The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-18
TELLS SENATOR'S HOW
 CONFERENCE REACHED AGREEMENT
Following Conference Sena- tor Colt Declared He Saw Shantung Settlement in New Light and Other Points Were Clarified
By Associated Press

Washington, July 17.-How the Versailles conference reached many of the agree ments embodied in the treaty of peace was described by President Wilson today to three republican senators in- vited to the White House at the head of a long list of re- publican members whom he purposes to take into his confi- dence.
 Afterward one of his callers,
 Senator Colt of Rhode Island, said
 Mir. Wilson had been nbIe to place
 the Shantuns settlement in new
 light and had clarified other dis
 puted points in the treaty. Senator
 McCumber of North Dakota and
 Senator Nelson of Minnesota, the
 other senators who saw the Presi-
 dent, were reticent as to the sub
 jects discussed but said the Presi-
 dent had given them much interest
 ing information. 2
 Senator Colt, who announced his gen eral approval of the league of nations in senate speech delivered shortly before he went to the White House, in- dicated after the conference that his doubt over certain portions of the league covenant had not been removed. He said he was not ready to express an opinion regarding Shantung and inti- mated that the President might make public statement soon on the sub- ject.
 Senator McCumber is the only repub- iican member of the foreign relations committee who has favored the league and it is understood MT. Wilson talked over with him committee action on the treaty and the general situation on the republican side of the senate. Senator Nelson never has made house declara- ton for or against the treaty. To all of his callers the President is said to have reiterated his opposition to re- servations of any character in senate ratification of the treaty.
 TO CONTINUE TALKS
 The President tomorrow will con tinue his talks on the provisions of the treaty, though it is expected he will resent too much questioning from those opposed to him. Senator Kellog, Minnesota, and Kenyon. Iowa, both of whom have keep open minds on the treaty, have been invited to call on the President tomorrow morning and Senators Mary Oregon, a league sup porter, and Capper, Kansas, who has taken no definite stand, in the after noon.
 The position of the foreign relations committee with regard to meeting the President as body was explained in a statement tonight by Chairman Lodge, who said no congressional committed has any right or should have any right to summon President before it, and that MT. Wilson had not asked to appear. He made no prediction wheth- CT the committee would accept later the Presidents offer to receive it at the White House, but pointed out that so far committee consideration of the treaty is in it's preliminary. stages.
 While the President was beginning his White House conferences. the sen ate debated Shantung and the league and adopted without a vote a resolu- : tion by Senator Borah. republican, Idaho, asking for information relative
 
 fically. the measure. which was not debated, asks the President for any in- formation as to whether the Chinese delegates were "intimidated" by the Japanese and requests a copy of a letter said to have been written on be- half of General Bliss, Secretary I4ans- ing and Henry White protesting against the Shantung settlement
 In his address announcing acceptance of the league principles, Senator Colt declared the covenant would not conflict with the American constitution nor create a super government. and asserted that If it is unthinkable for us to desert Eng land, France and Italy when the world is in chaos, then we must become a mem Der of the league as providing the only machinery for the restora tion of peace and order"
 He withheld judgment. however, as tc the Monroe doctrine and other features. COLOSSAL CONFIDENCE GAME
 Senator Sherman, republican. Illinois attacking the Shantung provision as ? step toward the dismemberrent of China and the enthronement of "an Asiatic kaiser" at Tokio, declared Japan never intended to give up the peninsula passing to her control under the peace treaty. He characterized the league of nations as the colossal confidence game Of the ages"
 The referendum to determine the stat" of popular sentiment on the league was proposed by Senator Borah who charget that information of public opinion abroad had been distorted. He read editorials from four European publications to sup
 tCOntinued on Page TwoD