New Britain herald., 1919-08-06
Declares Am erica Idea Was "NO| Pressed" at Yer
 SailleS or Given {, Full Peace Confer ence
SECRETARY CHILLED BY SEN. BRANDEGEl
 
Admits Wilson Has Urge That Minutes of Commi, sion Be Kept Secret Frol French Senate.

Washington, Aug. 6.-secreta| Lansing told the senate foreign fl lations committee today that t1 American plan for a League of M tions was mot pressed" at VersailIl and never was presented to the fl} peace conference.
 Wilson May Have Copy.
 The secretary, appearing at a houI hearing of the committee, said he dI not know whether a copy of tIE American draft still was in existend| He presumed, he said, that the draA was made by President Wilson al added that a copy might still be the presidents possession.
 U. S. Ignorant of Treaty.
 Discussing the Shantung provisiSI of the treaty, Secretary Lansing sal the Lansing agreement made obtain affirmation by Japan of t open door policy in China, was et tered into by the American gover ment without knowledge of tho sI cret treaty between Japan and Allies for a transfer of German cob sessions in Shantung to Japan.
 Wilson Urges Secrecy.
 MT. Lansing said it was true thH President Wilson had cabled to ta peace commission requesting that tl confidential minutes of the proceel ings of the commission on the Leagi of Nations be not furnished to il French senate.
 Brandegee GI.iIIs Lansing.
 MT. Lansing did not recall how Il American plan differed from th| eventually adopted. Asked by Senl tor Brandegee, republican. of Connel ticut, whether it was true that "A American plan was drafted by VI New York lawyers for the presided the witness replied:
 q think that is not true"
 And was the plan not destroyi because it was absurd ?" asked M. Brandegee.
 "I never heard of that" said M Lansing.
 Better Than American Plan.
 The secretary said he thought tl plan now embodied in the league col enant was a decided improvem enI on the American plan. He could nl go into details, however, because
 was not a member of the commissidI which drafted the covenant T American plan, he thought. Wv along the same general lines" as tlE one adopted
 MT. Lansing said he had presentd1 resolution Towering general priI ciples' of a league, but no action vi taken on it.
 Cannot Assess" Nations.
 Asked how expenses of the leaglI lI were to be paid, the secretary sa he understood the league had no a ! thority "to assess" any nation, bH would apportion the expenses, ar their payment. so far as the Unitd States was concerned, would be el tirely dependent on the decision congress under the same plan as th ! by which expenses of 19 other inte national organizations in which tlI United States participates now al paid.
 Opposes Giving Out Text.
 Secretary Lansing said he persod ally would be opposed to furnishili the senate a copy of the transcria of the discussions before the Lea g,l of Nations section of the peace cod ference lon the general principld that it might prove Irritating to t11 other nations"
 Lansing Makes Denial.
 Senator Brandegee asked regardin press reports that the president hal cabled Premier Clemenceau of Franc disappearing a request of the Frenc senate for the minutes"
 That isn't a true statement of tI facts" said MT. Lansing. The senat chamber in Paris asked MT. Clemen ceau to lay before it the minutes e the commission on the League of aNa tions, and MT. Clemenceau said a that was a matter pertaining to othe government as we'll as the Frenc he must make inulIir, He inquired of me and I said my i'm pression was that, because of tb great freedom of debate it nigh cause irritation and would be un
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