The sun., 1919-07-11
PRESIDENT TO FIGHT
ANY TREATY CHANGE
Expects Senate to Ratify
League of Nations Pact
Despite Opposition.
DISGUSTED WITH ITALY
Mexican Situation Not Yet
Taken Up-New Light on
Jap-German Treaty.
Special Despatch 10 THE sun.

Special Despatch TO THE SUN.
WASHINGTON, July 10.-President Will
| son In conference with correspondents
disclosed plainly to-day that he was de-
termined to make a fight for the peace
pact with the League Of Nations incor-
porated in 1t without 20 much as the
change of q single comma The Presi-
dents chief reliance, 1t was revealed, also
was in the belief that the Senate in Its
dealings with the instrument could not
make an effective reservation or amend
the treaty or the league covenant in any
manner without two-thirds>yote Of the
Senate.
In this matter the President apparently
is mislnformed. The rules of the Sen
ate. which, with the Constitution. deter
mine all Senate actions in every circum-
stance. expressly provide, Senators
pointed out after the Presidents view
was communicated to them, that amend
ments to proposed treaties may be made
by majority vote. For the most part
Senators did not care to comment on this
idea of the Presidents, but merely re-
ferred TO rule 81 of the Senate rules.
which deals with treaties exclusively.
the pertinent paragraph OF which reads
ION the final question to advise and
consent to the ratification In the form
agreed to, the concurrence Of two-thirds
of the Senators present shall be neces-
sary to determine IL in the Affirmative.
but all other motions and questions upon
a treaty shall be decided by majority
vote, except a motion to postpone In
definitely, which shall be decided by
| vote of two-thirds-"
The President was questioned about
this phase of the matter of amendment
and ratification toward the close of the
conference and it was concluded by the
President making 1t known in unmistak-
able terms that he had no doubt that the
Senate would ratKy the treaty, and the
general assumption of his hearers in
view of his idea that two-thirds vote
only can make amendments was that
| the President meant that the Senate
would ratify the treaty unamended.
Would Send Pact Back to Paris.
1t is known that the President holds
the opinion that the slightest reserva-
| ton made In ratifyinS the treaty would
force It back to the Peace Conference at
| Paris.
Not only upon ratification OF the peace
pact and the league in precisely their
F, present form will the President Insist,
but he will make an equally strong tight
| for ratification of the proposed French
| American alliance when he presents II to
the Senate. He was questioned upon the
necessity for this in view OF the exis-
tence OF Article X. In the league cove
nant It is known that the President
does not wish this instrument referred
to as an alliance" but. as an agree
| ment or treaty. He believes 1t TO be
but a temporary expedient. It's neces-
sity, in the Presidents mind, Is due to
| the fact that the separate instrument
| provides specifically that the United
States shall go to the aid of France in
case OF aggression from Germany.
| whereas Article X. OF the covenant
leaves to. the executive council of that
| body the designation Of what nations
shall furnish forces to aid any similarly
distressed nation.
Mr.. Wilson plainly showed the deepest
disgust with Italy concerning the Fiume
question. The treaty of London signed
by Italy provided specifically that Fiume
was TO go TO Croatia. while italy was
to get several islands and a strip of the
Dalmatian coast. according to the Pres
! ident, and would not go into the matter
further.
Mexico Awaits Attention.
| So far as the question OF Mexico is
concerned the President has not had
time yet TO look into II. The same Is
true Of details of his projected trip to
arouse support for his league plan
Without Article X, or with n reserva-
ton by the Senate exempting the United
| States from the operations OF Article X,
the President believes that the League
OF Nations would be little more than a
debating society. 1t was clearly indi-
Gated by the President that on this point
in particular he would bring to bear the
greatest possible influence to preserve
that part OF the league intact,
Explaining the workings OF Article Y
OF the proposed league It was said that
the league council. the so-called cXecu-
tive Council of Five. would determine,
when country was attacked, what
other nations should contribute mon and
munitions 10 crush the disturbance Of
the peace OF the world. BY entering
the league all nations would be bound
, to this agreement.
The President does not believe II to
b. necessary TO provide specifically In
/ either the League of Nations covenant
| or inrthe proposed alliance with France
that the inauguration of hostilitios by
! American troops can only be at the
behest of Congress. That is provided
in the Constitution, the President pointed
out, and therefore need not be repeated
In either instrument
Believes in Preparedness.
The President is understood To be-
lieve that in spite of the existence OF
this check on the power OF the league
council, that the United States should
not be unprepared at any time TO do Its
| share.
The President was asked at the con-
ference to explain the Shantung sltua-
ton. and why this slice Of China was
handed over to Japan. He said 1t was
too long a story to go into at the time,
However. he talked to Senators on the
subject later and his views on II are
known. According to these Senator's
Japan virtually forced this part OF the
peace treaty by threat not to enter
the League OF Nations. A verbal prom
Use was given by Japan TO retain the ad-
ministration, OF ashantung not more than
fifteen years, and at the end of that
time or before hand II over to China,
This was the best that could be done,
these Senators were told
On the subject of Shantung, accord
ing to private advices reaching the Sen.
ate to-day. despite the denial of the
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