The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20

PAPER, but from other discussions That
Is the full story of how the plan which
l sent to the committee was built up.
Senator Lodge-Then. of course. It is
obvious that the Gen. SHUTS plan had
been used. That appears on the face OF
the document
The President-Yes
Senator Lodge-Then there was n pre-
vious draft in addition to the one you
have sent to us. You spoke Of re-
draft. That was not submitted TO the
committee
The President-No that was private
ly my own.
Senator Lodge-was It before our
commission?
The President-No; IT was not before
our commission.
EARLY Version Quoted.
Senator Lodze-The one that was sent
to us was a redraft Of thatf
The President-Yes. I was reading
! some of the discussion before the COM
mlttee, and some one, think Senator
Borah. II remember correctly, quoted
an early version Of Article 10.
Senator Borah-That was Senator
johnson.
Senator Johnson took 1t from the
Indop endent.
The President--I do not know how
that was obtained. but that was part
of the draft which preceded the draft
which, I. sent to you.
Senator Johnson-It was first pub
lished by Mr.. Hamilton Holt in the In
dependent; It was again subsequently
in the NeD Republic, and from ono OF
the publications read it when examin-
ing, think, the Secretary of State,
The President read It with the
greatest interest because I had forgot
ten II, to tell the truth, but I recognized
1t as soon as read It.
Senator Johnson-It was the original
plan7 t--
The President-It was the original
| form OF Article 10. Yes.
Senator Lodge was about to ask
about Article 10. as the essence of il
appears in the article of the draft which
you sent-whether that was in the Brit
ish plan. the SHUTS plan or the other
! plans7
Tho Chairman-Of course, II there are
no drafts of those other plans we cannot
get them.
The PRESIDENT am very sorry, Sena-
tor. I thought I had them, but I have
not.
The Chairman-Mr Lansing, the Sec
rotary OF State, testified before US the
other day that he had prepared a set of
resolutions covering the points in the
league which were submitted to the
American Commission. You saw that
draft7 -.
The President-Yes
The Chairman-No specific action was
taken upon them?
The President-Not in n formal way.
The Chairman-Mr. President l have
no prepared set Of questions. but there
are one or two that / want to ask, and
will go to an entirely different subject in
my next question. I want to ask purely
for information, Is It intended that the
United States shall receive any part of
the reparation fund which is in the
hands OF the PREPARATION Commission?
The PRESIDENT left that question
open. Senator, because did not feel that
I had any final right to decide it. Upon
| the basis that was set up in the repara-
ton clauses the portion that the United
States would receive would be very small
at best and my own judgment was fire.
Quently expressed, not as decision. but
as a Judgment, that We should claim
nothing under those general clauses. !
did that because I coveted the moral ad-
vantage that that would give US in the
counsels of the world.
Lusitanfa Case Discussed.
| / Senator McCumoer-Did that mean we
would claim nothing for the sinking OF
the Lusitania?
| The President--Oh. no. That did no,
cover questions OF that sort at all.
| The Chairman-I understood that pre-
war claims were not covered by that
reparation clause.
/ The President-That IL correct.
The Chairman-I asked that question
| because desired to know whether under
| the Reparation Commission there was
anything expected to come to us.
The President-As I say, that remains
to be decided.
The Chairman-By the commission?
The President-By the commission.
The Chairman-Going now on to an
other question. as understand
the treaty the overseas possessions OF
Germany are ali made over TO the i've
principal allied and associated Powers
who apparently, as far as the treaty
goes, have power to make disposition Of
them, I suppose by way, Of mandate OF
otherwise. Among those overseas pos
sessions are the Ladrone Islands. except
Guam the Carolines, and, / think th'
Marshall Islands. Has there been. any
recommendation made by our naval au
|
our having one island there, not for ter
ritorial purposes. but for naval purposes
The President-There was a paper OF
that subject. Senator which has beel
published. I only partially remember II
1t was a paper laying out the genera
necessities Of our naval policy in tn
Pacific, and the necessity OF having som
base for communication upon those Isl
lands was mentioned. just in what form
I do not remember. But let me say this
There is little island which must ad
nit 1 had not heard OF before.
Senator williams-The Island Of zap
I The President-Yap. 1t is one OF tn
bases and centres of cable and radi
communication on the Pacific. and
made the point that the disposition,
rather the control, of that island SHOULD
be reserved for the general conference
I which Is to be held in regard to tn
ownership and operation of the cables
That subject is mentioned and dispose
of in this treaty and that general cabl
conference Is. to be held.
|