Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-17
WILL REMOVE
OBSTACLE I'M
LEAGUE PATH.
Senator Colt Confident Of
Agreement After Visit
to White House.

Washington, July 17.-After
a conference with President
Wilson today at the White
house, Senator Colt, Republi-
can, Rhode Island, said he be-
lieVed the Shantung settlement
in the peace treaty could be
made much clearer th2n il ap-
pearcd to be at present
Senator Colt said he Thought
the president was in a position
to make n complete exposition
OF the Shantung situation and
he indicated that some If not
all the points in discussion Of
this section of the treaty in
VOlTed had been satisfac Orily
explained TO him.
Senator Colt intimated that there
was a possibility the president
might make a statement in regard
/ to Shantung. The senator added
he believed that the statement
would be an open one and it might
be delivered at an open session Of
the senate.
Senator Colt said it had been
/ pointed out to him that Japan had
made certain concessions in re-
| turn for what che received and that
in considering the Shantung ques-
tion the influence of the League of
4 Nations on Japan should be re-
membered.
Article 10 Necessary.
The president was represented +
| by Senator Colt as feeling that
adoption of article X of the League +
of Nations covenant, was absolutely
1 necessary in order 70 guarantee
protection of France. The project
ed Franco-American treaty was
necessary for the same reason, the f
president told Senator Colt.
Washington, July 17.---President f.
Wilson today began conferences +
/ with Republican senators for dis
cussion of the peace treaty and
the League OF Nations covenant
His first caller was Senator Nc
Cumber of North Dakota, a sup
porter of the treaty and Of the
covenant
The other senators. Jones OF .
| Washington, Colt Of RhOde Island f
and Nelson of Minnesota, had been +
! invited to call at the White house
during the day, but Senator Jones .
was out of the city. The president F
expected to see Senators Colt and +
Nelson this afternoon.
More Are Invited.
Invitations to several more Re
publican senators to call at the
White house tomorrow have been
sent by the president, it was an
nounced. Their names we're not
disclosed, but 1t was understood
that there were five on the list
1t was intimated thai the presi- .
dent planned to invite all the the
Republican senators to the White
house, devoting four or five hours
each day to conferences with them.
Senators Borah, Idaho. and John
son, California. two OF the bitter
est opponents of the League OF .
Nations, were expected to be on
the list, but there apparently was
some doubt in administration cir
cles whether they would accept.
Refuses TO Tell.
"Our conversation covered a wide
range said Senator McCumber. +
and If the president wants to say I
what we talked about, that is all .
right. But as Tar as ! am concern +
ed l consider that our converse {
ton was confidential and do not .
feel at liberty to disclose what +
happened"
Senator McCumber added that
his position in regard to the League
of Nations had been made as clear
as the English language could
make it," and that his position now
was the same as it always had
been.
Senator McCumber would not
say whether the Shantung situa
tion was under discussion.
Asked In for Tomorrow.
Senators invited to the White
house tomorrow to discuss the
treaty included McN3ry, Oregon,
who is understood to favor the
League Of Nations, and Kellogg,
Minnesota, and Capper, Kansas,
who have not announcer any def
mite stand on the league proposal
The presidents invitation to Sen
atur McNary asked that he come
to the White house to discuss the
traa+v and all II fnvOIypd "