The sun., 1919-08-20

vi VI rour. The name that we OURSELVES
u use. was very much more pretentious,
We called ourselves the Council of the
srheipal Allied and Associated Powers
but the four who used 10 confer' .,
rather the fve, because Japan was there.
OF course, at that time.
senator McCumber-The princinal
points were taken down in writing and
read over and compared and preserved,
were they?
The President-Not read over and
compared, but preserved. The process
each day was this, Senator: The mat
ters discussed were summarized and the
conclusions reached were recorded in a
process verbal. copies of which were dis
tributed within twenty-four hours, and
OF course 1t was open to any one Of
the conferees to correct anything they
might contain. Only In that sense were
they corrected
Senator McCumoer--where are those
records kept now?
The President-They are in Paris. sir.
Senator McCumber-Is there any OBJ
lection to their being produced for the
committee?
The President think there is a very
serious objection, Senator. The reason
We constituted that very small confer
ence was that We could speak with the
utmost absence Of restraint. and / think
II would be mistake to make use Of
those discussions outside. do not re-
member any blazing indiscretion Of my
own, but there may be some.
Senator McCumber-In those CONVEX
sations 1t was fully understood that ia
pan was to return Shsntung as soon as
possible?
The President-Yes, sir.
Senator McCumber-was there any
.cfo al e. vtAA
"as soon as possible"-that is, to place
1t within any definite period at all?
The President-No, sir no. We relied
on Japans good faith in fulfilling that
promise.
Senator McCumber-was there any
thing outside? OF 90 too far with my
questions you can signify 1t, Mr.. Presi-
dcnt)
The President-How do you mean out
side, Senator?
Senator McCumber-was there any
thing said by Japan as to anything that
she would want to do before she turned
the territory over to China?
The President-No, nothing was men,
toned.
Senator McCumber-Then, "as soon as
possible would naturally mean. would
IT mot. as soon as the treaty has been
signed under which she accepts the
The Presldent-Well. l should say that
1t would mean that the process should
begin then. OF course, there would be
many practical considerations of which
know nothing that might prolong the
process.
Senator Northumberland all that
Japan reserves is the same that other
great nations have reserved-certain con-
cessions?
The President-A residential conces-
sion and economic concessions yes, sir.
Senator McCumber - The same as
Great Britain and France and other
countries have retained there?
The President-Yes and I ought to
say that the representatives of Japan
showed every evidence OF wishing to put
the matter upon just the same basis that
the dealings of other nations with China
have rested upon for some time.
Senator McCumber-The whole pur-
pose of my question. Mr.. President. is
to satisfy my mind IL can. that Japan
will in good faith carry out her agree
ment.
The PRESIDENT have every conf
dence that she WILL sir.
Query by Mr.. Pomerene.
Senator Pomerene-Mr. President. IL
y
or two along that same line. II this
treaty should fail of ratification then
could not the opportunity be open to
! Japan to treat the shantung question
Just as she has treated the Manchurian
situation?
The PRESIDENT think so: yes.
Senator Pomerene-So that II the
treaty should fail OF ratification China
so far as Shantung is concerned. would
a1,A nf II a n
whereas IL the treaty is ratified then at
least she will have the benefit OF the
moral assistance of all the other sigma
tory Powers to the treaty to aid In the
protection of Chinese rights.
The President-Senator,I conceive one
of the chief benefits OF the whole ar
rangement that centres in the League OF
Nations to be just what you have In
dicated that 1t would bring 20 bear the
opinion of the world and the controlling
action of the world on all relationships
of that hazardous sort, particularly
those relationships which involve the
rights of the weaker nations. After all.
the wars that are likely TO come are
most likely to come by aggression
against the weaker nations. without
the League of Nations they have no but
tress or protection. With 1t, they have
the united protection of the world. and
inaSmucn as IL is tHe UNIVERSAL op'ito'
that the great tragedy through which
we have just passed never would have
occurred IL the central Powers had
dreamed that a number of nations would
be combined against them, SO have i
the utmost confidence that this notice
before hand that the strong nations of
the world will in every case be united
will make war extremely unlikely.
Senator Johnson-Mr. President, am
quite hesitant about asking certain ques-
lions which ! wish to ask. apollo
| gize in advance for asking them and I
trust you will stop me at once IL they
are questions which you deem inappro-
pirate or that ought not to be asked.
! The President-Thank you.
Senator JohnsonLI think the question
! 1 am about to ask you answered To
| Senator Borah, 80 pardon me II it Is
| repetitive. Tho question is, Was the
] United States Government officially in
| formed at any time between the rupture
| of diplomatic relations with Germany
and the signing of the armistlce OF
| agreements made by the allied Govern
ments in regard to the settlement OF
| the war?
The President-No not so far, as
! know
| Senator Johnson-Could you state
whether or not any official investigation
| was made by our Government to ascer-
tain whether or not there were any
| such treaties of territorial dispositio?
| The Presideut-There was no such in
vestigation.
/ senator Commentaries specific trea-