The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-03-01
President Wilson Puts the Issue
Squarely Up to Congress
LEAGUE OF NATIONS is
EHE ONLY REFUGE
Success or Failure of League
Depends Upon the United
States-Rejection Of Plan by
Wilful Senators Means Dis
order.

order.
washington, Feb. 2s.-President
Wilson told members of the congress
:iona1 foreign relations committees
night that unless tac United States
.ntered the league Of nations the
easue would fall and chaos and tur-
nloil beyond description would result
in Europe. Views of Republican
members opposing the league consti-
tuition as reported to the peace con-
| ference apparently were not changed
| by the conference.
| The president was said to have
stated that it was necessary that the
| United States stand to the support OF
| the Czecho-Slovaks, the Jugo-Slavs,
| Poland and other weak and strug-
Cling peoples made free as the re-
suit of the great war.
Discussion OF the constitution as
I presented to the peace conference
was said to have been quite general
md president was questioned close
"; especially by Senator Bra7desee
Of Connecticut. Republican Leader
Lodge and Senator Knox Of Penn
sy!vania, former secretary of State,
took very little part.
The president, after making an
opcn explanatory statement, answer
| ed all questions freely and specifi-
ca!ly, emphasized that his guests
we're free to discuss the conference
and all its information with newspa-
PEI men or others
One question on which much time
was spent was whether nation on>e
in the league, could withdraw, raised
by Senator Brandegce. The president
was said to have held that any cou'l-
try could withdraw but Senator
Brandegee contended this would be
! impossible under the constitution IS
now drafted.
President Wilson denied that the
! league plan would interfere with the
Monroe doctrine, declaring thai the
] doctrine would be guaranteed by al
/ the member powers IN the world so
ciety.
! The president was said to have
held that the manufactures in the con
stitution were not compulsory, but
irequired the consent OF the nation TO
which the mandatory was assigned.
Senators said he expressed the op'n-
ion that the United States would ''e-
| sire to become mandatory fer Ar
menia.
On the question of American SOY
e~eignty. the president. was said 10
have taken the position that recess
sion of American sovereignty was :lot;
a. new precedent being en- incident Of
every treaty.
Chairman Hitchcock OF the senate
committee said the president held
that decisions Of the leagues execu-
tive council on Gisarman1cn would
not be binding until specifically ap0
proved by each sIgnatory nation and
that consequently the American con-
gress would have the opportunity to
pass on the apportionment Of arna-
n1ent for every nation concerned. The
president said this section had been
r1isconstrued.
Concerning the clause giving the
right to the league to consider acts
threatening world peace. President
Wilson said that the clause was in
definite and would be made more
clear by writing in a safeguard
which would require that every rec
| olnnendation by the council should
be unanimous.
IT also was said that tie president
informed the senator's and represen-
ttatives that the disarmament provis-
ion would not interfere with the
military training Of men, but that it !
was evident that a trained body Of
men would not be danger to world !
peace if their armament supplies were
Kept in check
MIR Wilson said the provision for
enforcing the determination Of the
council IL case it was disobeyed by
any nation would apply in only one
case and that whore the party against
whom a decision was rendered had
property including territory in its
possession which it would rot SUI
render.
In conceding that some sovereignty
must be surrendered by membership
in the league. the president declared
it was inconceivable that there could
be any concert Of action by nations 10
eliminate war and protect weak un-
less each ration was willing to give
UP something.
Denying statements that the league
meant usurpation OF the power Of
congress to declare war. the presi-
don't said the league merely was q !
premise by the treaty making pow
ers thai its congress would do all in :
its power to carry out the agreement.
a situation which prevailed in many ;
present treaties
Senator Lodge refused to sec news
paper mon or make any statement
after the conference. !
Accounts Of Democratic and Re-
publican members of the committee {
which discussed the conference varied /
only in very minor details.
The strength Of the league would L
rcst on the friendship Of America. Q
Great Britain, France. Italy and Ja- :.
i l,N I