Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-07-30
PRESIDENT DENIES
HE HELPED JAPAN
Wilson Says He Fought as Long
as He Could.
SHANTUNG YARN HIT BY HIM
contrsdicts Published Story In State.
ment Asserting That All Will Be
Cleared Up on the Much-Dis-
cussed Treaty.

Washington, July 24-President
Wilson denied published reports that
he had told senators he was RESPONSE
Bile for the Shantung settlement in
the treaty with Germany.
An official statement issued at the
White House said the president had
''exerted all the influence he was at
stances" to obtain a modification Of
the Shantung provision.
Text of the Statement.
The statement follows:
The president authorizes the an
nouncement that the statement car
ried in several of the papers that he
originated or formulated the provis-
ions with regard to Shantung in the
treaty of peace with Germany is alto
gether false. He exerted all the In
fuence he was at liberty to exercise
in the circumstances to obtain a mOdi-
ficatiOn of them and believes that the
ultimate action of Japan with regard
to Shantung will put the whole matter
in its true light"
New Understanding Is Seen.
While President Wilson in his talks
with Republican senators is frankly
assuming his share of the responsible
ity for the much criticized Shantung
settlement. the assertion is confident
ly made in administration quarters
that, when all the facts become known,
different understanding will be had
of that phase of the peace settlement.
While 1t is true that Japan has been
permitted under the terms of the
treaty to take over all German terri
tory in the Kiaochow concession and
to assume all German rights on rail-
road, mining and other property In the
Shantung province itself, the exist
ence of a further understanding be-
tween Japan and the signatory pow
ers to the peace treaty is constantly
being put forward here. and the as
sertion confidently made that, in the
near future 1t will be possible to make
all the facts known.
Conferences Unpublished.
1t is noteworthy that up to this
time all comment on the Shantung
settlement has been confined to the
bald language of the peace treaty,
which apparently meets Japan's de-
mands in full, and to the protests Of
China against it, but substantially
nothing is. yet known of the confer
ences which took place between the
representatives of Japan and the 'Oig
nd fn tho action
taken.
Today it is being pointed out here
in reliable quarters that Japan UNI
dertook its share in the war with
definite agreements with Great Britain
and France, including the right of
Japan to assume German rights in the
Shantung peninsula. Japan's ulti-
matum early In the war specifically
included this intent and met with only
mild protest at the time. AT the
same time it was definitely stated by
Japanese diplomats in Washington
that Chinese sovereignty in the Shan
tung peninsula would be recognized
and that the port of Kiaochow itself
might be returned to China.
Inc DTeSlueHl has dQiulLtch
that this was the situation which con-
fronted him when the Shantung set
Element came up at the peace confer
ence.
japan at that time declined to give
China a written agreement specifying
when and how it would relinQuish
claims to German territorial rights in
Shantung. The reason for this. as ex-
planned here. is that the japanese gov
eminent had domestic situation to
deal with as a result of the open
avowals of policy made in Japan early
in the war.
The inference conveyed here now is
that as Japan can deal with this phase
of the situation some action will be
taken by that government as an evil
dence of good faith in carrying out
the "gentlemen's agreement" now I'M
derstood to exist.