Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-08-20
|enant Might Involve "Moral Litigation" in Some Gases ] He States.
 AIMS THAT HE HAS 1 CONFIDENCE IN JAPAN Ies Early Ratification-Deelares oocua Was Built on Plan of General Shuts of British Army.

Washington, Aug. 19.-President
 son, interpreting the league o1 Eons covenant today, for the sen-
 foreign relations committee, de-
 ed it imposed no legal obligation
 the use of American military
 |e in protecting the territory or bpendence of any other nation.
 ut he added that the covenant
 ht involve in certain circumstan-
 an absolutely compelling moral
 ration," which might be even knger than a legal promise.
 ressed for more exact defini-
 by committee members, who in-
 led that the whole arrangement
 "a rope of sand," he asserted on the contrary, he considered
 Is placing the nations in "an atti- of comradeship and protection Ich would compel respect for the
 lciples of justice and liberty.
 4eetlng the committee Tn a fOu1lu
 e discussion in the East room of
 White House, in contradiction to
 precedents of more than a cen N and with the whole nation listen-
 through the medium of a relay public stenographers, the presi- went into many of the details of ce negotiations and touched on all
 hotly debated questions which
 e divided the senate in it's con-
 ration of the peace treaty.
 fticle 10 of the covenant, guaran-
 ng the integrity of league mem against aggression, he declared bld leave to each nation "complete edom of choice as to the applica-
 of force" Even if the American resentatives on the council joined an unanimous recommendation for ltary action, the final decision for lce or war must rest, so far as cerned the United States, with &gress, he said. Whatever advice
 council gave under it's authority take such action as deemed ap- ppriate," must also be deemed ap- Ppriate by the United States to be Rdlng on this government, he argued Pugh in the background would be eh potential moral force that he Rbted if the nation would often fllne to act.
 l Faith in Japan.
 The president revealed that Jap E promise to return Shantung pro- Pce to China was reduced to written m Tn the minutes of the peace pference. He asserted he had "ev, confidence" that the promise Puld be carried out, and told the lators 1t was "the best that coul,
 got" out of the negotiations. Ja < < havlng given notice she would Endraw from the conference if he! Pnands were refused. The Ameri \ delegates, he said, had tried t. EP the nation free from obligation!
 european affairs "so far as i Rs nonorably possible to do so' but |. asserted, that it might be neces N to Keep some American troop me Rhine district under the treat, u | tne next 15 years.
 ne declared the nation would be it, VI sole judge whether it's obliga o ,ns mad been fulfilled under tn, sputed withdrawal clause of tn ssue a, covenant; that purely domes questlons were safe from th ssues interference; and that tn, JNloe d doctrine was clearly preser me ne league, the president explain !, n,,s was built on the plan of Genera aass M of South Africa.
 ono.. o"., wilson revealed that he ha, 'rt sfessea ss the. United States take n d' 'd .o9 or the German reparation, bu snoS;a @ asAea that the conference reserv Ians of the German Pacifi 'u waa ol Tap, on suggestion tha at;as tas needed for an American maya uIlOIl.
 e e0me me-. of the senator's questions a e president declined to answer O. \ ov ground s4 of international policy vJ J. .ne American delegates vote msGt,s aGapanS proposal for a racia mi my clause in the league cove n tba ne sad, he could not disclos ,deau e interest of international goo ssass ,sSssarsssan1ding" and for the sam asvns a nn ne said he could not go int Ont;os ta;esonations over the Frenc f tho or give the committee a cop .om;so v record of Japan's Shantun Eo,,. Wants Action Now.
 ,eed 'y action on the treaty wa mi o+ a statement by the pres his his u'. a. the outset of the conferenc, .ace vas b nsasecery, he held so that her t basls might be reached and tn Va,sr sreatles under negotiation no le wos,l aailles were being dealyed unt 0'ld learned what would happe