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

Conbuiar service, cOuld we nOtI
The President-We could. sir; but
Will never consent to do It.
Senator Brandegee-There Is no way
by which the people can vote on II.
The Chairman-Are we not trading
with Germany now as a matter of fact Z?
The President-Not 80 far as 1 know,
sir.
The Chairman-Licenses certainly
have been issued. It is advertised in all
the New York papers.
German Trade Opened.
The President-we removed the re-
strictions that were formerly placed
upon shipments to neutral countries
which We thought were going through
to Germany.
The Chairman-Yes; I see them ad-
vertised broadly in the New York
papers.
Senator Johnson--Mr. President, does
the moral obligation to which you have
alluded compel us to maintain American
troops in Europe7
The President-which moral oblisa-
tion. Senator7
Senator Johnson-You referred to the
moral obligation resting upon US to
carry out the peace terms and the like
In conjunction with our associates, and
felt that 1t would be. as I understood
you, a breaking, a denial OF that moral
obligation. to make a separate peace or
to act by ourselves?
The President-Yes.
Senator Johnson-Does that obligation
60 to the extent of compelling us to
maintain American troops in Europe?
The Presldent-Such small bodies as,
the treaty. think; yes
Senator johnson - And will those
troops have to be maintained under the
various treaties of peace until the ulti-
mate contamination of the terms of
those treaties?
The President-Yes. Senator, but that
Is not long. In no case. as remember,
does that exceed eighteen months.
Senator Johnson was rather under
the impression that the occupation of
Germany was TO be for fifteen years
The President-oh, beg your par
don.
The Chairman-Along the Rhine.
The President-Along the Rhine, yes.
was thinking Of Upper Silesia and the
other places where plebiscites are Gre
ated or to be carried out. il Is the I'M
der standing with the other Governments
that we are to retain only enough troops
there to keep our flag there.
Senator Johnson-The idea in my mind
was this: Will we be maintaining
American troops upon the Rhine for the
next fifteen years?
The President-That Is entirely within
our choice, Senator. but suppose we
will.
Senator Johnson-Do you know, Mr..
President, whether or not we have
American troops In Budapest at present?
The President-We have not There
are some American officers there, Sena-
tor. sent with a military commission,
but no American troops.
Senator johnson Returning Mr.
President, to one last question about
Shantung. do you recall the American
particular American experts reporting
that the Japanese promise. the verbal
promise which has been referred to, to
return Shantung meant in reality the
return of the shell but retaining the kerr
mel of the nut?
The PRESIDENT remember their say
ing that; yes. sir.
Senator Johnson-That Is all
The Presidem-But I do not agree
with them.
Senator New--Mr. President, II no one
else has any questions TO ask. have a
few
II
you will
Questioned by Mr.. New.
Senator New-These questions. Mr..
President. are more or less general, re-
ferring to no particular feature of the
treaty but to all of them.
First-Was It the policy OF the Ameri-
can delegates to avoid participation by
the United States in strictly European
questions and their settlement: and II
so what were the matters in which
America refused to participate or en-
leavored to avoid participation?
The President could not give you a
LIST in answer to the last part OF your
question, sir; but II certainly was our
cndeavor to keep free from European
affairs.
Senator New--What did the American
delegates say or do TO secure non-par-
ticipation by the United States in the
cessions of Danxig. Memel and in the
various boundary commissions. repara-
ton commissions and other agencies set
up in the treaty for the disposition of
questions In which America has no ma
tional INTEREST,"
The President-I did not get that,
Senator-it is so long.
Senator Nev-I will divide IT, What
did the American delegates say or do to
secure non-participation by the United
States in the cessions of Danzig and
Memel?
The President-why, Senator, the
process of the whole peace was this
Each nation had associated with 1t GER
tain expert advisers, college professors
and bankers and men who were familiar
with clinical and geographical and
financial and business questions Each
question was referred to a joint commits
sion consisting of the specialists in that
field representing the principal allied
and associated Powers. They made a
report to this smaller council and in
every instance tho American representa-
tives were under instructions to keep out
OF actual participation in these processes
so far as II was honorably possible
to DO So
Mr.. New-The second half OF the
question Is this What did the American
delegates do to secure non-par cipation
by the United States in the reparation
commissioner
The President--why. we were disin-
clined to Join In that, but yielded to the
urgent request of tho other nations that
we should, because they wanted our ad-
vice and counsel
Mr.. New-What agreement written or
verbal has been entered into by the
American delegates touching the assign
ments to various states of manufactures
under the provisions OF Article XIII
The President-Nsne whatever.
New Probes Manufactures.