The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-20
THE BIRMINGHAM AGEHERAID WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20 1919

Japan was to return Shantung as soon
as possible. Was there anything stated
as to what was meant by as soon as
possible'?"
The President: mo We relied on
Japan's good faith in fulfilling that
promise"
Senator McCumber: Then as soon
as possible would naturally mean as
| soon as the treaty has been signed
under which she accepts the transfer
from Germany"
The President: Il should say that 1t
would mean that the process should
begin then"
Asked whether Japan could not be
depended upon to carry out her agree
ment in good faith. the President said:
81 have every confidence that she
will"
Senator Pomerene suggested that if
the treaty failed of ratification Japan
would have Shantung practically at
her mercy, whereas if it were ratified
China at least would have the moral
assistance of the powers for protection
of her rights.
ONE OF CHIEF BENEFITS
The President: 81 conceive one of
the chief benefits of the whole ar
Engagements that centers in the league
c
indicated-that It brings to bear the
trinion of the world and the controll-
ing action of the world on all relation
ships of that hazardous sort, particu-
larry those relationships which involve
the rights of the weaker nations. Aft
err all, the wars that are likely to come
are most likely to come by aggression
against The weaker nations. Without
the league of nations they have no
-
have the united protection of the world
and inssmuch as it is the universal
opinion that the great tragedy through
which we have just passed never would
have occurred if the central powers
lad dreamed that Il t-mber of nations
would he combines. Gi.c inst them, SO
have the utmost cen. dence VA this
ne:.ce before HAIL that the strong na-
tons of the worl1 j in everv case
be united will MAKE war extremely un.
likely.
in reply to a1,ther question, the
President said ne had no DOUBT that
should China make complaint to the
IL ,gUe council atnp- ShantunS The
otrrcil would ooJsider her cial
promptly.
In reply to questions by Senator John
son the President said the United States
was not cognizant of secret treaties when
no secret agreements were made among
the allies after the Unitd States entered
the war.
IGNORANT OF AGREEMENTS
Senator Johnson: when our govern
ment, through you, Mr. President, in
January, 1918, made the IA points as the
basis for peace, were those points made
with the knowledge of the existence of
the secret agreemnts?"
The President. "NO-Oh. no."
Senator Johnson: Did China enter the
war upon the advice of the United
States?"
The President 81 cannot tell We adj
vised her to enter, and she soon after
did"
Senator johnson asked whether the
United States had promised China to
protect her interests at the peace con-
ference.
The President: 1--WE made no promise
She knew that we would do as we'll as
we could" n
Senator Johnson: 'You did make the
attempt to do it, too, did you not?'
The President: "Oh, indeed, did, very
seriously"
Senator Johnson: "And the decision ul-
timately reached at the peace conference
was disappointment to your"
The President; Il may frankly say
that it was"
The President referred TO the fact
that the Japanese had presented re-
solution for racial equality "but rather
an expression of opinion or hope, and
it was not pressed for action"
Senator Johnson: May 1 ask, if per-
missable. how the representatives of
the United States voted upon that par
ticular proposition"
The President; II think it is very
natural you should ask that L am not
r. he
cause that touches the intimacy of
great many controversies that occurred
in that conference and I think it is
best in the interests of international
good understanding, that / should not
answer"
When a question was raised as to
why the policy of the United States to
fix a definite sum for reparations in
the peace treaty was not adopted the
President replied it was mot ex-
PLANTATION discreditable to anybody but
it is an international secret and he
suggested that the answer be left out
of the record.
Senator Johnson again brought Up
the Shantung settlement, asking:
did Japan decline to sign the award
as made or provided in the peace
treaty?"
The President: mo; representatives
informed us, Senator. that they were
instructed not to sign in that event
Senator Johnson: WAS the dect-
sion reached because Japan declined to
sign unless that decision was reached
in that way"
The President mo; do not think
it would be true to say Yes to that
question It was reached because we
thought it was the best that could be
got, in view of the definite engage
ments of Great Britain and France.
and the necessity of unanimous de-
cision which we held to be necessary
in every case we have decided" 8
Wont Povor Tudauusfv