The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20
SENATORS DISCUSS
VIEWS OF WILSON


had he heard OF the secret treaties for
territorial acquisition and partitionins
various territories until he reached
Paris Specifically he had not heard OF
and did rot know until he went to Paris
"(a) OF this treaty of London on the
basis Of which Italy entered the war in
1915.
"(b) OF the agreement with Rumania
of August. 1916.
"(c)' OF the various agreements in re-
spect to Asia Minor.
I'D. OF the agreements contaminated
in the winter Of 1917 between France
and Russia relative to the frontier of
Germany and particularly in relation to
the Saar Valley and the left bank Of the
Rhine.
'E. OF the agreements between Japan,
England. France and Italy by which
shantung substantially D. given to
Japan.
The United States was neither on
of these treaties or agreements, nor was
any request made by the United States
for information submitted to any Of the
allied Governments.
"5. The President opposed the Shan
tung decision. 1t was officially conveyed
to him that the Japanese would not sign
unless the Shantung rights were given
to japan. The United States experts
advised the President that Japan's YER
bal promise to return the sovereignty OF
the territory In Shantung while retaining
the economic concessions was a return
of the shell of the nut by Japan while
she retained the kernel. The Chinese
insisted the retention of the economic
privileges meant practical sovereignty,
but the President says he disagrees with
this view.
"6. England. France and Italy ad-
hered at the Peace Conference to their
secret treaties disposing of peoples
and territories in the Shantung case :
therefore the President was the only
disinterested Judge. The decision, how
ever, was made unanimously.
"7. The United States asked China to
enter the war.
"s. The American commission at Paris
urged that definite sum of reparations
be fixed in the treaty. Why this view
did not prevail the President felt he
could not state without divulging mat
felt he could not divulge.
SO. The President felt he could not
diyuIge the details of what transpired
in the meetings of the commissioners and
could not therefore afford information
respecting these matters. For this rea-
son he could not divulge the vote upon
racial equality nor how the United
States commissioners voted.
I'VE very greatly appreciated the OPP
portunity of talking with the President
personally upon what we deemed the
most important subject which has come
to the people since the civil war. We
appreciate this opportunity the more be-
cause upon the facts developed as stated
by us the position we have maintained
in respect to this covenant OF the League
of Nations is justified and confirmed.
''It is obvious that we are to assume
only a moral obligation, that moral
obligation will deal at the instance Of
foreign nations with American treasure
and American blood and send American
troops whenever necessity arises through
out the world
at is equally plain that the decisions
Of the Peace Conference made In ac-
cordance with secret treaties concealed
from us we must guarantee Infinitely.
"This League OF Nations as construed
NV the President leaves It clear and
unnnistakable that when we enter 1t we
are under compelling moral obligations,
TO say nothing of the legal obligation
which other supporters contend We are
under, TO take part in the disturbances,
the conflicts. the settlements and the
wars Of Europe and Asia, II any should
arise, and It is equally true that under
this construction Europe would be neces-
sarily under the same impelling force
to take part in the settlement Of Amerl-
a.r aAoira -