The sun., 1919-07-26
Senator Spencer Declares
Presidents Chief Fear Is
Jeopardizing League.
OPPOSES TAFToS LIMIT
Believes Pact Will Be in
Greater Need Ten Years
Hence Than Now.
ARGUES IMPERSONALLY
Missouri Solon Gives Execu-
tive Amendments Planned
- 0n-n TT q Dforhfo
OPPOSES TAFT'S LIMIT
ARGUES IMPERsoNALLY
spscsai psspetcA TO IN. sus.


wAsHINoroN, July 25.-President
Wilson was told to-day by Senator
Spencer (Mo.). Republican. that -un-
less reservations. reaching to the es-
sence of Americas obligation under
the pact, were adopted in connection
with the League Of Nations. it was
utterly impossible for the treaty to be
ratified.
The Senator talked an hour or more
with the President. and afterward
frankly outlined the matters that
passed between them. He compli-
mented the Presidents earnestness.
consideration and suavity. but these
did not move him from his earlier at
titude of 'fhsistenoe on fundamental
notifications in the pact.
Mr.. Spencer took with him. and left
with the President after their discus
sion, a series Of reservations pro-
posed for inclusion in the ratification
resolution.
II told the President" he said after
ward, that 1 believed these reserva-
tions. If backed by him. would insure
the treaty's ratification. Unamended,
I told him, 1t could never be approved
by the Senate. He said nothing that
changed my views In any regard.
was impressed that the whole desire
is to get the treaty and league estab-
lished In the world. He seemed to
have no objection, on his own account,
20 reservations that would not inter
fere with the acceptance Of the league
and the treaty. but he feared that II
we adopted reservations the example
would affect other nations, and con-
fiicting reservations might cause COM
plications.
"As to the Taft suggestion of a ten
year limitation of our adherence to
Article x. think suggested and the
President acquiesced in the susges-
ton that by the end of ten years the
world would just be confronting this
conditions in which Il would most
need the league to be in working or
der. He agreed that It would he bet
ter to postpone the beginning of the
plan for ten years than to end 1t then.
II gathered that the President very
confidently believes there will pres
emily be illumination of the Shantung
matter, in which It will appear much
less Objectionable than it has thus far
seemed. We discussed all my sug-
&c sted amendments, and the President
impressed me that no one Of them was
Objectionable to him, save as involv-
ing the possibility OF affecting the at
titudes of other nations and moving
them TO offer other reservations on
their own account.
DisaErees with Wilson'S Fears.
with these fears I did not agree,
for think all the Powers would ac-
quiesce in our reservations. At any
rate, 1 regard 1t absolutely necessary
that reservations be adopted. They
are as vitality important from the
American standpoint as the league it.
self Is from the English.
II said that there Is a strong and
growing feeling that American rights
are Jeopardi1ed In the treaty as IL
stands. adding that II in the next few
days there shall be developments put
ting the Shantung settlement in a bet
ter light opposition on account OF that
provision will doubtless be largely dis
PEELED. He hoped, he said, In the very
near future that this situation would
be so clarified that the objections even
OF China would bo removed. I ex-
pressed tho opinion that the effect of
the shantung provision on Christian
missionary activities, Occi-
dental schools and the Like was Bit
terly resented in this country.
''The President was very pleasant
and seemed sincerely anxious to CO.
operate to insure the success OF treaty
and league"
Senator Spencer's Reservation.
The series of reservations which
Senator Spencer submitted to the Pres
i6ent follows:
Resolved (two-thirds of the SEN
ators present concurring therein),
That the Senate advise and consent
20 the ratification OF the treaty of
peace between the allied and asso-
ciated Powers and Germany, signed
on the 2sth day OF June, 1919.
and presented to the Senate by the
President on the 10th day Of July.
1919.
Resolved, further. That tho advice
and consent OF the Senate to such
ratification Is given with the full un-
derstanding. which is made a part OF
the instrument OF ratincat ton and 10
the basis of the consent of the
United States to the treaty, and u
the condition Of the Identification of
the United States with the League OF