The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-07

told the committee he would have to re-
fresh his memory. He said he took no
part In the discussion by which the
Shantung affair was finally settled. He
said he had filed no statement In regard
to It. but that Gen. Bliss has written a
letter to the President.
Who signed the letter. Senator Borah
asked
Lansing: Gen Bliss.
Borah Did the letter purport to be
written on the part Of any one other
than himself?
Lansing: Yes on the part of Mr.. White
and myself.
Borah Can you recall in n general
way the contents of the letter?
Lansing: should not want to as II
was a letter between Gen. Bliss and
the President.
Borah: Is there any copy of It in the
State Department.
Lansing: There may be. 1 am not
sure.
Borah: Is It available for the COM
nittee7
Lansing: No, not from me. 1t is a
to the President.
Borah: Was 1t in the nature OF a pro-
test against what is known as the set
| Element of the Shantung affair?
Lansing; No.
Borah: What was the nature of II
then?
lansing The President had conferred
with the commissioners In my Office in
connection with the Japaneses situation
and after we had expressed our general
view In regard to the matter the Presi-
dent wanted to know II we would COM
municate them In writing. Gen Bliss
prepared a letter and showed 1t to Mr.
White and myself, and we said we con-
| CURED in II and there was no reason
| why we should write separate letters as
we had nothing to add to it. That was
some days before the Shantung state
ment. 1t was a matter of advice, as tc
our advice to the President.
Borah: Did the advice correspond
with what was afterward accomplished
Lansing: No.
Borah: Why is not that letter avail.
able?
Lansing: You must ask the President
that. He has the letter.
Borah: Oh, he has 1t, has he?
Lansing: II was sent to him. I as
sumo he has It
| Boreh: Did you see a memo which
was fled by the experts who were ad
vising the commission with reference tc
Far Eastern affairs concerning the at
tempt Of the Japanese delegate to con
| troll the Chinese settlement and to In
timiGate the Chinese representative;
| with reference to Shantung?
| Does Not Recall Memo.
Lansing: We'll, 1 would not say that
saw such memo exactly as you de
scribe II because we had numerou;
memos on the subject.
Borah: Was there a memo which par
took In its general nature of n descrlp
ton or an account of the action of the
Japanese delegates toward the Chimes,
delegates with reference to Shantung?
! Lansing: / have no recollection of sucl
/ a memo.
After some discussion OF the tim,
| which elapsed between settlement of tn,
Shantung matter and it's being mad,
public Senator Borah asked At the tim,
that China broke of her diplomatic re
lations with Germany were any assur
ances given TO China. either directly o.
| indirectly through the American Minis
ter at Pekin. with reference TO the Unite,
States taking an interest in Chinese at
fairs at Versailles and seeing that he
rights were protected?
Lansing: cannot recall.
Borah: The record of that would b.
in the State Department II any such in
structions were sent?
Lansing: Yes
Borah / wish you would make a not
of that and also make a note of the fac
as to whether that assurance was re
stated at the time that China actual!
declared war against Germany. Thes
are all the questions desire to asksyo
until we get these other facts.
Lodge: Mr.. Secretary, has there eve
been any note or intimation-I will no
undertake to describe the form-of an
! sort from Japan that she would regar,
any attempt on the part of the Unite'
States or Its nationals to lend money I
China as interfering with Japanese there
tending to create disturbance, and that
might be brought up under Article Is o
the league7
Lansing: never heard OF such
thing.
Senator Knox (Pa.): 1t is true. is
not, Mr.. Secretary, that under the de
mands that were made upon China b
Japan in 1918, called commonly tn
twenty-one demands, one was that
China needed money for the building O
railroads and the development OF her re
sources she must first apply to Japan?
Lansing: Yes.
Knox Might rot that raise a ques
ton that would go to the League of Ma
tionsf
u Lansing: You know she modifie