Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-08-20
BORAH AND. JOHNSON
IN JOINT Statement
WILSON CONFERENCE

Washington. Aug. 19-Senators
Borah. Idaho, and johnson, Cali
fornia- two of the leading oppon-
ents to the League Of Nations Gov
enanr. issued a joint statement late
today on the conference with the
president.
Facts developed at the confer
enre, the two senators said. showed
that the position that they had
maintained in respect to this COW
enant of the League of Nations IS
justified and confirmed"
The League of Nations as con-
strued by the president. they said.
leaves il clear and unInistakaole
that when we enter if we are under
a compelling moral obligation. 10
say nothing of the legal obligation
which other supporters contend we
are under, to take part in the con-
fiicts. settlements and the wars Of
Europe and Asia if any should ARISE.
and il is equally true that under his
construction Europe would neces-
sarily be under the same impelllng
force to take part in the settlement
of American affairs
The senators said that in their
opinion the significant facts de-
veioped by the interview with the
president were well known"
There We. remain treaties of peace
to be made with Austria, HungaIy,
Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire.
These treaties deal with subjects as
important, territory as extensive ana
matters as intimately affecting the
United States as the treaty with
Germany. The obligations Of the
United States therefcre-wnat our
country assumes in the future-can
not be determined until these treat
les are completed and presented 10
the United States Senate.
The President regards the obliga-
tons which will be assumed under
the League OF Nations and particu-
larry under Articles x and XI. as
moral obligations. These, however
are of compelling force and would
require action upon our part.
For instance, the President con-
cedes that in an undoubted case u
aggression from the Balkans upon
the newly acquired territory Of Italy
1t would be our duty to come to the
assistance Of Italy and prevent such
aggression. The Presidents con-
structiun Of Article x In at variance
with the constructed Of the Demo
cratic attorneys Of the Senate.
a moral obligation. the President
INSISTS, rest upon us to carry out the
Terms Of the various treaties If
peace. This moral obligation. the
PRESIDENT states. requires us unner
the German treaty for Is years 10
maintain American troops in Europe
Tho President did not know, nor
had he heard Of. the secret treaties
for territorial acquisition and parti-
tioning various territories until he
reached Paris. fHere the senators
outlined the treaties referred TOD
The President opposed the shan
tung decision. Ii was officially con-
veyed to him that the Japanese vould
not sign the treaty unless the shan
tung rights were given to Jauap The
United States experts advised the
President that Japan's verbal rruyn-
Use to return the sovereignty of the
territory in Shantung, while retain
ing the economic concessions, was a
return of the shell of the nut by ia
pan. while she retained the kernel.
The Chinese insisted that the reten-
ton Of the economic privileges meant
practical sovereignty. but the Pres
ident says he disagrees with this
view.