Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-08-27
WILSON QUESTIONED
ON PACT BY MEMBERS
OF SENATE COMMITTEE
Lodges Questions Bring First
Story of Draft of League
of Nations.
HISTORIC GATHERING
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Tells Questioners That Japan Is Not
to Rule Shantung-Tokyo Promised
to Give Up Any Sovereignty There
Urges Prompt Ratification, but
Shows No Animus.

OI9cS FFompt RatiTlCarIon, Dut
Shows No Animus.
Washington, Aug. 20.-In a confer
ence at the White House unprecedent-
ed in American history, President Will
son discussed the peace treaty with
the senate foreign relations commit
tee, answered questions put by sena-
tors and gave out a stenographic
transcript of the proceedings to the
public.
Some of the inside details of the
peace conference, how the League of
Nations covenant was drawn, and 9th
er historic happenings were handed out
verbatim for the world to read, in con-
trast to the time-honored procedure of
secrecy, presidential and senatorial
confidence"
Urges Speedy Ratification.
Making plea for ratification of the
treaty that the world might be turned
wholly back to peace basis, the pres
tdent said he saw no reasonable OBJ
lection to the senate expressing it's in
depreciation of the League of Nations
covenant so long as those interpreta-
lions did not actually become part of
the act of ratification.
Ii interpretations were part of the
formal ratification, the president con-
tended, long delays would follow, as
other governments would have to sac
cept in effect the language of the SEN
ate as the language of the treaty be-
fore ratification would be complete"
Most of the interpretations, the presi-
dent said, seemed to him to suggest
the 'plain meaning of the instrument
ITSELF"
The much-discussed article ten, the
president told the senator's, was not of
doubtful Interpretation when read in
connection with the whole covenant.
The council, he said, could only "ad-
vfse," and as it's action must be unani-
nous, the affirmative vote of the Unit
ed States would be necessary for any
question affecting it.
Article sixteen, the president said,
provided that where there is dispute
found to be solely within the jurisdic-
ton of one Of the parties, under inter-
national law, the league council shall
so report and make no recommends
ton for its settlement. immigration,
tariffs and the like, the president said,
clearly came under that provision.
The plan for the league finally sub
mitted in Paris, the president said, had
been built up first from a plan drawn
by a British committee headed by a
Mr.. Phillimore and later included ideas
from plan drawn by General SHUTS.
From these and other discussions,
coupled with the presidents own ideas,
the league plan was made.
Own Redraft Not Submitted.
His own private redraft of the Phil
1imore plan, the president said, was
not submitted to the American peace
mission. He had seen Secretary Lam
sings proposals only informally.
The president said the United States
would have complete freedom of
choice as to the application of force"
In carrying out article ten of the
league covenant.
The president told the committee
the league cruncil would have moth
ing whatev~r" to do with deciding
whether the United States had fulfilled
its obligations In case of withdrawal
from the league.
The conference was not held In the
blue room, as had been planned, the
president taking his visitors into the
east room, where they were seated
around big table. Senator Lodge sat
next to the president.
Japan Won't Rule Shantung.
To q query as to what sovereignty
Japan retained in Shantung President
Wilson said:
"She has not retained sovereignty
over anything. I mean she has prom
ised not to. Senator Borah has asked
whether this understanding was oral
or otherwise. I do not like to describe
the operation exactly If it is not per-
fectly discreet. AS matter of fact,
this was technically oral, but literally
written and formulated and the form
ulation agreed upon"
President Wilson said he disagreed
with the opinion given the committee
by Secretary Lansing that Japan
would have signed the treaty regard
less Of whether 1t contained the Shan
tung provision.
"When is the return (of Shantung
TO China) to be nader" asked Sena-
tor Johnson.