Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-24

he wrote had been the subject of
deliberate exaggeration."
While the letters we're being circulated
among republican senators to-day, the
first public expression on the Shantung
settlement came from the White House
in the form of a statement declaring
altogether false" published reports that
the President had formulated the provi-
sion. The statement continued that Mr..
Wilson had "exerted all the influence he
was at liberty to exercise in the circum-
Stances" to secure modification Of the
arrangement giving control of the
peninsula to Japan.
The Presidents statemen was accepted
as procludng any likelihood that Mr..
Wilson would defend the Shantung prov-
sion except on the ground of expedency.
THE SIX INTERPRETATIONS
The two letters TO Mr.. Hays, copies
Of which were received here to-day do
not outline definitely the six interpreta-
tons suggested by Mr.. Taft but they
are referred to as having been contained
in previous unpublished communication.
These six stipulations are understood to
he substantially as follows:
/. That upon two years notice the
United States could cease to be a mem
ber of the league without having the
league pass upon whether she had full
filled all her obligations under the
covenant.
That self-governed colonies and dom
inions could not be represented on the
league council at the same time with the
mother government, or be included In
any of those clauses where the parties
to the dispute are excluded from It's set
Element
3. That the functioning of the council
ur der article ten shall be advisory only
and that each member shall be left free
to determine question of war in its own
way. the decision of the United States
resting with Congress.
A. That differences between the nations
regarding immigration. the tariff and
other domestice questions shall not be
left to the league for sediment.
5. That the Monroe doctrine Is to be
reserved for administration by the United
States.
6. That the United States reserves the
right to withdraw Internationally at the
end Of ten years or at least to terminate
then her obligations under article ten.
WILL NOT WEAKEN COVENANT
These interpretations. Mr.. Taft wrote.
/ cOulQ De without Wedkeillils lHe
covenant The argument Of administra-
ton senators against inclusion of any
such provisions in the ratification has
been, however, that any qualification at
all would necessitate re-negotiaton with
the other nations and encourage them
to adopt reservations.
1t is known that in his White House
conference with republicans the Presi-
der5 has emphasized this, though he has
told some Of them who are friendly to
/ the league that he must choose between
reservations or failure of the entire
league plan. Just how much basis there
might be for the prediction that Mr.. Will
son might decide to endorse interpretive
/ reservations did not appear tonight.
The President saw four more republi-
cans to-day and it is understood that
each of them expressed a determination
to vote for reservations. They were
Senators Page of Vermont. Mclean OF
| Connecticut, Sterling of South Dakota
/ and Newberry of Michigan
None of them would discuss the confer
ences in detail. but 1t is known that
some of them implied from the Presi-
dents remarks that the door was not
entirely closed to reservations Of an in
| terpretatiye character