The sun., 1919-02-15
ment President Wilson continued a.

ment President Wilson continued az
follows:
ut gives me pleasure to add to this
formal reading OF the result OF our la
bors that tho character OF the discus
sion which occurred at the sittings Of
the commission was not only OF the
most constructive but Of the most en-
couraging sort. 1t was obvious
throughout our discussions that. al
though there were subjects upon which
there were individual differences OF
Judgment with regard to the method
by which our objects should be OBJ
tanned, there was practically at no
point any serious differences OF opin-
ion or motive as to the objects which
we were seeking.
Peace on Terms OF Honor.
sIndeed, while these debates were
not made the opportunity for the ex-
precision Of enthusiasm and sentiments.
think the other members of the COM
mission will agree with me that there
was an undertone OF high respect and
OF enthusiasm for the thing we were
trying to do, which was heartening
throughout every meeting.
Because we felt that in a way this
conference did intrust unto us the ex-
preston OF one OF its highest and most
important purposes, to see to 1t that
the concord Of the world in the future
with regard to the objects of Justice
should not be subject to doubt or un-
certainty that the cooperation Of the
hal, 80
sured in the maintenance OF peace
upon terms OF honor and OF interna-
tlonal obligations.
1.-THE compulsion OF that task was con-
stantly upon us. and at no point was
there shown the slightest desire TO do
anything but suggest the hest means 10
accomplish that great object. There Is
very great significance. therefore. In tie
fact that the result was reached unani-
mousiy.
Fourteen nations were represented.
among them all OF those Powers which
for convenience we have called the
Great Powers. and among the rest
representation OF the greatest variety of
circumstances and interests. SO that l
think we are justified in saying that
the significance OF the result. therefore.
has the deepest Of all meanings. the
union OF wills in n common purpose, q
union OF wills which cannot be resisted,
and which. dare say, no nation will run
the risk OF attempting to resist.
Explains Character OF Covenant.
'Now as TO the character OF the docI-
ment. While II has consumed some time
to read this document l think you will
see at once that 1t Is very simple. and il.
nothing so simple as in the structure
which Il suggests for a League of Ma
tions-a body of delegates. an executive
council and a permanent secretarlst.
terminng the character of the repre-
sanitation IN the body OF delegates We
were all aware OF 4 feeling which is
current throughout the world.
"Inagnuch as ! am stating Il in the
presence Of the official representatives
OF the various Governments here pres
ent. including myself 7 may say that
there Is a universal feeling that the
world cannot rest satisfied with merely
Official guidance. There has reached us
through many channels the feeling that
II the celebrating body Of the League
Of Nations was merely to be body OF
oficials representing the various dow
ernments the peoples OF the world would
not be sure that some OF the mistakes
which preoccupied officials had admit
teddy made might not be repeated.
1T was impossible to conceive q
method or an assembly so large and
various as TO be really representative OF
the great body OF the peoples OF the
world, because. as I roughly reckon 1t,
We represent as we SIT around this table
more than twelve hundred million peo-
pie.
Variety of Representation Given.
you cannot have a representative
assembly OF twelve hundred million peo-
pie, but II you leave II 20 each Govern
ment TO have. II II pieases, one or two or
three representatives. though only with
single vote, II may vary rs represen-
tation from time 10 time, no only but
It may (ortginate) the choice of its
several representatives. Wireless here
uninte!l!giblel
Therefore, we thought that this was
= proper and a very prudent concession
TO the practically universal opinion OF
plain men everywhere that they wanted
the door left open TO n variety of repre-
sentation, instead OF being confined to q
single official body with which they
could or might not find themselves In
sympathy.
And you will notice that this body
has unlimited rights OF discuss!on--I
mean OF discussion OF anything that falls
within the held or international relations
And that II is especially agreed that
war or international MISUNDERSTANDING
or anything that may lead to friction or
trouble Is everybody's business. because
1t may affect the peace Of tho world.
Force OF Public Opinion.
And in order to safeguard the popu-
lar power so far as we could OF this
representative body. II IL provided, you
will notice. that when q subject Is sub
United 1t Is not to arbitration. but TO
discussion by the executive council il
can, upon the initiative OF either Of the
parties 10 the dispute, be drawn ont of
the executive council on the larger form
OF the general body OF delegates, because
through this instrument we are depend
ing primarily and chiefly upon one great
FORCE, and this is the moral force OF pub
lie opinion OF the worid--the pleasing
and clarifying and compelling influences
OF publicity, so that intrigues can no
longer have Their coverts, so that de-
signs that are sinister can az any time
be drawn into the open, 30 that those
things that are destroyed by the light
may be promptly destroyed by the over
whelming light OF the universal express
slon OF the condemnation OF the world
Armed force is in the background
In this programme, bu. 1t 10 in the
background and II the moral force o.
tho world will not suffice tho physical
force of the world shall. But that Is
the last resort, because this Is intended
as constitution Of peace, not as a
league OF war