New-York tribune., 1919-07-24


liberty to exercise in the circum-
stances to obtain a modification of
them, and believed that the ultimate
action of Japan with regard to Shan
tung would put the whole matter in
its true light"
This statement would put at least
two United States Senators in the
Ananias Club if they could have been
quoted by name in the newspapers
this morning. Unfortunately for the
reputation in the Senate of the Sena-
tors in question, some of their col
leagues pointed out tonight these
Senator'S did not confine their reports
of what the President said to news
paper men. They told their col
leagues, in much detail, how the Presi-
dent had told them that the repre-
France had appointed him to work out
this settlement with the Japanese.
They even went into details as to
the reasons the President gave them
for his selection to deal with the Jap
anese representatives.. They said the
President said the British and French
representatives had pointed out to him
that both were bound by their own
agreements with Japan on this mat
ter, and therefore they could not take
q stand not in accord with those agree
ments.
SO that, altogether, there was much
surprise on Capitol Hill about the
Presidents statement, most Senators
taking the view that the President OBJ
jected to some particular language
which was used by the newspapers
rather than to the essential facts In
support of this contention they pointed
to what was considered at the time a
fiat denial of the report of the pro-
posed alliance with France. The OBJ
lection in that case, they pointed out,
was to the word "alliance" Later the
President, these Senators observed,
was able to state, "happily," that there
was no "mystery" about it.
incidentally the President confirmed
in his brief statement another bit of
news brought back from the White
House by these and other Senators.
That is that he "believes that the ulti-
mate action of Japan with regard to
Shantung will put the whole matter in
it's true light"
The President has told Senators fire.
quently, according to their accounts,
since attacks have been made on the
Shantung section that he expects
statement to be made in the near fut-
ure that Japan will name a definite
date on which she will retire from the
Hci lnah llBHtS, IcSerV!Hg certaln
rights now possessed by her own ma
tionals, however, in that province
Senators have understood that he has
cabled recently urging the Japanese to
make this statement speedily, with a
view to disarming further attacks on
the Shantung section of the treaty.
Norris Letter of Refusal
Senator Norris's letter of refusal to
60 to the White House to confer with
the President was given out by the
Senate to-day with the following state
ment:
81 desired to avoid any publicity
regarding my declination of the
Presidents invitation to discuss
with him at the White House the
peace treaty. Notwithstanding this,
however, the information has been
obtained and given wide publicity,
and I am, therefore, with the con-
sent of the Presidents private sec
rretary, giving copy of my decina-
tion to the public"
Following is the letter:
Dear Mr.. PRESIDENT
~ acknowledge receipt of your let
ter requesting me to come to the
White House to discuss with you the
provisions of the peace treaty with
Germany.
can unwritten law universally re-
spected prohibits members of Con-
gress from giving publicity to in
formation obtained and conversations
taking place at conferences such as
you propose. Our conversation at
such conference would undoubted-
ly cover many phases of the subject
with which | am already somewhat
familiar, and therefore in any future
public discussion of the subject,
either in the Senate or elsewhere,
might find myself embarrassed in the
use of information I already possess
or that by independent investigation
| may be able to obtain.
"Morcover, it is not fair to you
that your valuable time should be
taken up in going over with each in
dividual Senator q lengthy argument
in favor of the ratification of the
treaty without amendment. I hope
therefore, you will pardon when
most respectfully suggest that you
follow the method prescribed in the
constitution on communicating to the
Senate any information that in your
wisdom is deemed advisable. Such
course would not only conserve your
time and energy, but would give to all
our countrymen as we'll as to the Sem
ate the benefit of your valuable argu-
ment and advice"
Senator Page, Republican, of Yer
mont, frankly outlined his objection: