovernment. and as
serted that ''if il is unthinkabIe for
us to desert England. France and Ttaly
@ wmen me world is in chaos. then we
must become a member OF the league
As providing the only machinery TOR
the restoration OF peace and order"
re withheld Judgment. however. as to
lures.
Senator Sherman. Republican. I'M.
nois. attacking the Shantung pro-
vision as step toward the dismembsr-
ment OF China and the enthronement
OF IAN Asiatic Kaiser at Tokyo de.
clared japan never Intended to give
up the peninsula passing to her con.
trot under the peace treaty. He char
acteriZed the league Of nations as ''tha
colossal confidence game Of the ages"
a referendum to determine the stata
OF popular sentiment on the league was
proposed by Senator Borah. who
charged that Information OF publio
opinion abroad had been distorted. Ha
read editorials from four European
publications to support his claim that
the people OF Europe generally were
opposed to the league. adding that "the
nurveyors OF news do not carry this
information"
Would Sound Allied Sentiment.
During the day IL developed that
some administration Senator's were
urging steps to ascertain whether GER
tain reservations proposed by the on.
position might be acceptable TO ti,s
other governments signatory to tho
treaty II was suggegted that much
discussion might be saved in the Sen.
ate should II develop that these reser.
vattons. considered Objectionable by
tho administration only because they
might necessitate reopen!ng nesotia.