The sun., 1919-08-20

the various secret treaties and
agreements between the nations at
war with Germany until after he
had reached Paris. He knew moth
ing Of these secret treaties at the
time he formulated and expressed
the defunct fourteen points"
The date of the return Of Shan
tung to China is left undecided,
but is to be done ''as soon as pos
sibler t.
Acceptance OF a mandate over
any country or colony would force
the United States primarily to de-
fend that country or colony.
The President refused to disclose
how the American delegation voted
when the question of racial equal
ity was brought up by Japan.
The President also refused to dis
y close, why he differed from the
recommendations of the American
financial advisers that the repara-
ton from Germany be fixed at a
definite sum.
The final settlement of the Sham
tung question was a frank disap-
pofhtment to the President, but he
insisted that It was the price of
japanese acceptance and entry into
the League Of Nations, fatty dis
agreeing with his Secretary of
state, Mr.. Lansing.
While moral obligations only
would rest on the United States
II the Senate ratifies the league
covenant in its present form, such
obligations to the President's mind
are far more binding than legal
obligations would be.
Senator Brandegee Comm diff
fered radically from the Presidents
views, and recited at length the
many Senatorial objection$ to the
peace treaty and the league cove
nant in a running debate with the
President.
The verbatim report of the conference
with only useless repetitions excluded
follows:
This Treaty Delays Others.
Senator Lodge-Mr. President, SO far
hs am personally concerned. and think
q represent perhaps the majority Of the
committee in that respect, we have no
Interpretations or points of that charac-
ter, but the committee is very DESTROYS OF
getting information on certain points
4 which seem not clear and on which they
thought information would DO Of value to
have in consideration OF the treaty which
they, think / may say for myself and
others, desire to hasten In every possible
way. Your reference to the necessity OF
action leads me to ask one question. II
a., NoN No.. -avtA to
necessary, I assume. that there should be
treaties with Austria, Hungary, Turkey
and Bulgaria, Those treaties are all
more or less connected with the treaty
with Germany. The question should
like to ask Is. what the prospect is Of our
receiving those treaties for action.
The President think 1t is very good,
hir, and, 30 far as can Judge from the
contents of the dispatches from my col
leagues on the o.her side of the water,
the chief delay is due to the uncertainty
az to what Is going to happen to this
treaty. This treaty Is a model Of tho
others I saw enough Of the others be-
fore left Paris to know that they are
being framed upon the same set Of prin-
cipies and that the treaty with Germ any
II the model. think that is the chief
element of delay. sir.
Senator Lodge-They are not regarded
~ essential to the consideration Of this
treaty? s.sA t
The PresidentZfhey are not regarded
rs such: no, sir. they follow this treaty.
Senator bodge--I do not know about
the other treaties, but the treaty with
Poland, for example, has been completed
The President-Yes, and signed. but II
is dependent on this treaty. My thought
was to submit it upon the action on this
treaty.
Senator LODGE should like, IL may,
10 ask a question in regard to the plans
submitted to the commission on the
league OF nations. If that is the right
phrase.
Tho President-Yes, sir.
Senator Lodge-You were kind enough
20 send US the draft of the American plan,
In February, IL Il understood you rightly,
when we we're here. ] may be Incorrect.
but ] understood you to say that there
were other drafts or plans submitted by
Great Britain. by France and by Italy.
Would 1t be possible for us to see those
other tentative plans?
Character of other Drafts.
The PRESIDENT would have sent them
10 the committee with pleasure, Senator.
n ! had found that had them. took
It for granted that had them. but the
papers that remain in my hands remain
there in a haphazard way. l can tell
you the character OF the other drafts.
The British draft was the only one as
remember that was IN the form OF a
definite constitution OF league The
French and Italian drafts were in the
form OF series of propositions laying
down general rules and assuming that
the commission, or whatever body made
the final formulation, would build upon
those principles II they we're adopted.
They were principles quite consistent
with the final action.
remember saying to the committee
when / was here in March, have for
gotten the expression used-but 1t was
something to the effect that the British
draft had constituted the basis. /
thought afterward that that was mis-
leading, and ] am very glad to tell the
committee just what meant.
Some months before the conference
assembled a plan for the League OF
Nations had been drawn up by a British
COMMITTEES ut the head OF which was Mr..
Phillimore-I believe the Mr.. Phillimore
who was known as the authority on in7
ternationai law. copy OF that docu-
ment was sent to me. and I built upon
that u rsdraft. l will not now say
~hothsrC thought 1t was better or not
an Improvement, but built on that a
draft which was quite different mas
much as II put definiteness where there
bad been what seemed Indebtedness In
tho Phillimore suggestion. Then be-
tween that time and the time OF the for
nation of the commission on the League
Of Nations had the advantage OF seeing
h. Ca, &c % A f-to