The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20

The President--Yes, that is the way
the whole thing was agreed to.
Senator Brandegee-Did these COM
missioners to which the plenary con-
ference delegated certain subjects to pre-
pare reports upon have any coordination
with each other7 Did each commission
know what the other commissions were
doing?
The President--No. the subjects were
too unlike.
Senator Brandegee-was there any
debate on the completed draft Of the
covenant of the League of Nations wnen
It was submitted to the plenary council
Just before you came over in March,?
The President-Yet there were
speeches.
Senator Brandegee-I do not call these
Debates 1 read that there were no debates
as to what each particular Government
demanded
The President-No, because there were
30 many OF these represented and they
have all been canvassed In the process
OF formation.
resolution OF the Senate requesting a
COPY of letter of Gen. Tasker H. Bliss
which was also signed by Secretary
The President--And Mr.. White.
Senator Brandegee-And Mr., white
you stated, IL 1 recollect, in substance,
that you would be glad to furnish US
with a copy of II but for the fact that
Gen. Bliss had mentioned the names Of
certain Governments. and you thought Il
was a matter Of delicacy not to make It
public. Would It not be possible to fur
nish US with the general drift OF the
arR Ian vi ha nf
the Governments and so forth?
Gen. BLISS Position Stated.
Tho President-There was not any
argument. He said fatty that II was I'M
Just. 1t was not a reason.
Senator Brandegee-It was an opinion.
The President-An opinion.
Senator Brandegee-A conclusion.
Senator Johnson-With that YOU
agreed. Mr.. President, did you not?
The Pre- sident-Senator, do not think
I ought to say any more than l have
said.
Senator Brandegee-I do not think I
care to ask anything more.
Senator Hitchcock-will you permit
me to read into the Record these two
paragraphs from the conclusion of the
treaty and ask whether they are what
you refer to when you express the opin-
ion that the treaty would go into effect
when Germany and three of the con-
tracing parties had signed it and only
as to shem2
The Chairman-That is explicitly
stated.
Senator Hitchcock thought II was
left in some doubt. would like to read
them into the Record. [Reading1
"A first procesverbal of the deposit
Of ratlfcations will be drawn up as soon
as the treaty has been ratified by Ger
many on the one hand and by three Of
the principal allied and associated Pow
ers on the other hand.
From the date of this first process
verbal the treaty will come into force
between the high contracting parties
who have ratified 1t. For the determine
ton OF all periods of time provided for
in the present treaty this date will be
the date of the coming into force of the
treaty" 1 jus. wanted to make it clear
that the treaty Is not in effect except
as to those that have ratified II.
The President--I could not put my
hand on it, but I was sure.
Senator McCumber-Mr. President,
Just one question on this French treaty.
II we should adopt this present treaty
with the League of Nations and with
the great nations of the league to the
protection of France. II war should be
made against her by Germany, what
necessity Is there for any other special
treaty with France?
The President-To meet the possibility
of delay in action on the part OF the
council of the league.
Senator McCumber-But. the agree
ment Of section 10 comes into effect, does
1t not. the moment we adopt the treaty?
The President-Yes, but the council
has to act and formulate its advice and
then the several governments have to
act and form their judgment upon that
advice.
Senator McCumber-Do you not think
under the present situation that that
could be done as quickly as Germany
could get ready for second war on
France?
The President-Oh, as quickly as she
could get ready. yes, but not as quickly
as she could act after she got ready.
Senator Brandegee-Mr. President, the
situation is this: II Germany has sur
rendered its navy, demobilized its army
and been shorn of large portions Of
It's territory II we have no demand
for reparation Or indemnity against
her II. as you stated in your addresses
to the Congress, the war Is over; II
there is no fighting going on II Ger
many has signed the peace treaty and
you have signed the peace treaty: II in
fact there is a condition OF peace and
only the resolution of Congress that
state of war existed a year ago
II that Ia all 20, is there no way by
which the condition of peace which
actually exists can be made legally
effective except by the adoption of the
proposed treaty?
The President-Senator, I would say
that there is no way which we ought
to be willing to adopt which separates
us in dealing with Germany from those
with whom we were associated during
the war.
Senator Brandegee-Why7
The observation-disclosures / think that
is a moral union which we are not at
liberty to break.
Senator Brandesee-1f we have res
cued our fellow belligerents from the
German peril voluntarily and without
any charge and II we prefer not to have
any entanglements or connections with
European Powers but to pursue our
course as we did before tho war. where
is the moral obligation to merge our
selves with Europe forever?
Guarantees Tor Peace.
The PRESIDENT do not construe IL
as merging ourselves. but do think we
are under the pla NEST moral obligations
to Join with our association in Imposing
certain conditions OF peace on Ger
many.
Senator Brandegee-Even II we ratify
the German so-cslled peace treaty with
or without the Shantung provision in II