The Washington herald., 1919-08-20
President Confident Senate
VIII Hasten Consider
alton Of League as Result
Of Meeting in the East
Room, Say Friends.
LODGE MAKES CLEAR
HIS DISSATISFACTION
Senator Hitchcock Inter-
prets Unusual Affair as
Favorable to Immediate
Ratification of Covenant.

President Wilson today is eager
ly watching for the first indica-
tion that consideration of the
peace treaty will be hastened as
a result OF the thrce-hour-and-a-
half conference yesterday at the
White House when he explained
the document and the circum-
stances surrounding its formula
ton to members OF the Foreign
Relations Committee.
Although no statement was
forthcoming from the White
lie as to what the President
believes will result from the CON
ference, his friends yesterday said
he feels confident the treaty situa-
tiOn has been greatly clarified.
Conflicting statements and pre-
dictions came from members OF
the committee as they trooped out
OF the White House. Said Sena-
tor Lodge, Republican leader and
committee chairman:
Il was much disappointed in the
information gained"
Senator Hitchcock, Democrat
and chief advocate of the treaty,
said:
81 think the committee action
will move fast now"
Senator Moses, of New Hamp-
shire, said:
Il went to the White House
seeking information which I did
not get in plentitude, to say the
least"
The conference began at 10 a m.
All committee members arrived at
the White House at least fifteen
minutes before that hour. They were
met at the big white doors and ush-
cred Immediately into the Blue Room
opposite to the entrance. Then they
went to the East Room, where the
conference took place.
President Appeared Smiling.
President Wilson appeared smiling
as the Senators took their chairs.
There was a rustic when a corps OF
sJenOgraphers pushed into the room
and took their places at a small table.
In another room nearly 100 news
paper men waited for the conference
to begin. Secretary Tumulty waited
with them.
Arrangements were made to give the
newspaper men stenographic copies OF
the conference discussion as fast as
they could be prepared.
Meanwhile. President Wilson faced
the Senators and prepared to read
a statement. He began promptly at
10 a. m
One minute later newspaper men
began sending the statement
throughout the country on special
wires. In some cities newspapers
went extra" with the opening para
graphs OF the statement. In New
York correspondents OF foreign
newspapers picked it up and flashed
il by cablo to London and Paris.
The President read in a low even
voice. His statement dealt with
practically all objections to the
treaty and the league Of nations
covenant already raised. He read
for a half hour. Then he called for
questions. They came slowly but
insistently. To only one did the
President decline a reply.
shantunx Discussed
The Shangtung question came in for
long discussion, Senator johnson,
Cal. taking a leading part in the
questioning Of the President. The
agreement given by the Japanese was
again gone into by the President He
declared unqualifedly that he had
every confidence Japan would live I'D
to the agreement
Mr.. President" said Senator Knox,
"the economic privileges that they
originally acquired in Korea, and
subsequently, in inner and outer
Mongolia and in Northern and
Southern Manchuria have almost de-
velOped into complete sovereignty
over those countries. have they
not?"
Yes, Senator. in the absence of a
league Of nations, they have" replied
the President
You think the league Of nations
would have prevented that, do you%'
s.T am confident it would"
Senator New suggested that Eng
land had occupied Malta something !
like a century under a promise SINH |
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO. !