The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-20
To Discuss Disputed Points in
Treaty of Peace and
League Covenant
MEETING is ARRANGED
FOR NEXT THURSDAY
If President Fails to Give Infor-
nation Wanted Col. House
May Be Called

Washington, Aug 14-President
Wilson's offer to talk over the peace
treaty with the Senate foreign rela-
tions committee finally was accepted
today. At the suggestion Of Republi-
can members and by a virtually unan-
imous vote the committee decided to
inform the President it would be glad
to meet him at his convenience to go
over the disputed points in the treaty
and the league of nations covenant.
At the same time the committee voted
to call additional witnesses and con-
tinue its hearings.
The President set 10 o'clock next
Tuesday for the meeting and wrote
to Chairman Lodge that in line with
a suggestion by the committee he
would not consider the discussion con-
fdential in nature. In notifying Mr.
Wilson of the committees decision,
Senator Lodge had written that mem
bers did not desire to be bound by
secrecy as to any information they
might receive at the conference.
The President chose the White
House as the place Of the meeting al
though the chairman had left the way
open for him to come before the COM
mittee at the Capitol if he preferred,
writing that the committee would see
him at any time Or place he might
select.
The letters were not made public
but Secretary Tumulty made this state
ment:
1.-The President received Senator
Lodges request for an appointment
to meet the foreign relations commit
tee to discuss the treaty Of peace. OF
course the President welcomes this
opportunity to meet the foreign rela-
tions committee and has fixed Tues
day morning at 10 o'clock as the time
for a meeting at the White House.
The unprecedented condition of the
conference as set by Senator Lodge in
his letter to the President, fits in with
the Presidents own preference as to
publicity, so that the people of the
country may be put in possession of
all the information he has about the
treaty of peace.
Senator Lodge had suggested, it be-
came known, that owing to the alb
sence Of some members, the appoint
ment be made for some day subse-
quent to Monday next.
Mr. Lodge told the President that it
was assumed by the committee that
nothing said at the meeting would be
considered confidential. He recalled
that the plan Of the Senate was to
consider the treaty in open executive
session and in view Of this plan the
committee felt that any information
in regard to the treaty which came
into their possession should be with
held from the public
1t was to this paragraph of the let
ter that Mr.. Tumulty referred in stat
ing the Presidents desire for pub
licity.
The propose, to consult the Presi-
dent grew out of a general discussion
whether the committee should con-
tinue it's hearings to proceed to act
on the facts already before it. Sena-
tor Johnson, Republican, of Califor-
MIA, it is understood first to have men
toned the President as q witness. but
the formal suggestion that the COM
mittee meet him was made by SEN
ator Lodge.
Democratic members. promptly sec
onding the suggestion. pointed out
that the committee had been told in
it's hearings that only the President
could reveal certain features Of the
peace negotiations, and declared that
Mr.. Wilson's informal offer to receive
the members of the White House re-.
maincd open. This offer was made
through Senator Hitchcock Of Ne.
braska. the administration leader
when the committee first took up the.
treaty month ago. The decision to.
act on the proposal was taken without
a record vote.
In deciding to call additional wit
nesses the committee reversed it's de-
cision reached yesterday to speed ac-
ton on the treaty. It was voted to
request the appearance Of five persons.
advisers at Versailles who resigned,
it has been reported. because they dis
agreed with the decisions of the con-
ference regarding Shantung and Rus
Sla. i QSy are T.. L. w lIlldilS. .. y.
Hornbeck and William G. Bullitt. The
others summoned are John c. Fer
guson and Thomas r. Millard. sug-.
gested as authorities on far eastern
affairs.
Dividing nine to eight. the commit
tee rejected motion 10 question Cen
Tasker Fl. Bliss. Col E. M. House and
Henry White, who. with President
and Secretary Lansing. made
UP the American peace om:aIEsion
proper. 1t was SAID afterward that
the action with regarl to col :lou3e'
might be reconsidnrad should mem
bers fail to get from rresiGens viii
son the information they desire about
the league of nations negotiations.
Some Of the witnesses summoned
ere understood to be abroad and som"
members thought their appearance
would make a report on the treaty
i'm possible for ;ev":ai weeks. Tn tat
it was minated at the
White House that Sann:o' Hitchcock
acted with the backing or the "rtsl-
dent Yesterday when be told The com
to