Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-25
Lodge Charges Wilson
CONTINUED from PAGE one)

themselves specifically to his program
Of interpretations. They say the form
of any reservations or interpretations
still is an open question among them.
though they hope to see 1t settled soon.
Shantung and the league also were
debated in the Senate. Senator Robinson
presenting the legal claims OF Japan IN
shantung peninsula. Senator Fletcher,
Democrat, Florida. supporting the
league. and Senator Lenroot, Republi-
can. Wisconsin. declaring that he could
not accept certain features Of the COW
enant without reservations to safeguard
the right of independent national &C.
ton.
President Wilson's conferences with
Republican senators at the White
House were suspended during the day
and it was said tonight that no further
invitations had been issued. On the
question whether the talks would be
resumed later there was no authorita-
tive expression. but previous intima-
tons at the White House hav indicated
that sooner or later the President would
ask virtually every Republican member
Of the treaty ratifying body to confer
with him.
1t was said today that President Will
son had known of Mr. Taft's interpre-
tations plan for several days, and it
also developed that the former Presi-
dent had opened correspondence on the
subject with the Democratic side Of
the Senate. 1t remained conjectural
how far these negotiations might go
toward hrin pinp 70 onA
sore Republicans together on the mid
die ground of interpretative reserva-
tons. but the Republicans who favor
the league idea seemed more confident
than e-er that in the end Mr.. Wilson
himself would be found committed to
such a course.
While Senator Lodge declined to 60
into his views on the Taft proposal,
senators who have stood close to him
in the treaty fight indicated that they
considered the development as a break
in the ranks of league supporters which
eventually would widen to permit rad.
cal amendment of the covenant or even
rejection of the entire treaty. They
pointed out that the former President
heretofore has stood consistently for
I'LL AokAhNotiOh anu uSCldISu
that his letters to Mr.. Hays and to sen.
ators showed that the President had
lest one of the most valuable exponents
CT his cause.
1t developed today that Mr.. Taft's
list Of six interpretations was only one
Of the methods of qualifying Senate rat
iication discussed in letters to Mr..
Hays and to senators. Many letters on
the subject have been written by the
former President and it is understood
that he has not fixed upon any one
form of interpretations, either in re-
gard to the number or language. The
six of which he wrote Mr.. Hays, 1t
was said, he had framed only in tenta-
tive terms
Although the Observation-Disclosures
group of Republicans are going ahead
with their effort to reach an agreement
on a definite reservation program. it
vas suggested in other quarters today
that it probably would be weeks be-
fore the Senate came to the point of
cons dering any reservation proposals.
The foreign relations committee is
continuing in daily session but with
steady work the leaders do not see
Row the treaty can be brought out of
committee in much less than a month.