Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-02-21
DRAFT Of. WORLD
LEAGUE ANNOUNCED
Wilson Presents to Congress
League OF Nations Covenent
LEAVES PARIS FOR HOME
Nations Not To Be Asked To Sub
scribe To Constitution Just Yet,
But Main Purpose Has
- Been Accomplished.

Paris President Wilson was the
central figure of the Plenary Peace
Conference when in person he read
the covenant establishing league OF
nations. There was added interest
in the session, as 1t was the last gath
ering of the delegates prior to the
Presidents departure, as well as be-
ing the occasion 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 u
cordial welcome as he passed
through. The delegates already were
assembled when the President en-
tered the council chamber.
When he entered the President
was greeted by Premier Clemenceau,
Foreign Secretary Balfour and Wis
count Miner, Of Great Britain, and
the American delegates at the head
of the table. There was little for
mality. Premier Clemenceau, who
Is president of the conference, called
the conference to order and Presi-
dent Wilson. rose and addressed the
gathering ,-r,,-. ~.zs. .....' sa. na
II have very great pleasure" said
President Wilson as he began, 'in
presenting. the report of the commits
sion which has framed the constitu-
tion of league of nations. am
particularly happy to be able to say
it is a unanimous report, signed by
the representatives of all the powers
on the committee"
While not containing a provision
for any sort of international police
force, the constitution includes
stringent measures designed to pre-
vent future wars In case any nation
makes war without first submitting
the questions at issue to arbitration,
there are the following possible
courses open to the league. ....
Severance of diplomatic relations
between members of the league and
the recalcitrant power.
Economic blockade of the nation
refusing arbitration.
Recommendation by the Executive
Council before the use of force.
The use of force, however, will
leave to each power freedom of ac-
tion under its constitution to make
the necessary declarations of war.
The international police force Or
general staff urged by the French
and put to vote yesterday after
noon after a stirring speech by SEN
ator Bourgeois, was overwhelmingly
defeated. Only the French and
Czecho-Slovaks voted in favor of it.
With this feature eliminated, the
constitution was adopted unani-
mously.,a1 re" s~,.7 f.s -.@ -...r.
The Constitution includes pre-
amble and 26 articles, having been
increased from the original % ar
ticles during yesterdays session of
the league committee. The last ar
ticles are devoted to purely parlia-
mentary matters, the others covering
organization of the league.
Existing secret treaties are abro-
gated and future treaties must be
referred to an international treaty
bureau and given full publicity. An
international labor bureau is estab-
lished. Former German colonies and
Turkish provinces are to be placed
under protectorates, the latter on
the basis of self-determination. All
armaments are to be reduced to a
point consistent with national se-
curity and private manufacture Of
munitions will be prohibited.
The affairs of the league will be
administered by a "body of dele
gates" in which each member ma
tion will have one vote; an execu-
tive council, on which the United
States,r Great Britain, France, Italy
and Japan will be! represented by
one member each, and the other
members by four representatives;
and permanent secretariat to be
appointed by the executive council
Congratulations on securing adop-
tion of the : league constitution
poured into American headquarters
at the Hotel Cri1lon before this aft
ernoon's plenary session. Members
of theriLeague to Enforce Peace de-
clared that this Is "the golden day
in the history of the world" They
declared that despite rumors circl :.
lated in Paris, France, is solidly be-
hind the league plan. h... 80 .4l