Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-18
WILSON TALKS
Continued from Page ons)

the treaty Is In its preliminary
stages. While the president was be-
ginning his White House confer
ences, the Senate debated Shaatuns
and the league and adopted without
a record vote q resolution by Senator
Borah asking for information rcla-
tive to the shantung negotiations
Specifically the measure. which was
not debated, asks the president tor
any Information as to whssher the
Chinese delegates were 'intimidated'
by the japanese and requests copy
Of a letter said to have been written
on behalf of General Bliss. Secretary
Lansing and Henry White protesting
against The Shantung settlement.
In his address announcing accept
ance Of the league principles Sena.
tor Colt declared the covenant would
not conflict with the American con-
stitution nor create a super-govern-
ment and asserted that III it is I'M
thinkable for US to desert England.
France and Italy, when the world is
in chaos, then we must Income a
member of the league as providing
the only machinery for the restor-
alton OF peace and order" lie with
held judgment. however. as to the
Monroe Doctrine and other features
Senator Sherman. Republican, Illi-
nois, attacking the Shantung provis-
ion as step toward the "dismem-
berment Of China and the enthrone-
ment of an Asiatic kaiser" at Toxic.
declared that Japan never intended
to give up the peninsula passing to
her control under the peace treaty.
He characterized the League OF ma
ttons as the colossal confidence
game Of the ages"
referendum to ascertain the state
OF popular sentiment on the leagus
was proposed by Senator Borah. who
charged that information Of public
opinion abroad had been distorted
He read editorials from four Euro
pean publications to support his
claim that the people Of Europe gen.
orally were opposed to the league,
adding that 1.-The purveyors Of news
do not carry this information"
During the day it developed that
some administration senators were
urging steps to ascertain whether
certain reservations proposed by the
opposition might Ne acceptable to the
other governments signatory to the
treaty. 1t was suggested that much
discussion might be saved in the
Senate should it develop that these
reservations, considered objection
able by the administration only be-
cause they might necessitate re-
opening negotiations really would
be readily accepted abroad.
In this class were said to lie the
proposed reservations stipulating be-
yond doubt that the Monroe Doctrine
was to remain a national policy. that
there could be no declaration of war
under Article 10 without 4 liecIara-
ten by Congress, and that sucn
Questions as immigration and the
tar!r were to be left solely FOR do
mest;c determination.
The position taken by President
Wilson in his talks with the senat RS
toca* was understood to be thu he
resarded the treaty in the light of a
contract and that the effect ut any
change or reservation whatever must
nave the acquiescence of the other
parties and could not be interpreted
by tho party inserting.
Besides the Shantung settlement.
Mr.. Wilson was understood to have
discussed Article 10 the new treaty
with France. and many minor ques-
tons brought up by his callers. He
was said to have been especially in
sistent in his position that Article 10
was essential to the league and to
have expressed an earnest desire
that the French treaty be ratified.
Private conversations which he had
with Premiers Lloyd-George and
Ciemenceau regarding troublesome
points in the negotiations were I'M
| derstod to have been repeated by
the President for the information of
the senator's. 1t was said, in fact, thar
most OF his time during the confer
ences, each Of which lasted an hour,
was spent in relating what took place
around the peace table rather than
In presenting arguments on the dis
puted sections.
The foreign relations committee
continued its reading Of the treaty
today. but 1t was said no discussion
developed nor was action taken on
! any feature Of the treaty fight,