The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-09
Reports From Paris Of
Division Between Pres
ident and Commission.
SHANTUNG AWARD
Enemies Of League of
Nations See Chance to
Strike Wilson's Policy
a Telling Blow.
fax JuHrIN McGRATH.l


Washington, July s.-Rerorts from
Paris Of a division between President
Wilson and the other members OF the
American high commission on the
shantung award and the special pact
with France have given great eneour-
agement to opponents of the league OF
nations. In these differences they see
an opportunity Of which they intend
to take all the advantages possible.
They dgure that II they can show the
president did not even have the sup
port of his own commission In the con-
cessfons he made to Japan and France.
they will have struck his league pol
ilcy . hard blow.
II IL reported from Paris that on
the ShansunK question Meesrs. Lansing.
White and Blisa. all opposed the pres
idents view. They are said 10 nave
vigorously protested the wrestling OF
this rich province from emma ana
handing Il over with its ee.e0D.ooo peo-
pie to Japan. They yielded, It is said.
only when they found the presidents
purpose to make the concessions when
the Japanese demanded was not to be
changed by their arguments
Lansing Opposed Pact
Secretary Lansing Is reported to
have opposed the French pact ON the
ground that ii was unconstitutional
in that II took from congress its
rower to decide for war or DeAce oy
binding the United states Immediately
to go to the aid OF France In the event
Of an unprovoked attack by Germany.
His attitude In said to have been main
r. - y
provoked the resentment Of ~
French. II Ii even limited that fAas M
sentiment Of this French xDAtnst hln
for opposing the plan Of securtfy On
which they had set their heartA. ma
account for Mr. LansinK's recall ana
the intention Of the president TO SUI
rersede him by Tnder-Secretary Poik'
who has been the acting secretary
during Mr., Lansinss absence. Anosh-
er explanation Of his FecaH ~ ina.
no Is out of favor with the president
because. as il is said. he opposed MIN.
not only on the Shantung award and
In. treaty with France. but also ON
the trial OF the kaiser.
seeking Full Light.
The senate Republicans who ara
erhtinr the league are seeking fuii
light on these reported differences be-
tween the president and tn members
~ the high comm ission They expect
~ obtain IL by calling Secretary
Lansing before the foreign anairs
COMMITTEES and interrogatinE him on
the subject. The view taken ~ that
II tn. reported differences actually ex-
listed the public is entitled to the m
formation. A treaty to which the haen
commission gave Its unanimous ana
hearty consent would be one tntHK:
hut a treaty which was wholly pleas
ing only to the president and against
Some Of the main provisions 10 wnicn
the other members Of the. commission
protested until forced into line. wouIu
be quite another thing. In the estima-
ton OF the opposition senator's
II have had a poor opinion OF the
treaty from the time we got the nrss
report OF It, said one OF the captoi
critics, hut II il proves % Dc true
that three Of the members OF the Amer
lean high commission strong! op-
nosea some Of its provision. yielding
cnlv when the presidential pressure
VA. nut on. then II must be even worse
than thought It Was"
n II can be shown that the presi-
aent actually was opposed by some q
hia avn commissioners. the enect OF
the disclosure, the Republican ngure.
vsii he to shake public confidence 20 :
rreater extent than anything which
roufd be said by those who diner vain
ire president politically.
Accordingly they will make every
no.sthla effort to have the people OF
thr country fully enlightened on what
ever differences may have existed pc
tween the president ana the otnef
members Of the commission.