The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-16
WILSON MAY REPLY
TO SENATOR KNOX
Considers Issuing Public
Statement Designed to De-
feat Resolution.
FRANTIC APPEALS SENT
Wilson Alarmed and Resent
'ful-High French Official
Complains Of Censorship.

toptrt0aH, Hls' dH rfphts fcserpeo'
PARIS. June 15.-Alarmed and resent
full over the resolution of Senator
Knox, President Wilson is considering
the issue OF a public statement de-
signed to accomplish its defeat. The
President has been strongly urged by
some of his friends here to take this
course and it Is known that he has re-
ceived frantic appeals for help from
Democrats at home.
1t is suggested either that he send
a cable message to be read by Demo-
cratic Senator or even that he might
go further and issue a public state
ment putting the Republicans in the
position Of trying deliberately to en-
barrass the peace negotiations in their
final and most critical stage.
1t is evident. however, that UP to
this time the President has not made
UP his mind what to do and Is con-
sidering the chances of success for a
Democratic filibuster. His friends are
charging that the Republicans are
giving encouragement to the Germans
not to sign the treaty.
European diplomatic circles are
awakening to the situation in the
United States: a high French diplo-
matte authority complained bitterly TO
THE SUN to-day over the failure OF the
Fl ench embassy in Washington to keer
the Government posted properly on the
situation in America. but. he declared,
the pressure OF American public opin-
ion is being applied too late to make
changes. He admitted that all OF
President Wilson's pledges had beer
United States. but now he saw the
mistake.
According TO this authority. the
French Government had maintained q
censorship over dispatches to the
French newspapers from America and
Great Britain at the request of Presi
dent Wilson and Premier Lloyd George
which accounted partly for the lack OF
, Information in France in regard to tn,
trend Of public opinion in the United
States.
This official recalled In this connec
ton that President Wilson. had threat
ened TO have the conference removed
from Paris following the articles in thu
Echo de Paris attacking him. This. h,
| said, had frightened the Government
into making the censorship upon al
American dispatches still tighter. TIL,
Presidents spokesman denied at tn,
time that this was being done becaus
the President had requested such a cen
sorship: this is now fatty contradicte,
by this responsible Official OF the Frenci
Government. who admitted freely tina
great mistake had been made Il
adopting this policy.
| The French insist. however, that th
British and Americans are chiefly re
sponsible for the treaty and the. sfor
they must stand by France now. The,
point out also that even II the kro:
resolution should be passed ratification
by three nations will make the treat.
effective. In their comment on the Kno:
resolution the French newspapers ar
specializing on what will happen. LAC
ton FroHcdise says that severing tn
covenant Of the league would be equiva
lent to the rejection of the whole treat,
and asks what the Wilson confeccuc
will do then. 1t adds:
1T would seem a miracle now II tn
treaty were ratified at Washington. ]
is extraordinary that this situation doc
not command more attention, 70
whether Germany signs or does no
sign. what is important is to know wha
will happen when the American Senao
shall have sent back the league and tn
treaty to their authors