Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-17
President Wilson Begins
Conferences With G.
o. p. Leaders.
M'CUMBER FIRST TO
CONFER WITH WILSON
Senators Colt and Nelson Expected to
Meet With President Later Today
lntimated President Expects To Call
All Republican Senators-Borah and
johnson May Not Accept Invitation
Five Called For Friday.

washington, july II. - President
Wilson today began conferences with
republican senators for discussion OF
the peace treaty and the league Of ma
tions covenant. His first caller was
Senator McCumber, of North Dakota,
a supporter of the treaty and the
covenant.
Three other senators, Jones, of
Washington; Colt, of Rhode Island
and Nelson, Of Minnesota, had been in
vited to call at the White House dur
ing the day, but Senator Jones was out
of the city. The president expected
to see Senators Colt and Nelson this
afternoon.
1t was intimated that the president
planned to invite all OF the republican
senator's to the White House, devoting
four or hte hours each to conferences
with them. Senator Borah, Idaho, and
Johnson, California, two of the bitter
est opponents Of the league of nations.
were expected to be on the list, but
there was apparently some doubt in
administration circles whether they
would accept.
Invitations to several more republi-
can senators to call at the White
House tomorrow have been sent by the
president, 1t was announced. Their
names were not disclosed but it was
understood there were five on the list
Three Channels Of Action.
Three channels were outlined for
senate and administration today on
the peace treaty. President Wilson
begins a series OF conferences with re-
publican senators: the senate reopens
debate on treaty subjects, and the for
eign relations committee resumes pre-
liminary reading of the document.
President Wilson's conferences,
however, surpassed all in interest
After the foreign relations committee
had shown no indication of accepting
his offer to place his information at
their disposal, and as none Of the re-
publican opponents Of the league OF
nations covenant had visited the
White House to discuss matters with
him, the president late yesterday sent
individual invitations to half q dozen
republican senators.
The president in his series of con-
ASASAASSo WASA ACpuplACdH ScNdlOIS-lL
having been known that other. senators
would be invited to the White House
later-was expected to discuss the
league of nations and the treaty settle
merit OF the Shantung question, as
those two provisions have been the
subjects Of the greatest criticism.
Debate Shantung Provision. =
Senate debate on the treaty was ex-
pected to center about the Shantung
provision, with Senator Sherman, Illi-
nois,-the principal speaker. Discus
sion of the subject was considered
likely to cause Senator Borah, repub-
lican, Idaho, to call up his resolution
asking the president to transmit a
letter said to have been written by
three members Of the American peace
misunderstanding Lansing, Cen
|eral Bliss and Henry White-protest-
ing against even temporary Japanese
over the Shantung penin-
sula.
Senator Colt, republican, Rhode
Island, who has not made known HIS
position, planned to speak during the
day and his address was awaited with
Interest by both. factions in the rati-
fication contest.
Preliminary reading Of the treaty
by the foreign relations committee has
proceeded slowly, and 1t Is not ex-
|pected that the entire document can
be gone over before the end Of the
week.
Mccumber Makes No Comment.
"Our conversation covered wide
range" said Senator McCumber "and
II the president wants to say what we
talked about that Is all right. But as
far as am concerned consider that
our conversation. was confidential and
I do not feel at liberty to disclose what
happened"
Senator McCumber added that his
position in regard to the league OF ma
tions "had been made as clear as the
English language could make It." and
that his position now wa. In. Same, NJ.
It always had been.
Senator McCumber would not say
whether the Shantung situation was
under discussion.
Colt Favors League conditionally.
I. Announcing his support OF the prin-
ciples embodied in the league OF ma
tions covenant, but withholding judg-
ment regarding certain reservations,
Senator Colt republican, Rhode Is
land, told the senate today that the
nation "lnhst at least see the great un-
dertaking upon which we have en-
marked in entering the war thru to the
end. which can only be done by our
becon1inE member OF the league.:f 55