The Washington herald., 1919-08-20

Vantages would be involved In max
| ing such a deposit.
Moses asked how, without such a
depository. the engagement of Japan
regarding Shantung could be en-
/ forced.
There would be as many copies as
| there were members of the conference
| in existence much longer than the
| time within which we shall learn
whether or not Japan will fulfill her
obligations" said the President
You mean in the private papers of
the personnel of the Council of Four?"
asked Moses.
II would not call them private pa
pers," said the President. Il have a
copy, Senator. I regard them as a
public trust, not private papers, and
l can assure you that they will not
/ be destroyed"
Moses suggested the possibility of
all members of the Council OF Four
passing out of office.
u should deem it my duty-I can
not speak for the others-to leave
! those papers where they could be
made accessible" said the President
Japan Refused to Sign.
7 Under questioning by Senator John
son the President pointedly said that
he was notified in Paris that the Jap
anese had been instructed not to sign
without Shantung. Secretary Lans-
ing's testimony. in which Lansing
said he did not believe Japan would
have refused to sign was read to the
President, but the latter replied his
conclusion was different. The Presi-
/ dent said he agreed to the Shantung
! settlement as 1t stands because he be-
/ leved it was the best that could be
| obtained. He added, however, he
would have much preferred a different
settlement, notwithstanding the prom
/ Use of Japan.
/ The President declined to answer
/ only one question. That was in con-
nection with the American Commits
sion's advocacy OF fixing a specified
reparations sum. and why il failed to
, get sdch an amendment. The Presi-
! dent said he would tell about II. il
1t was left out OF the notes.
1t is not an explanation discredit-
| able to anybody" the President said,
/ but il is an International secret. They
AFFECT the internal political affairs of
other countries"
The President added that he did
not think matters of this sort should
ever be given publicity. and the ques-
ton was passed.
The President also refused to d.
vulge how the Americans voted in
the League of Nations Commission
on the racial equality amendment
introduced by the japanese. He
! said he was mot sure he was at
| liberty to answer because tina,
touches the intimacy OF great
many controversies that occurred in
! the conference
Il think it is best in the interest
OF good understanding that shoulI
not answer" the President added.
Secret Treaties.
When Senator johnson returned Il
the question OF secret treaties the
President stated explicitly that he
knew nothing of the Pact Of Londor
or other secret treaties when he out,
lined his fourteen points.
He reiterated that the Shantunx set
tlement was a disappointment to him
The President said America mad,
no promises to China, but she knew
we would do all possible to protect
her interests at the peace table.
And the decision (Shantung) ulti
mately reached at the Peace Confer.
ence was a disappointment to you?'
asked Johnson.
Yes sir" replied the President, 50
may frankly say that it was"
Senator Knox Of Pennsylvania
summed up his view OF the results OF
the conference when he said 1T will
be many weeks before the treaty
comes out Of the committee"
Hnrding's View.
Concerning the Presidents opinion
respecting Article X, Senator Harding
Of Ohio said: The President mini,
mized our contractural obligations
under Article x and magnifed the
moral obligation in order to reassurs
the country against the involvement
in the armed conflicts Of the Ole
World"
Senator New Of Indiana said:
Il obtained no information which
tended in any way to alter my opin.
ion regarding the treaty. I gained
the impression. however, that the
President himself would accept res.
ervatons rather than see the treaty
fail of ratification"
Senator Moses OF New Hampshire
said:
Il went to the White House seekins
information which I did not get ir
plentitude, to say the least I thought
the President was very frank, and
while there were many questions he
would not discuss he said so. Afte,
hearing the President reached the
conclusion that the league Of nations
is document of faith. We must hope
and believe that everything will com.
out all right. I am still opposed tc
1t as much as ever. nevertheless"
A long list Of typewriter questions
prepared by Senator Fall was Ief,
with the President for written answer
These questions go into the reason,
why the United States Is named as a
participant in the numerous commits
sions formed under the treaty to exc
cute the treaty provisions. The drs,
question asks:
In your Judgment. have you not
the power and authority by proclama-
/ don to declare in appropriate words
that peace exists. and thus restore
) the status OF peace between the gov
/ ernments and people of this country