Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-06
-MR. lansing SAYS
j. S..|DEAOF LEAGUE
WAS NOT PRESSED
Tells Committee Draft Adopt
ed Along Lines Suggested
=
in American Plan.

Secretary Lansing told the Senate
foreign relations committee today
that the American plan for q league
of nations was mot pressed at Yer.
sailles and never was presented to
the full peace conference.
The Secretary. appearing at a pub
lie hearing of the committee. said he
did mot know whether a copy Of the
American draft still was In existence.
He presumed; he said. that the draft
was made by President Wilson and
added that . cory might stilI be In
the Pfssadentss vSssession. ~ NJ
Mr.. Landing said 1t was true that
President Wiison had cableds to the
'pseas conference fequestine .urnE&N|
eolndsntiaf ininutss OF The pfocsSa-
inss ef sths eomn1ission on the league
q Nations he notafurnished; to The,
Mr. Lansing did Z not Gre recall ali how. Inc
American plan differed from that,
eventually adopted. Asked by Senator
Brandegees republican. Of Connecticut
whether it WAS true that the. Ameri-
can plan was drafted BY. two New
witness replieds>. -
at think that 10 not true"
"And was the plan not destroyed
because it.wass so, absurd r. asked Mr..
i. never nsafd.Pf that" s.ad, NJ.
Lansing. 80. =s..z5s,t,
Improvement on American Plan.
The Secretary, said he thought the
plan now embodied in the league
covenant was "a decided improve
ment" on the American plan. He
could not go into details, however.
because he was not a-member of the
commission which drafted the cove
nant. The American plan. he thought,
was along the same general lines"
Mr.. Lansing said he had presented
q resolution covering general prin-
ciples'' of. q league, but no action
was taken on 1t. -,s~ ~.
/ Asked how expenses Of the league
were to be paid. the Secretary said
he understood the league had no au-
thority to ''assess'' any nation, but
their payment, so far as the United
States was concerned. would be en-
tirely dependent upon the decision Of
Congress, under the same plan as
that by which expenses of nineteen
other international organizations in
which the United States participates
now are paid.
Discusses shantung Issue.
Discussing the shantung provision
of the treaty. Secretary Lansing said
the Lansing-I shii, agreement. made to
] obtain reafhrmation by Japan of the
open-door policy in China, was en-
tered into by the American govern
ment without knowledge Of the secret
treaty between Japan and the allies
for a transfer Of German concessions
in Shantung to japan.
Senator Brandegee asked regarding
press reports that the President had
cabled Premier Clemenceau Of France
disappearing request Of the French
a true statement Of the facts" said
Mr.. Lansing. THE senate chamber
in Paris asked Mr.. Clemenceau to lay
before 1t the minutes Of the commits
sion on the league Of nations and Mr..
Clemenceau said as that was mat
ter pertaining to other governm ents,
as well as the French government, he
must make inquiry.
HE inquired Of me and I said my
impression was that, because OF the
great freedom Oh QeOaI0, IL mfRhE
cause irritation and would be unWise
to lay the minutes before the senate.
and that I would communicate with
the President. The President agreed
with me and cabled the peace COM
mission"
"secret Treaty" Taken Up.
The shantung settlement then was
taken UP by Senator Borah, republi-
can. of Idaho. who asked when the
State Department first heard of the
secret treaty between Japan, Great
Britain, France and Italy for the ,ces-
sion of Shantung to Japan.
"I should have to look the matter
I'D before could give q definite an
sWer," Mr.. Lansing replied. Hes later
promised to do this and inform the COM
mittee.
When the Lansing .Ishii, agreement
was made, Mr.. Lansing said. the de-
partment knew Of Japan's .tweAtysone
demands upon China. but added that
| the demands did not enter into the dis.
cussion Of the agreement.
cat no time was. 1t Understood that
| the Lansing Ishii agreement was the
indorsement of Japan'g twenty-one de.
mands?" asked Senator Borah.
Absolutely not said Mr.. Lansing.
| I'VE were opposed to them"
"And the agreement was not enforce-
- 7ConfinIIsd an eeoond Pare.l