The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-07
Secretary Tells Senate Com
mittee He Had Small
Part at Paris.
SHANTUNG NOT "BRIBE"
Asserts Japan Would Have
Signed Without Chinese
Concession.
HIS KNOWLEDGE SCANTY
VI DO Not Know" Most FIRE.
quent Answer to Questions
of Inquisitors.
HIS KNOWLEDGE SCANTY
sp.cfar pe,patch 70 TIE Sun.

WASHINGTON, Aug 6.-Robert Ian
hng, Secretary Of State and one Of
the American delegates to the Paris
Peace Conference, appeared before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
to-day to give the Senate first hand
Information Of the developments step
by step of the peace treaty and the
League of Nations covenant in its
formation.
, In many respects the appearance Of
Mr. Lansing was the most sensational
Development OF the whole considera-
ton OF these documents.
He frankly revealed to the com.
mittee that President Wilson was
practically the lone peacemaker and
negotiator for the United States in
the long drawn out sessions Of Paris.
He admitted fully and frankly that
he had little to do with by far the
majority Of the important features of
the peace treaty and practically
nothing to do with the formation or
modification of the League of Nations
covenant.
To the surprise of the members OF the
committee 1t was discovered that much
Of even the diplomatic work of the
treaty making was done not only without
Mr. Lansing's cooperation or by his di-
rectlon but completely without his
knowledge.
Il do not know" and mot to my
knowledge" literally sprinkled the
answers of the Cabinet officer, supposed
to be the Presidents confidant and high
est official adviser in Paris and here.
shantung Not Bribe, He Says.
The most amazing revelation by Nj
Lansing, however, was that Shantuns
was not the price for securing Japan's
signature to the treaty of peace and her
membership in the proposed League Of
Nations. Mr.. Lansing told the commit
Zee that had this award not been made
to Japan that country still would have
hgned the peace treaty and that China
lnen would have signed also.
When the Secretary's frank ignorance
facts Of the greatest Importance con.
cerning the peace negotiations and cor
related matters became evident the ques
hons of members Of the committee laid
the greatest emphasis on this, bringing
out almost continually the fact that the
President kept even his closest advisers
In complete ignorance of his moves.
II was developed that Mr.. lansing
enief function in Paris was in connection
with the committee to fix responsibility
Tor the war. His direct knowledge oi
events in Paris was practically confined
to this subject.
Members of the Foreign Relations
Committee were deeply disappointed by
Mr.. Lansings lack of knowledge. II
the absence of power to summon thu
President and force him to submit to
grilling which would bring out the rea
taets Of the negotiations in Paris 1t wal
rope dthat this delegate to the Peac'
Conferences would be able to clear ~
Tie thousand on one doubts which have
obsessed the minds of the Senators fol
many months.
1t was evident to them to-day that Mr.
lansing cannot do this. although he Il
70 appear again on Monday for anothei
trial
y practically complete verbatim re
Port OF Mr.. Lansings testimony fol
lows:
Knows Nothing of U. o. Plan.
Senator Lodge (Mass.) The Presi
aent stated at the meeting at the Whit
House Of the Foreign Affairs Commit
zee Of the House and the Foreign Re
atons Committee OF the Senate las
March that four plans were presented
the Peace Conference for league
ne Italian plan, an American plan.
french plan and a British plan-And tina
me American plan was not the one use'
so' the purpose Of building the league
mere have been several requests and |
.Ood deal OF desire to see that Ameri
ssh plan. Do you know whether tina
pan Is In existence?
secretary Lansing: I do not.
Lodge There is no copy in the De
hrtment?
Lansing Not TO my knowledge.
plan?
Lansing do not. 1 should sa.
NE President.
Lodge Then that draft of that plal
practically unobtainable.
lansing That l do not know.
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