Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-17
Will Make Aggressive Effort to
Diminish Opposition to the
Peace Treaty through Per-
sonal Talks
SIX GET INVITATIONS
Their Names Arc withheld from Public
1T Is Not known Vet Whether
Lodge Is One OF the Favored Ones
OF Not

Washington. July l6.-In an aggressive
effort to diminish Senate opposition to
the treaty with Germany. President Will
son will begin at the White House to-
morrow series of personal talks with
republican senators.
With his reiterated offer to consult
with the foreign relations committee un-
accepted and with his opponents on the
republican evidencing no disposition to
seek his counsel the President decided
to-day to adopt the more direct method
of inviting republican members to the
White House ard laying before them one
after another his reasons for asking that
the treaty be ratified.
A half dozen senators whose names
were withheld were asked to meet the
President tomorrow and it was indi-
Gated that the invitations would be daily
feature until Mr.. Wilson had seen most
of the republican membership of the
treaty body. During the day he selected
Is whom he desires to see this week.
The Presidents letters of invitation
sent out by mail late in the day had
not been delivered tonight and there
was much speculation as to the choices
he had made for to-morrow's confer
ences. In some quarters it was thought
likely he had invited Chairman Lodge
and other members of the foreign rela-
tions committee. hut is also was said
that he may have chosen to talk f1rst
with senators who are inclined to be
friendly to the treaty and have taken
no definite stand rearding it.
Pending receipt of the invitations,
senators reserved their opinions as to
the move, although republican leaders
opposing the treaty in Its present form
did not hesitate to predict that the
White House talks would fail to lessen
the opposition to unreserved ratifica-
ton. Democratic senators supporting
the President. however. declared his
course undoubtedly meant that he had
convincing arguments to offer.
Those in the Presidents confidence
indicated that the burden of his ap-
peal to the republican senators would
cencern the League of Nations and the
ShantunS settlement. the two provi-
sions which have aroused greatest crit
icism in the Senate. 1t was predicted
THAT he would tell his callers the COM
plete details Of the negotiations on
these points and on any others that
might be brought into question.
That it might be in a better situation
| to consider the Shantung provision, the
| foreign relations committee agreed to-
| day TO ASK inc state epdTlnent lot copies
| of all available treaties bearing on Japa-
! uese and German interests in China. In
| its preliminary reading of the Versailles
| treaty. however. the committee passed
| over entirely that part of the treaty
affecting Shantung and other former
possessions of Germany, reserving the
whole subject for future discussion.
Shantung will he the subject of more
| discussion tomorrow in the Senate. Sem
| ator Sherman, republican. Of Illinois hav-
/ ing announced he would speak against
| acceptance Of the treaty provision Civ
! ing control of the peninsula to Japan.
In this connection Senator Horah, repub-
lican. OF Itado may call up his resolu-
tion asked for a letter said to have been
written by General Bliss, Secretary
Lansing and Henry White protesting
| against the Shantung agreement. The
resolution which also asks whether the
Chinese delegates We're 'intimidated' by
opposition.
The resolution Of Senator LaFollette
republican. of Wisconsin, asking why
Costa Rica was not permitted" to sigr
the peace treaty. also is to be called
up with its adoption without serious op
position predicted by it's supporters
In its reading to day the committee
made slow progress and it was predicted
thai with dalN~meetings the whole tex'
viii not be covered the first time before
the end of the week.