The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-20
Wilson Suggests Article XII
Covers Status of Erin's
Claims
LABOR MAKES QUERIES
President in San Francisco says Con-
ferenre Dealt Only With LANDS
BeongIng to Empire Con-
qucred by Allies
Rv Mount Clemens News Bureau

| arrived IN san tTduCleCo oh ~"
If the country in behalf of the League
If Nations, there came an opportunity
tor him to answer vital question:
concerning which his political lrlenus'
is well as his political foemen nave
ately been increasingly insistent, the
question was: How about lrelahu
Fhe President made certain repllcs 10
/ series of interrogations dealing Win
hat problem pronounced TO him by the
San Francisco Labor Council, and now
he whole Pacific coast is eagerly DIS
,ussing his responses and what tney
meant. The queries were sent to MI
Wilson by Telegraph as his train was
.olling through the Sacramento Val
] ey and his explanations were made
Is soon as he reached the metropolis
If the Pacific coast.
Question 40. / was: Under the
covenant does this nation obligate IL
self to assist any member of the
league in putting down rebellion OF
is subjects or conquered people Z!
Obviously this meant: Are we
obliged to help England put down
IRISH revolutions?"
The answer was: at does not
friends of ireland took this to mean
We will not"
Question No. two: Under the CO.
tenant, can this nation independently
ecognize a government whose people
eek to achieve or have achieved their
Independence from member OF the
cague?" In other words, this meant
Can we recognize Ircland's claim to
,e:ng a republic"
The President replied THE indie
PENDENT action OF the United States in
matter of this kind is in no way
United or affected by the covenant
If the [ eaguc of Nations" In other
lords I'VE can recognize Ireland II
md when the proper time comes,
.ithout regard to the league"
Question No. Under the covenant
ire those subject nations or peoples
,nly that are mentioned in the peace
reaty entitled to the right of self
determination, or does the league
possess the right to accord a similar
privilege to other subject nations or
,eoples?" This meant, for example,
why Poland and not Ireland"
Answer ut was not possible for the
,eace conference to act with regard to
he self determination of any territor-
es except those which belonged to
he defeated empires, but in the coven-
| inln 10 OF thn fret
.ime a forum to which all claims of
self determination which are likely to
| disturb the peace of the world or the
good understandings between nations,
;an be brought"
The section of Article XI to which
owS 1T is declared to be the friendly
light of each member of the league to
bring to the attention of the assembly
)r council any circumstances what
ever affecting international relations
which threatens to disturb inter
national peace or the good understand
ng upon which peace depends"
Some persons interested in the Irish
problem declare that this provision
| Toes Ireland no good, since she is not
l"member' OF the league, but Pres
dent Wilson's personal contention is
hat Ireland can complain of any
circumstance" she objects to. Inas-
much as she is part of England, which
S, of course, a member"
Question No. 4 '"Why was the case
Of ireland not heard at the peace con-
ference? And what is your position on
The subject of self determination for
| ireland"
| Answer: "The case of Ireland was
| lot heard at the peace conference be-
| cause the peace conference had no
Jurisdiction over any question of that
sort which did not affect territories
which belonged to the defeated en-
pires. My position on the subject of
self determination for Ireland is ex-
pressed in Article XI of the covenant,
IN which | was particularly interested
because it seemed to me necessary
that forum should be created to
which all peoples could bring any
matter which was likely to affect the
peace aud freedom Of the world"
By those who are accompanying
aim, it is known that the President
believes Ireland can bring her case
before the league for settlement, when
| The league is actually in existence for
repeatedly he has said in his speeches
that under Article XI the smallest and
weakest of peoples might have as
much attention from the league as the
| greatest, in fact, 1t might be said that
| Article XI is Mr.. Wilson's pet"
| clause in the league covenant.
1t was intended by the President
| that some time during his stay on the
| Pacific Coast which is of course vitality
| interested in Japanese affairs, he
should discuss more intimately than
over the question of the return to
China by Japan, of the Shantung ter
| itory awarded to the empire of the
Mikado by secret treaty with Eng
| and and France The president has
| oppressed himself as confident that
Japan will not long delay this return
Optimistic Thought.