The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-20

States could know whether acqulcSccnCe
was being given.
Any change in the treaty would have
To pc rc-submittcd to Germany. tho
President said in reply to Senator Pitt
man.
Senator Lodge said II waG his under
standing. however that any reservations
which applied to the United States
rnthcr than to tho others would. under
International practice. be undcrstoo rs
acquicScCd in. If other siEnatorics were
silent
Replying TO Senator Lodge. tho Prcsi-
dent said he had not locked up tho au.
thoritics on III" point, but fclt that In
treaty involving SO many signatorics
reservations by others would follow. and
how the trcf.v was to work would be
ohscurcd. If Germany. for instance. TO-
manned silent in regard to reservation
and later contcndcd It did not affect
hcr. the President thought her position
could not be "justinnbIy disputed"
Senator Fall pointed out. however.
that as Germ was not n member Of
the league. y rnrcs in tho covenant
would not have to he submitted to her.
To that the President agreed. admit
ting freely that tho point had not oc-
Cured to him before.
Replying to Senator Rorah. III" Trcsl-
dent said tho provision Of Article y.
under which thc siEnntorics to tho
league agreed 10 guarantee on" another
against external aggression was only
moral obligation.
Senator Rnrah thought il WOULD hc
legal obligation. Tho President Thought
not because thor" was invu(vch IN" o'H-
mont If Judgment as 20 whether terri
torial integrity or political independence
was being invodcd or impaired.
Senator Porah wanted To know what
would happen If III" actual facts wore
beyond dispute. Their" would then h"
the legal obligation 10 apply tho auto
matte terms OF tho covenant. tn" l'rcSl-
dent replied. but not n legal obligation
to make war, no matter how strong IN"
neral ono.
we would havc compl"t" Choic" MS 10
tho arplication Of force" said tho l'r"s-
idcnt. in answer to n further question.
Tho action contemplated rs "G""mcd
apprurriatc" in case "f war. or threat
cncd war. was also. tho President con-
tended. It moral ono.
President Wilson said he disagreed
with the opinion given IN" ""mmitt"" by
Secretary Lansing that Japan would
have signed the treaty regardless n
whether it contained tho ShantunE pro-
vision.
Asked TO what sovereignty japan re-
tanned in ShantunG the PRESIDENT re-
piled
"Shc has not retained sovereignty over
ANYTHING. | mean she has promised not
10. Senator B"rah has asked whether
this understanding was oral or other
wise. do not Lie to describe tn" op"r.
alton exactly If it is not perfectly dis
erect. As a matter of fact this was tech
nically oral. but literally written and
formulated and the formulation agreed
upon"
when is tho return to BE- madc?"
asked Senator Johnson.
THAT was lcf: undecided hut We were
assured nj the time it would be rs soon
as possible"
Did not tho Japanese dcclin" to fix
any date
They did at that time. yes; but 1
think il is fair To them to say they
could not at that time say when it would
be-"
Senator johnson asked whether tho &C.
onumiC privileges retained would not
give Japan n fair mastery over tho pro-
vince The President replied that while
he did not feel qualified to judge, he
would regard that as "a ncXaEgcratcd
view"
In answer to Senator Knox tho Prcsi-
dent said he believed league Of nations
would have prevented japan from
spreading her influence as she has over
ManChuria and Korea.
Senator New thought Japan's promise
"indcfinitc" and comparable To England
occupation Of Malta. The President de-
Cliurd to comment on the question.
For mere tina nthrcc hours III" COM
miticr mcInb"Ts questioned tho lrcst-
dent and aftCrward they stayed for
lunch ut tn" White IIous" When the
recess was taken there had bCcn no dis
cussiun whether tho meeting was to b"
resumed during tho afternoon. hut II was
decided rot to do So. There was no in
tima,inn tnnirh; whether III" committee
would seek further conference. To-
morrow IT Will rcSum" it's open hearings
at IN" capitol.
Senator Fail loft with Mr.. Wilson
list Of questions which tn" later said h"
would reply to NJ length later. They
concern tlr powers o fthr President or
Congress- 10 declare n stat" OF peace.
"Details Of the resumption Of trade and
diplumatir relations with Germany.
what disposition is To he made Of tho
nt,,