Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-09-03
PRESIDENT DENIES
TREATY WAR PACT
Wilson Tells Senate Committee
Congress Only War Maker.
JAPAN WON'T RULE SHANTUNG
Tells Senators Tokyo Has Promised to
Give Up Any Sovereignty There
Asks Them to interpret but
Not to Change Treaty.


ence at the White House unprecedent-
ed in American history, President VIII
son discussed the peace treaty with
the senate foreign relations commit
+ tee. answered questions put by sena-
tors and gave out stenographic
transcript of the proceedings to the
public
Some of the inside details of the
peace conference, how the League of
Nations covenant was drawn, and 9th
er historic happenings were handed out
verbatim for the world to read. in con.
trast to the time-honored procedure Of
secrecy, presidential and senatorial
confidence"
Nothing approaching the conference
in that respect is recalled since George
Washington went to the senate 10 dis
cuss troubles With the Indians.
Urpss Speedy Ratification.
Mailing a plea for ratification Of the
treaty that the world might be turned
wholly back TO a peace basis the pres
ident said he saw no reasonable OBJ
lection to the senate expressing it's in
depreciation Of the League Of Nations
covenant so long as those interpreta-
tons did not actually become part of
the act Of ratification.
If interpretations were part of the
formal ratification, the president con.
tended, long delays would follow, as
other governments would have to SAC
cept in effect the language of the SEN
ate ms the language of the treaty be-
fore ratification would be complete"
Most of the interpretations. the presl-
dent said. seemed TO him to suggest
the plain meaning of the instrument
itself"
Must Get U. S. Consent.
The much-discussed article ten. the
president told the senator's. was not Of
doubtful Interpretation when read in
connection with the whole covenant,
The council he said, could only lad
wise and as its action must be unnni.
nous, the affirmative vote of the Unit.
ed States would be necessary for any
question affecting H.
Article sixteen the president said.
provided that where there is n disnutp
found 10 be solely within the iurlsdic-
ton Of one of the parties, under inter-
national law the league council shall
so report and make no recommenda.
tion for lis settlement Immigration,
tariffs and the Ike. the president said.
clearly came under that provision.
The plan for the league. finally sub.
mittcd In Paris. the president said. had
been built mp first from plan drawn
by British committee headed bv
Mr. Phillimore and later included ideas
from n plan drawn by General SHUTS.
From these and other discussions.
coupled with the presidents own ideas.
the league plan was made.
Own Redraft Not Submitted.
HIS own private redraft of the Phil
limore plan, the president said. was
not submitted to the American peace
mission. He had seen Secretary Ian
sings proposals orr informally.
The president said the United States
would have complete freedom Of
choice as to the application of force"
In carrying out article ten of the
league covenant
The president told the committee
The leegue council would have moth.
ing whatever" TO do with deciding
whether the United States had fulfilled
IFS obligations in case of withdrawal
from the league.
The conference was not held in the
blue room, as had been planned the
president taking his visitors into the
east room, where they were seated
around big table Senator Lodge SAT-
next 10 the president.
Japan Won't Rule Shantuno
To query as TO what sovereignty
japan retained in Shantung President
Wilson said:
she has not retained sovereignty
over anything. | mean she has prom.
Used not 10. Senator Borah has asked
whether this understanding was oral
ar otherwise. | do not like to describe
the operation exactly IL II is not Der.
fcctly discreet As matter of foct
this was technically oral, bur literally
written aud formulated ami the form
'ulation agreed upon"
President Wilson said he dlsagraad
with The opinion given the committee
by Secretary Lansing thar Janan
would have signed the treaty regard.
less of whether it contained the shan.
tpng provision.
When Is the return (of Shantune
i" China) to be made?" asked Sena.
tor Johnson.
"rha; was left undecided. hu. We
were assured al the time that # wonId
be as soon as possible"
Did not the japanese decline 70
fix any dateY
They did AT thar time. yes; hnt
think II is fair IN them 10 say thev
could not at that time say when :,
would be-"
Senator New-Mr President loes
not this indefinite promise of Japan's
suggest the somewhat analogous case
OF Englands occupation Of Malta? She
has occupied Malta for something like
a century, believe, under a very SINH.
lar promise.