The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-20
lean representation on various European
reconstruction commissions.

treaty in it's present form. They de-
clarcd tho days testimony had borne
out their claim that tho league would
lead TO in'Cruinahlc foreign Complica-
tions. They also pointed out that Sem
atnr Johnson | - developed in III" days
meeting that 4 GOOD part of tho tern
toiial division resulting from tho war
was yet to he determined.
Tho arrangements Tor publishing n
transcript Of the discussion, which grow
out Of a suggestion from tho committee
that Senator's he not required 10 k""p
tho proceedings in conference. hhd MT
Wilson'S personal supervision. After
tho committee had departed nc went 10
tho White House basement. where the
newspaper correspondents were waiting
for the last Of tho stcnoEr1phlc report
and asked whether cvcrythirgs thcro
was going smoothly.
"I came down." he said to tho corrHs'
nondcnts. ITO inquire o fyou E"nilrmcn
If tho rcpotr Of the conference WAS nan
died tho way you wanted
Tho President. in his statement at the
oncnirr Of the conference, said h" po'
1icvcd only tho meaning of certain paris
Of tho league covenant stood in inc way
of ratification OF tho treaty. Later Son
ator Rrandcgce told him he had been
wrongly informed on that subject. as
there was much serious oppositloh III
the Senate to the Shantung provisions
and TO other features.
When tho question Of moral Obligation
was raised senator Harding suggested
that tho covenant provisions mlGh'
amour, TO "surrcndcrinG tho Suggestions
Of n moral obligation for this rrpunll'
to tho prcjudicrs and necessities Of inc
nations Of the old world.
II do not understand that We do sur
render" replied the president.
Would YOU not understand decree
by the council 10 he suggestion 81
this moral ohligation?
"Ccriainly l would. hut VIC w""'d
have TO concur in that bcfcr" 1t had an!
force Of any kind.
Then what permanent value Is there
10 this compact
Tho greatest permanent value - inc
point that hav" raised. We arc asSunl-
ing that tho United States Will not con,
cur in the greatest moral judgment OF
the world. In NY opinion she GcneralIy
will"
Asked whether all tho British domin'
ions would be barred from "oting on any
question affecting the British empire
tho president said hat in such cast
the entire empire would have but DIV
vote.
Referring to tho clause in the spcc!a
defensive treaty with France, wh!cr
provides that it can come into forc'
only if approved by the League. Mr.
Brandcgcc asked whether it was consti
tutionally proper for the senate TO ap
provo treaty with the decision of IT!
validity left to a body not yet organized
The prrsidtit said he saw no objection
at is true. is ii not" asked Senator
BrandcGcc. that if difficulties arise Il:
to the construction Of any provision II
the treaty with Germany after We have
passed from the scene. what We though
the provisions meant will not nc very
powerful in tho construction that vii
be placed upon it by those who then have
10 determine what it means"
Tho vote IF tho Tasted States will b.
essential" Mr.. Wilson replied.
Il do not mean that. The fact tina
YOU think now thrt cTcrything in tn
treaty is plain. and tho fact that ! thinl
there is CAV" doubt about some o! thu
provisions. will not seriously affect thc
opinion OF the Council?"
treaty will have a great deal to do. anC
tho meaning of the wording is plain.
THAT is simply another way Of stat
ing. Is it not that you arc clear in you
opinion"" Qucricd the senator.
"No. sir. it is a question Cf being con
fd"nt what language means. not conf
dent Of an opinion
"Rut the language is in dispute now
n 4 In Of
country and certain senators as 10 it!
meaning"
Senator RrandcGcc added that Will
ING Of tho Language was quito clear
continuing that N" provision was "a'
obligation in contract an know 81
hui one way N perform an obligation
that you have contracted TO perform
and that is to perform it,"
II" president then made rhis state
mon; of his understanding &c tho obi ga,
'lon under that article to follow tho adj
Vic" Of tho council.
Il tax" II for granted that in rracti.
Cllly every case tn" UnIicI States
would respond | quito agree with you
that n moral ChIIC1tion is To hc fulfilled
and ! am confident that our nation vii
fulfill it. bui that docs not rrmrvr from
each individual case IN" elem ut Of
judgment which VIC al" free To exercise
in two stages:
We arc first FREQ 10 exercise il IN the
vatc Of our representative "a III" Coun.
CN, who will O: course act under in,
StruCilnnS from the ham' government
and in IN" second place" We arc To cxcr.
else !: when tn" president. acting up"1
tho action ri The council. makes his
recommendation To congress.
Then congress" Mr.. Wilson added
is t0 cNcrciS" its judgment as II
whether III" Instructions Of tho cXccu.
tiv" IN our member Of tn" council were
we'll founded or not and whether this is
n cas-" Of distinct moral obligation"
Asked by Senator johnson whether the
obligations assumed under tho treaty
20 To tho extent Of compelling us II
maintain American troops in Europe
Mr. Wilson replied:
such small bodies as arc necessary
TO tho carrying cut of tho treaty,
think"
And will those troops have 10 bc
maintained under the various treaties Of
peace until tho ultimate contamination
Of Tho terms Of these trcatics"" persist.
Cd Mr. Johnson.
Yes. hut that is not long. In no case
ne remember. docs that exceed c!chtcsr
months"
II was rather under tho impression
that tho occupation OF German, was Ia
be for fifteen years"
Along tho Rhine. yc=. was thinking
Of upper Slcsia and tho other places
where pl"bisCitcS ar" IN he carried out
1t is tho understanding with tho other
governments that We arc to retain only
enough troops there to keep olIr flag
there"
"Will wp lr maintaining tr,o-io,,