The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-07
Secretary Tells Senate CON-
mittee He Had Small
Part at Paris.
SHANTUNG NOT "BRIBE"
Asserts Japan Would Have
Signed Without Chinese
Concession.
HIS KNOWLEDGE SCANTY
I DO Not Know" Most Fre-
quent Answer to Questions
of Inquisitors.
HIS KNOWLEDGE SCANTY
sp.ear pe.pateh to rns sux.

Special Despatch TO THH sux.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 6.-Robert Ian
sing, Secretary Of State and one of
the American delegates to the Paris
Peace Conference. appeared before the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
to-day to give the Senate first hand
Information Of the developments step
BY step Of the peace treaty and the
League of Nations covenant in its
formation.
In many respects the appearance OF
Mr. Lansing was the most sensational
development Of the whole considera-
ton OF these documents.
He frankly revealed to the COM
mittee that President Wilson was
practically the lone peacemaker and
negotiator for the United States in
the long drawn out sessions Of Paris.
He admitted fully and frankly that
he had little to do with by far the
majority Of the important features OF
the peace treaty and practically
nothing to do with the formation or
modification of the League Of Nations
covenant.
To the surprise of the members Of the
committee It was discovered that much
Of even the diplomatic work of the
treaty making was done not only without
Mr.. Lansing's cooperation or by his d.
rsction but completely without his
knowledge.
Il do not know and Not to my
knowledge" literally sprinkled the
answers Of tho Cabinet officer, supposed
to be the Presidents conndant and high
est oficial adviser in Paris and here
shantung Not Brfhe, He Says.
The most amazing revelation by Mr
lansing. however. was that Shantunt
was not the price for securing Japan's
signature to the treaty OF peace and hei
membership In the proposed League OF
Nstions Mr.. Lansing told the commit
ZEE that had this award not been made
10 Japan that country still would have
signed the peace treaty and that China
then would have signed also.
When the Secretary's frank ignoranct
Of facts OF the greatest importance con-
etrning the peace negotiations and cor
itlated matters became evident the ques
tons Of members of the committee LAID
the greatest emphasis on this. bringing
out almost continually the fact that th'
President kept even his closest adviser
In complete ignorance OF his moves.
1t was developed that Mr.. Lansing
ehief function in Paris was In connection
with the committee to fix responsibility
for the war. His direct knowledge o
events in Paris was practically cSnnne'
70 this subject
Committee were deeply disappointed b.
ir Lansipgs lack of knowledge. II
he absence OF power to summon tn
President and force him to submit to
grilling which would bring out the rea
facts OF the negotiations In Paris It wa
Hoped that this delegate to the Peac
Conferences would be able TO clear IL
thA thousar5 and one doubts which hav
obsessed the minds of the Senators 10
many months.
II was evident to them to-day that MI
lansing cannot do this. although he
10 appear again on Monday for anothe
rai.
A practically complete verbatim re
tort of Mr.. Lansing's testimony ioi
lows:
Knows Nothing of U. 8. Plan
Senator Lodge (Mass): The Pres
dent stated at the meeting at the Whli
House OF the Foreign Affairs Commit
lee Of the House and the Foreign Ike
at!ons Committee OF the Senate Las
March that four plans were presente
a the Peace Conference for league
The Italian plan. an American plan.
french plau and a British plan-and ths
he American plan was not the one use
or the purpose of building the leagu'
nero have been several requests and
sood deal OF desire 10 see that Amer
can plan. Do you know whether ths
Pan Is In eXistence7
secretary Lansing: do not
Lodge There is no copy In the d.
tartment?
Lansing: Not TO my knowledge.
Lodge Do you know who drafted Ii
Plan?
i Lansing do not, should sa
The President.
i-odse Then that draft Of that pla
practically unobt3inR bic.
N~nsnZ Tha, l do not know.