Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-08-15
PRESIDENT WILL. MEET SENATORS; SECRECY BANNED Discussion of League-Treaty Will Take Place Next
 Tuesday. MORE WITNESSES TO
 TESTIFY AT HEARING Motion to Call Bliss, White and House Lost-Action Probably
 Means Delay on Rat
 ification.

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 republican members and by a. virtually unani- nous vote, the committee decided to inform the president it would be glad to meet him at his convenience to go over disputed points in the treaty and the league of nations covenant. At the same time, the committee voted to call additional witnesses and continue it's hearings. The committee, in it's acceptance of the presidents offer, stipulated, how- ever, that it wanted no ban of scecre- cy in the discussion, the members pre- they pleased.
 President Wilson in replying fixed Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock as the hour for the conference. He declared it was his preference that the fullest publicity be given the conference.
 The proposal to consult the presi- dent grew out of general discussion whether the committee should con- tinue it's hearings or proceed to act on the data already before it. Sena- tor Johnson, republican, California, is understood first to have mention 1 ed the president as. q witness, but the formal suggestion that the commit 1 tee meet him was made by Senator Lodge.
 Won't Question Bliss. 1! Democratic members promptly seconded the suggestion, pointed out that the committee had been told in its hearings that only the president could reveal certain features of the peace negotiations, and declared that MT. Wilson's informal offer to receive the members at the white house re- mained open. This offer was made thru Senator Hitchcock, Nebraska, the administration leader, when the committee first took up the treaty about month ago. The decision to act on the proposal was taken with i out a record vote.
 In deciding to call additional wit nesses, the committee reversed it's de- cision reached yesterday to speed action on the treaty. It was voted to request appearance of five persons, advisers at Versailles, who resigned, it has been reported, because they dis agreed with decisions of the confer ence regarding Shantung and Rus sia. They are E. T. Williams, s. K Hornbeck and William c. Bullitt. The others summoned, are John c. Fergu. son and Thomas F. Willard, suggest. ed as authorities on Far Eastern affairs.
 Witnesses Abroad.
 Dividing 9 to 8, the committee re. iected motion to question also Gen Tasker H. Bliss. Col. E. M House and Henry White, who. with Presi dent Wilson and Secretary Lansing made up the American peace com mittee proper. It was said after ward that the action with regard tt Colonel House might be reconsidered should members fail to get iron President Wilson the information the, desire about the league of nation l negotiations.
 T Some of the witnesses summone' are understood to be abroad, an
 some members thought their appear ance would make report on tn treaty impossible for several weeks In that connection, it was intimate' at the white house that Senate Hitchcock acted with the backing Q the president yesterday. when he toll the committee that unless there. wa some prospect of report soon, in dependent action might develop ol the senate floor. Consenuentlv sena tors saw in the committee situation some interesting possibilities.