New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-16


speeches delivered at yesterdays pie
nary session of the peace conference
following the reading by President
Wilson of the proposed constitution OF
the league of nations expressed hearty
Endorsement of the covenant, there
were indications that the draft will not
be accepted as it stands without at
tempts to amend it in important par
ticulars
Lord Robert Cecil, of Great Britain,
and Premier Orlando of Italy voiced
their approval but Leon Bourgeois, of
France, while expressing his general
satisfaction, made reservations which
indicated that his proposals for an in
ternational military force will be heard
again when the debate proceeds fur
Their.
Another slight evidence Of dissent
was found in the remarks of w NJ.
Hughes, of Australia, who inquired,
with some show Of feeling, il ample OPP
portunity to discuss the scheme would
be given. The Arabian delegation also
sounded a minor note of dlscord IN
calling attention to secret treaties
which were said to interfere with the
principle of self determination ex-
pressed by the covenant.
Address OF Bourgeois
NJ. Bourgeois spoke as follows:
81 rise to express the deep satisfac-
ton of all, and of France more than
any other country, because she is
among the countries who have most suf-
fcred, to see the unity of our wills and
: 10 RI !, ON
to the principles of the league of ma
TONS That act of faith We shall do
in a spirit of cordially and good will
that has been that Of the committee.
Under the eminent craftsmanship of
President Wilson the committee has
worked with all their hearts to attain
this great object.
Lord Robert Cecil has said we now
present to the conference and to the
world the result of our work, but we
DO not present it as something that is
final, but only as the result of an
honest effort. to be discussed and to be
examined not only by this conference,
hut the public opinion of the world
eve are unanimous in our opinion
that this scheme must be presented to
the world, and it resulted from our de-
liberation. We must preserve the char
acter OF unanimity which its note has
given it. We still retain our rights
when further discussions take place
to state more definitely our views on
some details.
"Signor Orlando has said how diff
cult it seemed at the beginning to con-
ciliate two apparently contradictory
c}ples-that of the sovereignty of
nations and that of the limitations
that nations must accept in order to
secure the reign of right and justice.
That Cancellation has taken place with
out effort, and we have demonstrated
movement, as Signor Orlando said, by
walking.
Must Curb Entire World
Owe rise to prevent the renewal of
war like that which we have Just seen;
we rise at the appeal of all those who
have fallen to spare their offspring the
renewal oil such an ordeal. We are per-
suaded that no war in the future can
be limited to a small area The inter
dependence of the different parts and
different interests of the world has be-
come such that no conflict can be lin
tied. 1t is that the whole world NAV
keep itself from danger that we to day
have ordained that right and justice
must be the basis of settlement in all
the conferences
III tiic VIEW " JuSt people lneTc are
no small and no great states All are
and all will be equal before the princi-
pie OF international justice; ana in the
tribunal that will give the decisions the
Judges will sit. not as the representa-
tlves OF one particular nation, but as the
representatives of International right.
This is a principle to which we are
particularly attached All the states, in
consentng to submit to international
justice, take at the same time a definite
pledge to guarantee to each other the
integrity of their territories as estab-
ilshed by the settlement of the present
peace treaty, and also to guarantee
their political independence against fut-
ure aggression. This is the object of
our scheme. ! hope the means which
are suggested by it will allow us to at
tain our object
1--WE have established certain num-
Der of judicial principles and interna-
tlonal organizations binding the states
together; binding them to a common
work and binding them to the truce
ment would be impossible.
"Ihese organizations, the creation of
which is provided for in the last arti-
Giles of the covenant, are similar to some
which have existed already, but which
were scattered through various parts of
the world and which had never been
brought together TO form part of the
common body Of humanity. The foun
datlon is now laid and we are certain
that the organizations will be multiplied
and Will help humanity more and more
to attain it's common aims.
What League Must Resist
owe have been unanimous in pro
claiming these principles so much that