Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-07-18
Explains Versailles Negotiations to Three League Op-
 p0RentS.
COLT, MCUMBER AND
 NELSON ARE CALLED
Rhodie island Senator Admits He Sees Shantung Settlement in New Light, Others Reticent
 on Conferences.

Washington, July 17.-How the Versailles conference reached many of the agreements embodied in the treaty of peace was described by President Wilson today to three re- publican senators, invited to the white house at the head of a long list of republicans members whom he purposes to take into his confi- dence.
 Afterward one of his callers. Sena- tor Colt, of Rhode Island, said Mr. Wilson had been able to place the Shantung settlement in a new light and had clarified other disputed points in the treaty Senator Me Cumber of North Dakota and Sena- tor Nelson of Minnesota, the others who saw the president, were reticent as to the subject discussed, but said the president had given them much interesting information.
 Senator Colt, who announced his general approval of the league of na- tons in g senate speech delivered shortly before he went to the white house. indicated after the conference that his doubt over certain portions of the league covenant had not been removed. He said he was not ready to express an opinion regarding Shan tung and intimated that the presi- dent might make public statement soon on the subject
 Opposes Any Reservations.
 Senator McCumhnr is the oniy re- publican member of the foreign rela- tions committee who has favored the league and it is understood Mir Will son talked over with him committee action on the treaty and the general situation.
 Senator Nelson never has made public declaration for or against the treaty. To all of his callers, the president is said to have reiterated his opposition to reservations of any character in senate ratification of the treaty.
 The president tomorrow will con- tinue his talks with senators inclined to be friendly toward the treaty pro- vision, though it. is expected that lat CT he will seek a conference with virtually every republican senator. in- cluding those who have most bitter ly opposed ratification
 Lodoe Offers Aihi
 Senators Kellogo. Minnesota, and Kenyon. Iowa, both of whom have kept open minds on the treaty, have been invited to cali on the president tomorrow morning. and Senators McNary, Oregon. leaeue supporter, and Sapner, Kansas, who has taken no definite stand. in the afternoon.
 The position of the foreign rela- tions committee with regard to meeting the president as body. was explained in a statement tonight by Chairman Lodge. who said no con gressional committee "has any right a president before it, and that MT. Wilson had not asked to appear"
 While the president was beoinning his white house conferences the sem ate debated Shantung and the leaoue, and adopted with a record voted, a resolution by Senator Borah, repub- lican Idaho, askine for information relative to the Shangtung negotia- ticns.
 In his address announcirg accep- tance of the lea%ue principles, Sena- tor Colt declared the covenant would not conflict with the American con- stituton nor create uner-govern- ment. and asserted that eff it is un- thinkable for us to desert England. France and Italy when the world is in chaos, then we must become member of tho league as providing the only machinery for the restora- tion of peace and order"
 Senator Sherman, republican, Hi nois, attacking the Shantung provi- sion, as step toward the dismem- berment of China and the enthrone- ment of 'an Asiatic Kaiser" at Tokio, declared Japan never intended to give up the peninsular passing to her control under the peace treaty. He characterized the League of Nations as 'the colossal confidence game of the ages"
 A referendum to determine the state of popular sentiment on the league was proposed by Senator Borah. who charged that information og public opinion abroad had been distorted. He read editorials from European publications to support his claims that the people of Europe gen. erally were opposed to the league, ad- dinp that "the prlrveyors of news do