The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-18
SAYS SHANTUNG
COMPROMISE
Wilson Understood to Admit
to Senator'S Settlement Was
Necessary to Get Results.
THREE AT WHITE HOUSE
McCumber, Nelson and Colt
Hold Confidential Confer
ence With President.
THREE AT WHITE HOUSE
Special Despatch to The Sex.


WASHINGTON, July II. President
Wilson began his series Of conferences
today with Republican Senators who
have been or are to be specially in
vited to the White House for the pur-
pose. Evidently the invitation list was
framed with studious care. without
exception the Republican Senators
who were at the White House to-day
there were only three of them
were men who failed to sign the round
robin against the league constitution
and who are inclined toward the Will
son covenant or avowedly standing
apart and of more or less open mind.
1t is understood the President in his
discussions with the Senators ex-
pressed a desire to make a fuller cx-
PLANTATION of the details of the Shan
tung settlement than he felt 1t proper
to make publicly. Apparently there is
no disposition at the White House to
present the Shantung settlement in
any other light than as a compromise
necessary for the successful conclu-
sion of difficult negotiations and justi-
fed by the general results obtained.
The President is said to feel that a
knowledge of details concerning the
negotiations at Paris will reflect the
results in a different light than ap-
pears from surface action on a single
problem.
Senator McCumber IN. d. was the
first Of the callers. He has stood out
as the Republican Of strongest lean
ings for the Wilson covenant, for the
league as It Is written. He has beer
pro- -W'ilson-league from the beginning
and the Prcsiden. had no opposition tc
expect or fear in talking with him.
As yet no virile opponent Of tbt
Wilson league has been at the White
, House. and II such have been invited
the fact has not been made public. Il
was stated when announcement wa!
made of the sending of invitations tha
Senator Lodge (Mass.) and Others
would not be sighted. but the thret
Senators who conferred and three
more who are to confer tomorrow ar,
men not inclined to be strongly com
hotive and have never definitely
aligned themselves with the statesmen
who are fighting for the preservation
of American institutions and nationa
Ideals.
McCumber silent About Talk.
Senator McCumber was with the ~ es
ident more than an hour. After the con
ference he said:
our conversation covered wild
| range. and II the President wants Z
say what We talked about that is al
right. But as far as I am concerned
consider that our conversation was coma
dental and I do not feel at liberty t
disclose what happened.
The President gave me much conf
dental information that I am not a
| liberty to discuss or to use in a speech
| His conversation tended to show hoy
conclusions were reached in the Peac
Conference regarding various matters Il
tho treaty. 1t did not change my view
| In any regard and l am still OF opinio
that some reservations are necessary Il
connection with our ratification. TIL
President made no effort to change m
| attitude"
Senator Nelson (Minn) was with tn
| President from until almost O'Clock
Senator Nelson said the President talke
with him about an hour. 1t was a YER
friendly and pleasant discussion, 4
| which the President went into many O
the difficult features OF reaching agree
ment on different phases OF the treaty
He did not attempt to present any ney
reasons why Its ratification was neces
sary. The conversation took a wild
range. dealing with Shantung, Russia
tho Balkans and other topics Senate
Nelson suggested the desirability o
bringing into existence a federated re
public OF the Balkans and found tn
President decidedly kindly disposed to
ward the idea.
| Mr.. Nelson has indicated heretofor
that he favors certain reservations in tn
ratification and said that nothing in hi
! discussion at the White House to-da
had changed his position. His impres
sion seemed to be that the President &
his present talks with Senators is layin
the foundation for further conference
| hereafter.
Colts Views Arc Unchanged.
Senator Colt (R. ID went to the Whit
! House Immediately after making
/ speech on the league covenant in tn
Senate. After the conference with tn
President ne said nothing had trans
! pired TO change his views or position
| that he favored reservations, but wa
| more than ever determined that reser
| vations should not Jeopardize the Who'll
structure.
| The President Is said to feel that
knowledge of details concerning the ne
! gotiations at Paris will reflect the re
suits In a different light than appear
from surface action on a single problem
On the subject OF reservations II
Eaid to be the Presidents attitude tina
even though In some respects a cleare
definition OF terms or provisions Nigh
! be considered by some as desirable sue
I action by the United States would ope
the gates for reservations or otht
changes by other Powers signAtory I
tho treaty and the ultimate result migf
be the total upsetting of the balance G
conflicting interests achieved with q
much labor at the Peace Conference. S
far as can be learned there Is no sul
4 Continued on second Pqoe