Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-08-12
WILSON'S PLEA FOR
FREEDOM OF SEAS
NET WITH DEFEAT.
PRESIDENT ADMITS IN LETTER
THAT PROPOSAL FOR EQUAL
Tv ON ALL OCEANS WAS IN
ClUDED IN FIRST PACT AND
REJECTED.

Washington, August 12.-The orig
inal American draft of the league OF
nations covenant sent to the foreign
relations committee today by Presi-
dent Wilson. contains several proyi-
sions differing widely from that
adopted in Paris.
There was a provision in the Amer
lean plan, omitted from the final
draft. which would declare it a fun
damental covenant that no power
should overstep international agree
ments for rights on the high seas.
The much debated provisions of
article 10 of the present covenant for
guaranteeing the territorial integrity
of league members is almost identical
with clause in the American draft.
The latter was as IuiIuws.
"The contracting powers under
take to respect and to protect as
against external aggression the polit-
ical independence and territorial in
tegrity of all states, members Of the
league.
Many of the arbitration provisions
are virtually the same III the two
drafts
Disarmament Plan Similar.
The American draft also contained
the plan finally adopted for a council
and a large assembly and embodied
a disarmament program similar to
that ip the final covenant 1t also
provided tor an economic boycott Of
covenant breakers.
The American plan contained no
provision for withdrawal from mem
bership and made no reference to the
Monroe doctrine.
II also contained a provision, not
finally accepted. under which the
league would Enquire into the feast
bility OF abolishing compulsory mill.
tary service"
In transmitting the American plan, I
the President said no stenographic I
reports were taken .on the debates |
before the league Of nations com
mission and that such memorandum
be confidential
Draft Put in Record.
Senator Lodge had the American
draft OF the league coy enant printed |
in the congressional record and also /
the Presidents letter of transmittal |
TO him Neither was read
The Presidents letter to Senator
Lodge said:
Il have at last been able to go
personally over the great mass of |
papers which remained in my hands |
at the close of my stay in Paris. |
and am disappointed to find that !
1t is in no respect a complete file, |
the complete files remaining with |
the American commission
You ask for all drafts or forms |
presented TO or considered by the
peace commissioners relating to
the league of nations and particu-
larry the draft by the commissioners
OF the United States
There are no formal drafts in nv
possession except that presented bv
the American commissioners and this
| take pleasure in inclosing along
with the formal report of the commits
sion OF the league of nations.
Proceedings Confidential.
You also ask for all proceedings.
arguments and debates. including a
transcript Of the stenographic reports
or the peace conference relating to
or concerning a league of nations or
the league OF nations finally adopted,
and all data bearing upon or used in
connection with the treaty of peace
with Germany now pending.
NO stenographjc reports we're
taken Of the debates on the league
or nations and such memoranda AS
were taken it was agreed should be
confidential.
The reason for regarding as con.
haeh'iai intimate exchanges OF opin.
ION with regard TO many delicate mat.
ters VIII. OF course, occur to Won
ana | beg to say that am following
the example of the representatives
OF me other governments in making
this explanation.
ne various data bearing upon or
USED IN connection with the treaty
OF peace with Germany are so mis-.
ceilaneous and enormous in mass that
IL would be impossible for me 70
supply them without bringing from
Paris the whole file of papers Of tha
commission itself and would include
many memoranda which it was agreed
OH grounds OF public policy, it would
DC unwise to make use Of outside the ,
conference"