Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-24
Believe Wilson VIII Accent

Sc confident are the league Repun-
Leans Of the success Of their plans
that some Of them believe President
Wilson VIII publicly accept il TO
smooth the way 70 Acceptance Of the
league Some Republican senators
who have seen the president in the
last few days have come away from
the White House with the impression
: that Mr.. Wilson. while not encour-
aging reservations Z they can be
avoided, might not be adverse to
such interpretations as would leave
the league fabric unimpaired. They
say, however thar this impression Is
not based On any direct statement by
the president
Mr.. Iafts suggestion. which Gre
ared 4 sensation in the Senate be-
cause ot his weIl-kncwn advocacy Of
the 1nreserved ratification. vas en-
bodied IN TWO letters 70 VIII H
Hays. the Republican National
chairman copies Of which reached
some Republican senators today.
Mr.. Taft has also written some Of
the Republican senator's who hare
been interested IN formulating a
middle course fer solution Of the
Senate situation
While the letters were being cir
culated among Republican senator's
today the first public expression on
the ShanTung settlement came from
the White House N the form Of 4
statement declaring altogether
false published reports that the
president had formulated the Prov
sion. The statement continued that
M. Wilson had "exerted al the IL
auence he was az liberty . e-er-
else in the circumstances 70 Sc
cure r1odifca ticn of the arrangement
giving crtroI Of the peninsula o
Japan.
The presidents statement vas ac-
cepted as preciuding any likelihood
that Mr. Wilson would defend the
Shantung provision on The ground of
expediercv.
AC lEGs4dCaG Sc ACAI re
pubitcaas today and il is understood
that each Of them expressed a de-
termination 10 vote for reservations.
They were Senators Page Vermont;
Mclean. Connecticut; Sterling. South
Dakota: and Newberry, Michigan.
None Of them would discuss the con-
ferences n detail but it is known
that some of them implied from the
Presidents remarks that the door
was not entirely closed TO reserva-
TONS Of an interpretive character
During the day Senator McKeIla-.
Democrat Tennessee. supported the
League in a senate speech and in
the House. Representative E5munds,
Republican. Pennsylvania. introduced
resolution asking the judiciary
committee TO report whether the
President can negotiate a treaty piac-
ing in the hands of foreign COM
mission powers constirutionaIly vest
sd N Congress. Senate debate vii
continue tomorrow
A program Of interpretations TO b
included IN Senate ratification of the
peace IN order to insure support OF
!, the Republicans favorable to q
League idea is suggested in letters
, from former President Taft 20 Viii
H. Hays, Depuhlican National chair
man. copies of which are in the
hands Of some of the Republican sen
atorx
The letters sugxest six "interpre-
tations- covering the right Of WIFI
drawal. limiting the represenfaIon %
dominicns and colonies. assert.1s
prerogative of Congress %
war under Article Ten: co s
national control over oo"Ts rs
sues. defining the Mon.Os Derine.
-. - ..,ss.--sscr. under Article Ten At
fhr end OF esn years.
Mr.. Tar wrote that these inter-
pretzt1cns would not weaken the /
League covenant. but would. he be- /
lieved- assure ratification He sug- /
Continued On Paoa -csi. o