The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-19
ACTUAL PEACE Tl
ALLAY UNREST
Foreign Relations Committee
Told World Waits on /
United States. =
GUARD MONROE DOCTRINE
Nothing Vague" in Pact,
Says Executive, Taking 4,
Issue With Majority +
Members.


Washington, Aug. I9.-Presi
dent Wilson told the foreign re-
lations committee at the outset
of his conference today that he
could see no reasonable objec-
tion" to interpretations of how
the United States accepts the
league of nations, provided such
interpretations did not form a
part of the formal ratification
itself.
If interpretations were part
of the formal ratification, the
president contended, long de-
lays would follow, as other gov
ernments would have to accept
in effect the language of the
senate as the language Of the
treaty before ratification would
be complete"
Most of the interpretations,
the president said, seemed to
him to suggest the plain mean
ing of the instrument itself"
The much-discussed Article
K, the president told the sena-
tors, was not of doubtful inter-
pretation when read in connec-
tion with the whole covenant.
The council, he said, could only
advise" and, as It's action must
be unanimous, the affirmative
vote of the United. States would
be necessary to any question af-
fecting this country.
Article is. the president said. pro-
vided that where there is a dispute
found to be solely within the juris-
diction of one of the parties, under
international law Of the league, the
council shall SO report and make no
recommendation for its settlement.
Immigration. tariffs. and the like, the
president said. clearly came under
that provision.
Established New MiIestons.
Besides presenting one Of the most
dramatic developments attendant
upon the. conclusion of peace, the
meeting established new milestone
in the trend toward publicity in
treaty consideration. Figuratively the
doors to- the conference were wide
open. Expert stenographers had been
provided to turn out for the public in
short relays. a word-for-word record
OF all that transpired. 1t was the first
time also that representatives Of the
senate discussing foreign affairs with
the other branch Of the treaty making
power, could question at the same
time the head of the delegation which
negotiated the treaty under discus
sion. The president sat in the confer
ence rather as responsible delegate
at versailles than as the head Of the
government.
Meets Bitterest Critics.
In asking for today's appointment
the committee accepted an invita-
tion extended informally by President
Wilson soon after he submitted the
treaty to the senate. The committees
request said certain information was
desired and that members preferred
that they be not required to hold in
anything the president
might say. To this latter suggestion
the presidents decision to have
present was a sequel.
The conference offered the first op-
for the president to con-
front some OF the most determined
opponents Of the treaty in its present
'orm and some of the bitterest critics
ot his course in the peace negotia-
ions.
The president told the committee
he league council would have
nothing whatever" to do with decid-
ng whether the United States had
fulfilled its obligations in case of
from the league.
Lodge Asks Questions.
Sen "a tor Lodge-Mr. President,
your reference to the neces-
ity Of action leads me to ask one
uestion. II we have to restore peace
0 the world 1t is necessary. assume,
hat there should be treaties with
Iustria, Hungary, Turkey and Bull
aria. Those treaties are all more
r less connected with the treaty
18th Germany. The question should
Ike to ask Is what the prospects are
receiving those treaties for action.
The President think it is very
ood- This treaty is a model of the
theirs. l saw enough of the others
efore left Paris to know that they
re being framed upon the same set
principles and that the treaty with
ermany is the model. I think that
the chief element of delay, sir.
Sketches Other Drafts.
Senator Lodge then asked whether
le president could show the commit
,e the tentative league of nations
raft submitted by Great Britain.
rance and Italy.
Tho President would have sent
lem to the committee with pleasure,
enator. If l had found that / had
lem. l took II for granted that
ld them; but the papers that re-
ain in my hands remain there In
haphazard way. l can tell you the
laracter of the other drafts. The -,
ritish draft, as l remember it, was
the form of a definite constitu-
on Of a league. The French and
allan drafts were in the form of
ries of propositions laying down
neral rules and assuming that the
or whatever body made
e final Foundations, would build
BON those principles II they were