The sun., 1919-02-27
President Assures Dinner
Guests Signatories May
Withdraw at Will.
Is EVASIVE AT TIMES
Makes No Appeal for Sc
crecy in Discussion of
Proposed Covenant.
THREE HOURS AT TABLE
Opposition Plainly Expressed
to Many Features, Ambi-
guities Are Admitted.
THREE HOURS AT TABLE
By a star Correspondent Of THE SUN

bb otoU Correspondent OF The SUN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-President
Wilson's presentation Of the case of
the League Of Nations at the White
House dinner tonight effected no
change in the views Of the leaders
Of the opposition, who sat for more
than two hours busily questioning
him as to the intricacies and am.
biguities of the document. To the
surprise of many there was no in
junction Of secrecy either expressed
or implied concerning the dinner-con-,
ference tonight.
1t was made clear to all that what
the President had to relate and what
he had to explain was for their guild
ance in future deliberations when
they came to decide the final fate of
the League of Nations constitution.
Open to Amendment.
The President admitted to his
guests that there were antiquities in
the document. He made It apparent
that he had not felt that the constitu.
tion should not be open to amend
ment
Amendments were tentatively sug-
gested by the Senator's who engaged
the President in conversation during
the after dinner meeting. and while
these suggestions did not take any
definite form the Senators and Repre.
sentatives gathered the impression
that the President was disposed IN
feel that when the measure reached
the rntifying body these amend.
ments would be offered and that with
out doubt they would prevail.
Problems of Germany Clarified,
One OF the vital questions pre-
sented to the President was as to the
future participation OF Germany In
the League of Nations. From time
to time the thought has been ad-
Nanced that in the working out of
the organization of the league Ger
many would at some time become a
member. This point the legislators
were satisfied upon, that in addition
TO the five constituent nations of the
executive council OF nine nations
which shall be the committee on or
ganization OF the future league the
remaining four countries will not in
clude any of the four previously en-
emy nations.
On the other hand the assumption
or membership in the league itself
will not be privilege early to be-
gained by Germany.
The President made II plain that
mandatories in the league were not
compulsory but voluntary. In all
swer to questions he said that IL was
his Judgment that the United State.
would he glad to accept this duty in
respect TO Armenia in particular. The
President emphasized strongly that
there should be no amendments
touching on this special question OF
mandatoricS.
Immigration Law Not Affected.
The question of inability Of the
United States TO limit the immigra-
fion OF japanese and Chinese promi-
nenuy brought r1~the fote In the
discussions in opposition TO the
league last week In the Senate was
put squarely up to the President, who
answered that these were domestic
questions which any nation could
solve to its own satisfaction without
involving a conflict with the pro-
posed league.
President Wilson made the state.
ment, surprising to most of his guests.
that any nation entering the league
had the legal right to withdraw at
any time II saw fit. He empha sized.
though, that moral considerations
should be counted upon heavily to
hold every nation in the combination
once II entered. Good will and good
faith on the part of these nations 1T
was made apparent are strongly
counted on by the President TO main
tain the membership of the league
On this head the President conf1ded
to his guests that he was the only
one OF the fourteen representatives
OF various nations instrumental in
drawing up the document meeting
such bitter opposition in the Senate,
who wanted to limit the right OF
withdrawal from the league. 1t was-
learned that hr laughingly commented
tonight that II was almost n paradox
that he, a Nirginan, should fight
against a right of secession.
The Mexican situation was made