The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-14
DEBATES ASKING
WILSON'S VIEW
Foreign Relations Committee
Considers Inviting President
Before Its Sessions.
OPPOSITION lNSISTENT
Lodges Resolution Calling
for Information on Jap
Treaty to Be Urged.

Washington, July 14.-After weeks
of preliminary discussion and ma
neuvering the actual fight over un-
reserved ratification of the peace
treaty with its league Of nations
covenant begins today in the SEN
ate.
Final plans for beginning COM
mittee consideration of the treaty
have been arranged by the leaders
and II is said that while the question
Of President Wilson's participation in
the committees deliberations remains
undecided. II Is likely that opposition
senators will urge several measures
bearing directly on the Versailles
negotiations.
One of these is Chairman Lodges
resolution asking the president for
information as to an alleged secret
treaty negotiated In 1918 by which
Japan was to safeguard German in
terests in the peace conference. It
is understood the committee will be
asked to amend the resolution to
make its request more specific.
Before the committee met, Senator
Hitchcock, OF Nebraska, senior demo-
cratic member, conferred with Presi-
dent Wilson by telephone. The con-
versation was understood to have
concerned the question of Mr.. will
sons appearance before the commit
tee.
Commissioners Roper. Of the inter
nal revenue bureau, was in confer
ence with the president during the
morning, and was said to have dis
cussed questions involved In the en-
forcement of wartime and constitu-
tional prohibition. Mr.. Roper was
understood to have told the president
that he did not think his bureau
should be charged with the enforce
ment of the dry laws, as Is proposed
in legislation pending in congress.
Before beginning the days con-
ferences, President Wilson sent a
message to France on the occasion
of the celebration of Bastile day.
and later In the Gay he received the
Abyssinian mission, sent to the
United States to congratulate this
country on the victory of the asso-
ciated nations.
All of the resolutions reported by
the committee were amended, In
minor particulars. That regarding the
alleged Japanese German treaty, in
troduced by Chairman Lodge, and
that relating to Costa Rica, intro
duced by Senator Lafollette, repub-
lican, Wisconsin, we're reported with
out record votes.
The Shantung resolution, intro
duced by Senator La Toilette, repub-
Idaho, was reported by a vote of 9 to
3, all the democratic members present
opposing 1t and the republicans, in
Guiding Senator McCumber, North
Dakota, voting for 1t.
Senator Johnson, republican, CALI
fornia, offered a resolution in the
committee requesting that copies of
all documents connected with nego-
tiation of the peace treaty be sub
mitted to the committee. 1t went over
until tomorrow.
While the committee was in ses-
sion, President Wilson discussed va
rious phases OF the treaty, particu-
larry the Shantung settlement, with
senators who called at the White
House. On this point il was said the
president called out that necessarily
the American peace commissioners
could not impose their complete will
on the peace conference and was
compelled to accept some things in the
treaty which they personally disap-
proved. The president also was said
to have explained that consideration
had to be given the treaty between
the allies and Japan, made before the
United States entered the war. by
when the material German interests
in the Shantung were pledged to ia
pan.
The president was said to have
told his visitors that the treaty did
not give Japan any political rights in
Shantung and in Kiachau, but only
economic rights which would termi-
nate in sixty or seventy years. ia
pans delegates at Versailles, the
president was said to have told his
CO ers, were il .truCted not to sign
the treaty unless the Japan-allies
treaty provisions regarding Shantung
were adhered to.
The president was also reported as
having expressed the view that il was
expedient to yield on Shantung in or
der to have Japan as member of
the league Of nations.
No Final Action Taken.
The senate foreign relations COM
mittce, beginning consideration today
of the peace treaty, reported three
minor resolutions nearing on the
Versailles negotiations, ut took no
action on the question Of asking
President Wilson to take part in
comm ltte discussion of the treaty.
Tic resolutions reported would call
upon the president and the state de-
partmant for inform ltion regarding
an alleged secret treaty between
Japan and Germany: regarding a
protest said to have been made by
Gen. Bliss, Secretary Lansing and
Henry White against the Shantung
and why Costa Rica
was not permitted" to sign the peace
treaty.
Members Of the foreign relations
committee said practically all Of the
two hours meeting was taken up
with consideration Of these resolu-
lions and that there was no decision
as to inviting the president 70 meet
with the committee of the pro-
posal to separately consider the peace
terms and the league of nations
covenant. Detailed discussions Of the
treaty probably will begin when the
committee meets again tomorrow.
Immediately after the committee
adjourned debate on actual rati1-
cation of the treaty began in the SEN
ate. Senator Swanson. Of Virginia.
member of the committee.
opening with a speech praising the
league covenant as the only possible
7lan for or, serving world tranquility