The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-02-21
WILSON EXPLAINS PLANS
FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS
President Reads Text of Proposed
Covenant OF Nations-AIl in Agree
n,ent at Final Adoption.

Covenant OF Nations-Ali IN Agree
r,ent at Final Adoption.
Paris, Feb. l4-President Wilson
was the central figure Of the plenary
peace conference which opened at 8: 30
o'clock this afternoon when in person
he read the covenant establishing q
league of nations. - -
There was added interest in the ses-
sion as it was the last gathering OF
the delegates prior to the presidents
departure as we'll as being the oc-
casion Of presenting the document
with which his name is identified.
The president was received with
military honors as he arrived at the
foreign Office and the large crowds
which had congregated gave him
cordial welcome as he passed through.
The delegates already we're assembled
when the president entered the coun-
Gil chamber
When he entered the chamber the
president was greeted by Premier
Clemeneeau, Foreign Secretary Bal
four and Viscount Miner of Great
Britain and the American delegates
at the head of the table. There was
little formality, Premier Clemenceau,
who is president of the conference,
called the conference to order and
the president rose and addressed the
gathering.
81 have very great pleasure" said
President Wilson as he began, "in pre-
senting the report of the committee
which has framed the constitution OF
a league of nations. am particularly
happy to be able to say it is a unani-
nous report. signed by the represen-
tasiyes of all the powers on the COM
mittee.'
President Wilson spoke earnestly.
but without oratorical effect.
"The best report I can make" the
president continued, 'is to read the
document ITSELF"
Thereupon he read from printed
sheet the constitution of the league,
while the assembly followed his read
ing with the closest attention.
While the president was reading,
Mrs. Wilson, accompanied by the
presidents naval aide, was escorted
to place back of the delegates table
The reading continued for 35 min
utes without interruption. or applause.
AS he closed the president laid aside
the document and spoke Of what had
been accomplished. The deliberations
of the commission had been most in
structive, and throughout the proceed
ings there was an undertcne OF en-
thusiasm in the great work being ac-
complished, he said.
The results, said President Wilson,
embodied the judgment of IA nations
represented on the commission and
these IA nations were representative
group Of the conference Itself
This is nation of will in COM
mon purpose" the president pro-
ceeded. sit is a union which can not
be resisted and dare say one which
no nation will attempt to resist"
The president pointed out that the
document was no straight jacket"
It was elastic, and not vehicle OF
might, he said 1t was yet to be de-
veloped, and as yet care should be
taken as to the clothes pQt on it.
While elastic yet it was definite.
'It is definite" continued President
Wilson, "as a guarantee OF peace. 1t
is definite as guarantee against ag-
gression. It is definite against a re-
neyal of such cataclysm as has just
shaken civilization"
The president spoke with especial
emphasis as he referred to the wrongs
committed against helpless people.
There is one especially notable fea-
ture in this document" he said. I'VE
are done with annexations of help
less people at times accomplished in
the past for the purpose of the ex-
plotting of these peoples. In this
document we realize these helpless
communities are first to be helped and
developed and that their own interest
and well being shall come before any
material advantage to the mandatory
entrusted with their case"
Too often in the past, the president
added, the world had seen the lands
of helpless communities appropriated
for political purposes, "and so," he
said, while this is practical docu-
ment, it is above all, human docu-
ment. It is practical and at the same
.:..o - ;e dacipnod tn nl1rjfy To rec