The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-06
STAR
WITNESS OF DAY
American Plan of League of
Nations Not Pressed at
Versailles.
S H ANTUNG PROVISION
Entered Into Without Knowl-
edge of Recent Treaty Be-
tween Japan and Others.

| Washington, Aug. 6.-Secretary
Lansing told the senate foreign re-
| lations committee today that the
American plan for a league of ma
tions was mot pressed" at Versailles
and never was presented to the full
peace conference.
| The secretary, appearing at pub
| lie hearing of the committee, said he
did not know whether a copy of the
American draft still was in existence
He presumed, he said, that the draft
was made by President Wilson and
added that copy might still be In
the presidents possession.
| Senator Brandegee asked regard
ing press reports that the president
| had cabled Premier Clemenceau, OF
France, disapproving a request of the
French senate for the minutes.
"That isn't a true statement of the
facts said Mr.. Lansing. THE SEN
| ate chamber in Paris asked MIR.
| Clemenceau to lay, before 1t the min
| utes Of the commission on the league
of nations and Mr.. Clemenceau said
as that was a matter pertaining to
other governments, as well as the
, French government, he must make
inquiry. He inquired of me and I
said my impression was that, be-
cause of the great freedom of debate,
1t might cause irritation and would
be unwise to lay the minutes before
the senate, and that I would COM
municate with the president. The
president agreed with me and oabled
the peace commission"
Mr.. Borah then took up the report
that Secretary Lansing. Gen. Bliss
and Henry White had filed a written
protest against the Shantung provi-
sion. Mr.. Lansing stated that Gen.
Bliss wrote a letter to the president
and that 1T was signed by Cen Bliss
alone.
did 1t purport to be written on
the part of any Others" asked Mr.
Borah. S
Yes. Mr.. White and myself. Mr..
Lansing added that 1t was a private
communication from Gen. Bliss to
President Wilson and that he had no
copies available.
Couldn't Tell Difference.
Mr. Lansing did not recall how the
American plan differed from that
eventually adopted. Asked by Sena-
tor Brandegee, republican, of Con-
necticut, whether it was true that the
American plan was drafted by two
New York lawyers for the president,
the witness replied: Il think that is
not true"
And was the plan not destroyed
because it was so absurd" asked Mr.
Brandegee.
Il never heard of that" said Mr.
Lansing.
The secretary said he thought the
plan now embodied in the league
NJ
ment" on the American plan. He
could not go into details, however,
because he was not a member of the
commission which drafted the cove
nant. The American plan, he thought,
was along the same general lines"
as the one adopted.
Mr.. Lansing said he had presented
resolution covering general prln-
ciples of a league" but no action was
taken on it.
Asked how expenses of the league
were to be paid, the secretary said !
he understood the league had no
to assess any nation, but
would apportion the expenses and |
their payment SO far as the United |
states was concerned would be en- |
tirely dependent upon the decision of
congress, under the same plan as that |
by which expenses of nineteen other !
international organizations in which |
the United States participates now
arc paid
Secretary Lansing said he personally |
would be opposed to furnishing the SEN
ate copy of the transcript of the dis /
cussions before the league of nations
section OF the peace conference "on the
general principle that 1t might prove
Irritating" to other nations.
snantuns Settlement.
Mr.. Lansing told the committee 1t
was uncertain when the committee
could secure the records of the Ameri-
can peace delegation, as they must be
kept in Paris for some time for use
The Shantung settlement was then
taken UP by Senator Borah, republican,
Idaho who asked when the state de-
partment first heard of the secret
treaty between Japan, Great Britain
and France and Italy for the cession
or Shantung to Japan.
II would have to look the matter UP
before | could give definite answer"
Mr.. Lansing replied. He later promised
to do this and inform the committee.
Japan's Demands.
When the Lansing-Ishi agreement
was made Mr.. Lansing said. the de-
partment knew OF Japans tWentv-one
demands upon China, but added the
demands did not enter into the dis
cussion of the agreement
AT no time was II understood that
the Lansing -Ishi agreement was the
Endorsement of Japan's twenty-one de-
nands?' asked Senator Borah.
Absolutely not said Mr.. Lansing
We were opposed to them"
And the agreement was not an en-
'orccmcnt of the secret agreement re-
garding Shantung?"