The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-17
President wilson's Programme.

The country now has before It for
M instruction the draft Of the con-
stitution proposed for League OF
Nations, President WILSON'S remarks
in submitting that document to the
Peace Conference and the addresses
made at the time of It's disclosure
BY several Of the distinguished states
men who have had to- do with writing
1T President WILSON is on his way
to this country and expects to land
Mt Boston on February 25. His first
engagement calls for reception which
, the Governors OF the New England
States will attend and at which the
President will deliver an address pre-
sumably on the League of Nations.
Under these circumstances 1t would
be natural TO suppose that President
WILSON would expect and would well
come the widest possible discussion Of
the draft by legislators and by the
public generally; but such is not the
case. The President has specifically
requested that he "be permitted to 20
over with the members Of the For
eign Relations Committee of the Sen
ate and Foreign Affairs Committee of
the House, article by article, the con-
stitution before this part OF the work
OF the conference is made the subject
OF debate of Congress" in other words
he asks that members Of Congress re-
frain from uttering their thoughts on
the form, purpose and probable effect
Of the proposed constitution until he
has had an opportunity to explain to
the committeeman the reasons that
lie behind each provision.
This indulgence could only be asked
as favor by the President. 4 He could
not command any member Of Congress
10 maintain silence on this or on any
other subject. Yet such a request will
obviously have potent influence on
many individuals not only in Con-
gress but also outside of the Capitol
ut Washington.
The President hopes to meet the
members OF the Senate and House
committees at dinner on February 90.
The Sixty-fifth Congress expires with
March 3. After the Presidents con-
versat ton with the committeeman only
five days, including Sunday, will re.
main before final adjournment. These
will be busy days, but even If every
hour OF them could be devoted to the
subject the time available for the dis
.ussion of the constitution OF the
League OF Nations would be an In
considerable fraction of that which
should be devoted to 80 momentum,
subject as Endorsement or rejection
of the project with which 1t deals, tc
say nothing Of the numerous details o;
SITS practical application to the exter
nal and internal affairs of 10000 00(
American citizens
1t Is now reported that the Pred
dent intends TO return to Europe aftei
a stay of about two weeks In thi
country. II he carries out this plaI
It can scarcely be his hope to taxi
back with him a formal expression
Of Congress on the League OF Nations
and even II he should obtain from thu
Slxty-ffth Congress an expression o
opinion, favorable or unfavorable, oil
the constitution Of the League o
Nations, the sixty-sixth Congress, tn
Senate of which must act upon al
the treaties written to make effectiv'
the agreements reached at Paris, an'
which in House and Senate mus
enact the legislation necessary to pu
+Apig terms incorporation, will he Re
publican where the present Congress
Is Democratic in its majorities.