The Washington times., 1919-09-30
ANALYSIS OF TRIP
OF THEPRESIDENT
lContInued from IL Pagel

i
takably manifested an abiding faith
In his sincerity and judgment. Sew
eTal times, when he ventured the as
sertion that he believed he repre-
sented the people, there was thunder
Gus assent. The masses seem to think
that the President obtained the best
possible treaty under all the circum-
stances and are willing to accept It
as the most available insurance
against war
President Wilson's argument that
40 per cent insurance against war Is
better than none" was always greeted
with applause. and when he added
that in his opinion the league was 9S
per cent insurance for peace there
was usually a great demonstration OF
. enthusiasm. IL was one OF the force
ful pleas advanced by the President.
As the President neared the Pacific
coast. where there is a strange
friendship for China and an aversion
for the japanese, President Wilson
undertook an explanation Of the
Shantung settlement, and before he
turned eastward that bugaboo had
ceased to be q serious issue. First,
he pointed out that because OF the
secret treaties existing, Great Britain
and France could not repudiate their
. OBLIGATIONS to make the settlement
with Japan, and then he told Of
Japan's solemn promise to return to
China all her rights. He. showed that
Eeven IN the absence OF the promise
the sole hope Of China was in the
league covenant.
Answers the Anti-British.
Anti-British elements which have
been making much ado about Great
Britain having six votes to one OF
the United states in the league as
sembly had their misgivings removed
by President Wilson's explanation
that II was in the council Of the
league where the number OF votes
counted, and that in that body unani-
nous action was imperative, so the
vote OF the United States always held
the balance OF power. He emphasized
! the fact that the assembly is essen
) TALLY the debating section OF the
league, voting virtually only on the
; admission OF new members, while the
councils, always controlled by the
one vote OF the United States, takes
. all important positive and negative
. . action.
These simple explanations BY the
|! President invariably received the
closest attention by the audiences
in the West. The people appeared in
tent on learning something about the
actual machinery OF the league from
the man who helped make IL and
knew what he was talking about. The
President essayed no oratorical ef-
forts but held to plain, comprehen-
, sive phrases.
Obviously, the President could not
. consistently discuss the Irish ques-
tion with any propriety in view OF
his contention that IL was not direct
4 j - - a urnnawnT rrrhHnnF hat
I BY uncertain inference he showed
that the salvation OF Irish freedom
y lies within the provisions OF the
league covenant, as IL is specifically
p set forth that IL Is the friendly
right OF a member to take up such a
8 question as Irish independence or
+, self-determination. particularly II the
peace OF the world is menaced by the
s agitation. Considerable opposition to
the league based on the theory that
E the league foiled or frustrated Irish
? freedom collapsed as a result OF Presi-
dent wilson's clear explanation OF
this phase OF the treaty.
Sovereignty Not Endangered.
Early in his speeches he set out to
firmly establish the fact that the
league not only did not mean the sur
render Of any Of Americas SOW
% ereignty, but rather raised the Mon
= roe doctrine to a higher plane by hav-
ing Il recognized by treaty for the
first time as an international prin-
e ciple.
y Altogether the President made a
8 profound impression on the people
{ who heard him. and swept away every
doubt as to the sentiment Of the
o great majority OF Americans. He re-
. turned to Washington, in the opinion
- % rnwwnnnnnnnnFH q
g 4 greater political figure than ever be-
= fore in his career, as he met the peo-
{ pie on common grounds and had a
J. message OF peace for them that was
. convincing.
J, President Wilson Is impatient with
those who even hint at politics, but
e IL Is proper to say that IL the Senate
r does not heeed tn unmistakable de-
e mand for early unFeseFved rRtifca-
tion Of the treaty they will have to
{ reckon with Woodrow Wilson in 1920.
!, Ratification Prospect Brighter.
Assurances from Administration
? leaders at the Capitol are to the ef-
? feet that the prospects for the ratif-
cation was conveyed to President
Wilson BY Secretary Tumulty last
night
; President Wilson is still unable to
take an active part in the fight for his
program, but Senator Hitchcock is
. fully aware OF the Presidents deter
|. mination that no reservations which
will require the resubmlssion Of the
treaty will be acceptable to him, so
there is no such possibility as q COM
promise on that point.
It has been made perfectly plain by
the President in his speeches and con-
. versations that he has no objection
: to reservations clearly intended only
to clarity or amplify the treaty, but
he is unalterably opposed to reserva.
tions other than those Of an inter
> pTetative character.
, Those close to the President de-
clared today he feels certain that the
a.. | opposition cannot muster enough
votes to circumvent his attitude. He
Is convinced that his trip has resulted
in drawing the lines closely and that
, Tecalcitrants will capitulate when
. they hear from home.
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