Evening star., 1919-08-19

coming before the peace conference:
The President: remember. at one
of the sessions called plenary SEES
sessions, resolution regarding that
matter was introduced by the Japa-
nese representatives, but rather as ar
expression of opinion or hope, and il
was not pressed for action.
Senator johnson Of California: Mr.
President, the press at that time
stated that it had gone to a vote
anI it must. someone will correct me
if | am in error-and that the vote
was IL to upon the proposition. The
dispatches at that time were to that
effect.
Misled, Says President.
The President: was misled. sena-
tor. You are referring to the commits
sion on league of nations?
Senator Johnson of California: Yes
The President: There was a vote
subject in the peace conference.
Senator Johnson of California:
confounded the two.
The President: Yes.
Senator Johnson of California;: May
1 ask, If permissible. how the repre-
sentatives of the United States voted
upon that particular proposition?
The President: Senator, 1 think it
is very natural you should ask that
/ am not sure that l am at liberty to
answer. because that touches the inti-
macy of a great many controversies
that occurred in that conference. and
think it is hest, in the interest of inter-
national good understanding, that
should not answer.
Senator Johnson of California: Do you
know. Mr.. President. whether or not
the American commission at Paris urg-
ed that definite sum Of reparation be
fixed in the treaty?
No II
Senator Johnson of California: will
You state, if appropriate, why your view
differed from theirs?
The President: No. Senator, cannot;
and yet l dislike to decline. because it
may create Misrepresentation on your
without indiscretion; l would be- very
glad. gentlemen. to tell you all about it.
if you will leave 1t out of the notes. May
I do that?-because ! do not wish to
leave any wrong impression on your
minds. The explanation is perfectly
simple.
Reparations Question Up.
Senator Brandesee: What is the
The President: The. question is. Why
was the policy urged by the United
States, that we fix definite sum of
reparation in the treaty. net adopted?
Senator Borah: l would be content
to have it left out of the notes upon
still get to the public, and that would
put US in an embarrassing position.
The President: 1t is not an explana-
tion discreditable to anybody, but it is
an international secret. / am quite at
liberty to say that the United States
way, made an admirable impression
over there
Senator Williams (interposing) I:
Did what?
The President (continuing): Made
an admirable impression upon ev-
erybody over there, did advocate the
fixing of definite sum for repara-
ton. =.
Not an Indiscretion.
Senator Fall: Mr.. President. may l
ask. to clear up a difficulty in my
own mind, whether you regard the
of these questions as an
there are other negotiations pending
which might be affected?
The President: Oh, no, sir. Simply
because they affect the internal po-
litical affairs of other countries.
Senator Fall: Then, in your judg-
ment, these matters should never be
given publicity?
sort.
Senator Fall: / say. matters of this
sort that have been referred to.
should, in your judgment, never be
given publicity; and it is not because
of pending or other negotiations?
The President: Oh. no. I think they
should not be given publicity.
Senator johnson of California: I
thank you very much, Mr.. President.
That is all 1 desire to ask.
The President: You have been very
considerate in putting your questions.
Mr.. Fall Has Questions.
Senator Fall: Mr.. President, as 1
suggested. 1 have prepared several
my own ideas, and sew
eral of them, may say, are-somewhat
in sequence, and i feel that if we are
going to hold hearings all day-that
is. IL We are all going to have the
time and do not get into arguments
among ourselves-possibly it might
be just to you to submit these Ques-
tions, as 1 have prepared them, to
you first, and allow you to hook them
over before I pursue the line of in
quiry.
however. that is. of course, entirely
with you. They do not all refer di-
rectly to provisions of the treaty nor
to the construction of the treaty, but
to other matters relating to the
treaty.
Senator johnson of California: Be-
fore you do that, senator, with the
permission, may / ask one
or two more questions concerning
which I omitted or forgot
The President: Certainly. senator.
Asks as to Japan's Attitude.
Senator Johnson of California: First:
did Japan decline to sign the award
as made or provided in the peace
treaty?
The President: Her representatives
informed us. senator, that they were
instructed not to sign; in that event.
Senator johnson of California: Was
the determination finally reached a
of the difficulties or. the dis
that might arise because
of the balancing of those advantages
or disadvantages?.
The President: l do not know that I
could answer that either yes" or
mo-" senator. 1t was a matter of
many conversations and of many
and persuasions.
Senator Johnson of California: Was
the decision reached-if you will par
don the perfectly blunt question-be-
cause Japan declined to sign unless
that decision was reached in that
way?
The President: No, do not think
it would be true to say "yes" to that
question. 1t was reached because we
thought it was the best that could
be got, in view Of the definite engage
ments of Great Britain and France
and the necessity of a unanimous de-
cision, which we held to be necessary
in every case we have decided.
Senator Johnson of California
Great Britain and France adhered to
their original engagements, did they
not: