Arizona republican., 1919-07-18
OPENING WILSON
 0VERTURES FA|L
 THEIR PURPOSE
Republican Senators Not Yet Convinced on Treaty Questions-Upper House Seeks More Information on Shantung Negotiations Position Explained
rRepubIican A. p. Leased wirel

RepublCdn A. r. EeaScu WiTSj
 WASHINGTON, July 17.-How the Versailles conference reached many of the agreements embodied in the treaty Of peace was described by President Wilson today to three republican sena- tors invited to the White House at the head of long list of republican mem bers whom he purposes to take into his confidence.
 Afterward, one of his callers, Sena- tor Colt of Rhode Island, said MT. Wilson had been able to place the Shantung settlement in a new light and had clarified other disputed points in the treaty. Senator McCurn- Der of North Dakota. and Senator Nell son of Minnesota the others who saw the president, were reticent as to the subjects discussed but said the presi- dent had given them much interesting | information.
 Conference Leaves Doubt
 Senator Colt, who announced his general approval of the league of na- tions in a senate speech delivered Shortly before he went to the White House, indicated after the conference his doubt over certain portions of the league covenant had not been re- moved. He said he was not ready to express an opinion regarding Shan tung and intimated that hespresident might make a public statement soon 1 on the subject.
 Senator McCumber is the only re- publican member of the foreign refa- tions committee who has favored the league of nations and it is understood MT Wilson talked over with him com ! nnirfaa apfin0 tho V nd he general situation on the republican side of the senate. Senator Nelson
 never has made public declaration for or against the treaty.
 To all of his callers the president is said to have reiterated his opposition to reservations of any character in the senate ratification of the treaty.
 The president tomorrow will con-
 tinue his talks with senators inclined
 to be friendly toward the treaty pro-
 visions, though it is expected that
 later he will seek a conference with
 virtually every republican senator. in
 cluding those who have most bitterly
 opposed ratification.
 Senators Kellogg of Minnesota and Kenyon of Iowa, both of whom have kept open minds on the treaty. have been invited to call on the president
 tomorrow morning and Senators Me
 Nary, OregonSa league supporter, and Capper. Kansas. who has taken no definite stand. in the afternoon. Committee Position Explained } The position of the foreign relations
 committee with regard to meeting the
 president as a body was explained in
 statement tonight by Chairman , Lodge, who said no congressional committee has any right or should
 have any right to summon president f before 1t, and that MT. Wilson had not
 asked to appear.
 While the president was beginning 7 his White House conferences the sen l ate debated Shantung and the league and adopted without a record vote a resolution by Senator Borah, republi- } can. Idaho, asking for information rel ative to the Shantung negotiations. g Specifically, the measure, which was s not debated, asks the president for 7 any information as to whether the a Chinese delegates were "intimidated" | by the Japanese and requests a CODY :, Of letter said to have been written on behalf of General Bliss, Secretary Lansing and Henry White protesting
 against the Shantung settlement v In his address announcing accep- h tance of the league principles Senator 9 Colt declared the covenant would not d conflict with the American constitution = nor create super-government, and asserted "if it is unthinkabIe for us d to desert England, France and ftatv g when the world is in chaos. we nav 2 become member of the league as ! providing the only machinery for pre- T serving peace and order" He w.th- heid judgment, however, as to the > Monroe doctrine and other features
 Sherman Voices Opposition @ senator sherman, republican. Hi r nois, attacking the Shantung provi r sion as a step toward the disrnern IF berment of China and the enthrone e- e ment of 'an Asiatie kaiser" at Tokio l. declared Japan never intended to give e up the peninsula passing to her cor. e tfol under the peace treaty. He char. acterized the league of nations 4the - colossal confidence game of the ages
 A referendum to determine the q state of popular sentiment on the " league was proposed by Senator Bor-
 an, who charged that information ot
 public opinion abroad had been dis. d torted
 e It developed that some adninistra tlen senators were urging steps to as. certain whether certain reservations ' proposed by the opposition might be
 acceptable to the other government d signatery to the treaty.