Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-17
Covenant Will Not Bind the;
United States to Assist In
Putting Down Rebellion
In Any Foreign Country,
: Declares President; An
swers Series Of Questions.

n SN =boafd president Wilson'S Spe-i
cial. Sept. 17.-setting forth publicly
for the first time his Interpretation
or the League of Nations covenant as
IT affects ireland, President Wilson
said In statement to-day that the
league would constitute a forum be-
tore which could be brought all
claims for self which
world. - :. -. 80.
The covenant. would lot bind the
United statesIto assist in putting
gnown rebellion in any foreign :coun-
try" he asserted, mgr would it limit
the power OF this country to recognize
the Independence Of any people who
lreland's case was not heard at YER
sailles- because it did not come with.
IN the jurisdiction Of the peace con-
ference.
II Replies to questions.
:S The presidents statement was i,
reply to a series Of questions sent tC
him by the San nsFrancisco labor coun-
Gil. It is understood that within a
few days he will reply similarly to
questions put by other labor bodies
regarding Shantung and the repre-
the league assembly. Replying di-
rectly to q question as his attitude to-
ward self-determination for ireland;
Mr.. Wilson said his position was ex-
pressed in Article Il Of the covenant,
under which it is declared that any
member nation can call. the attention
Of the league to any q circumstance
whatever affecting internal relations
which threaten to disturb internation-
al peace or the good understanding
between nations upon which peace de-
pends." The presidents statement
detailing the labor councils questions
and his answers follow:
Il. Under the covenant does the
nation obligate itself to assist any
member Of the league in putting down
a aFsrebellton of its subjects or con-
%q1ered peoples?
Answer. 1t does not.
4 Action Not Limited. b.
Upder: the covenant. can this
erntnept whose people seek to achieve.
or.have achieved. their independence
from a mem Der Of the leaxNe;?s &. 4.
Answer. The tndeRendEsit zEti6il
OF the government Of the United
States in a, matter Of this kind IL in
40. way limited or affected by the COY, q. {,
81 Under the covenant are those
subject nations or peoples only that
are mentioned In the peace treaty en-
titled to the right of self determina-
stion, or does the league possess the
right to accord a similar privilege to
other subject nations or peoples?
Answer. 1t was not possible for
the peace conference to act with re-
gard to the self-determination of any
territories except those which had be.
longed to the defeated empires, but
in the covenant Of the League of Ma
lions it has set up for the first time
In ARTICLE IL a forum to which all
claims Of self which
are likely TO disturb the peace OF the
world or the good understanding be.
tween nations upon which the peace
Of the world depends can be brought
"A. Why was the case Of ireland
not heard at the peace conferences:
And what is your position on the sub.
tect of self-determination for Ireland !?
Answer. The caseS Of ireland wal
not heard at the peace conference
because the peace conference had ne
jurisdiction over any question OF tina
sort which did not affect territories
which. belonged to the defeated em.
nires. NV position on the! subject O1
.self-determination for Ireland Is ex.
pressed In Article II OF the cOvenan
in which may say was particular,
interested, because IL seemed to me
necessary for the peace and freedom
OF the world that q forum should b
created, to which AL peoples could
bring any matter which was likel!
to affect the peace and freedom o
the world. s. .!.s II ~ ~