Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-23

Washington, July 23-Conferences
with republican senators on the peace
treaty and the league Of nations were
continued today by President Wilson.
Senators on the visiting list were
Page, Vermont; Sterling, South Dak-
ota; Mclean, Connecticut, and New
bury. Michigan.
Mr.. Wilson'S condition continued to
improve today and it was expected
that within few days he would have
entirely recovered from the attack Of
Intestinal trouble. The president is
still weak and for that reason held
conferences in the White HOUSE.
The Shantung settlement in the
peace treaty, under which 96, 100000
Chinese are turned lover to Japanese
rule, and what has aroused a storm
OF criticism in the United States SEN
ate, was the result Of President WIZ
sons own diplomatic handiwork.
Rising from the sick bed the presi-
dent acknowledged to republican sena-
tors who conferred with him that he
had directed the Shantung agreement
under the difficult circumstances the
peace conference had to face.
The allied diplomats, 1t was revealed,
tangled In web OF secret agreements
under WHICH Japan entered the war,
unloaded the Shantung problem on
President Wilson.
Passed Back to President.
They found themselves 50 hampered
by pledges given to draw the mikado:s
government into the war that they
asked the president to take personal,
charge of the Japanese claims for Ger
many's rights in Shantung and to en-
deavor to work out q solution.
Tho complete satisfaction Of all
Japan's demands. over the protest of
Secretary Lansing, Henry White and
General Bliss. American peace dele
gates ana the representatives Of China,
was the result.
The disclosure that Mr.. Wilson had
direct charge Of negotiations which led
to the Shantuas affair caused some-
thing Of a sensation to senators gen.
orally. who were told, however, that
the president, In admitting responsible
ity for the agreement. had reiterated
his confidence that Japan at an early
date would give definite assurances
to the world of her intention of restor-,
ing Shantung to China within a fixed
period.
British Tangled IL Own Wei.
Some new reasons for the secret
bargaining which formed the basis of
Japan's claims for Shantung also came
r. light thru the presidents confer
ences.
Great Britain. It seemed, found that
it would be necessary to drive Ger
many. out Of the orient and the south
seas before Australia and New Zea-
land could be brought effectively into
the war. Germany was able to use
Kiau-C Chau and other Of her far east
ern possessions as raiding bases and
the movement Of troops from New Zea-3
land and Austria was most hazardous
as long as this menace existed.
Great Britain therefore persuaded
Japan to enter the war for the purpose
OF eliminating Germany from the
orient. To do this tho British gov
ernment, the president explained to
senators, was forced to make certain
secret promises to Japan with regard
to Shantung.
Prssidsnt Makes No Statement.
Inquiry Ct the White House today
concerning the reports that the Shan
tung provision Of the peace treaty
was President Wilson's personal solu-
tion Of the problem. brought neither
confirmation nor denial and only the
statement that no comment would be
made.
Senator's who have discussed the
Shantung provision with the presi-s
dent stated, however, that they had not
been given to understand that the
president proposed the Shantung pros
vision AZ solution Of the problem,
but that he had Wound himself unable
10 convert the Japanese delegates to
any other view.
II The senators said they had been
told that Pre1niers Clemenceau and
Lloyd George represented to the press
ident that they were bound by the
agreements Of their governments with
JapAn ana that II the Japanese states
v