Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-11
WILSON HOLDS
WORLD LEAGUE
IS ESSEN T|AL
President Accounts to Coun'
try for His Part in Peace
Negotiations at :
Versailles.

manded by all the peoples OF the
world" and rejection of it by the
United States he asserted would
break the heart of the world.
Pointing out that many minor
compromises were necessary to Sc.
| cure the support of all the
interested nations, he continued: -
"The treaty as a result is not
exactly what we would have
written. It is probably not what
any one Of the national delegates
would have written. But results
were worked out which on the
whole bear test. I think that il
will be found that the compromises
which were accepted as inevitable
nowhere cut to the heart of any
principle"
Open Session Precedent.
In disregard of precedent the sem
ate received the address in open
session and afterward ordered that
the treaty be published in the Con-
gressional Record and as a public
document. The galleries were over
flowing and crowds un>ble to gain
admission waited in the rain to
cheer the president when he arrived
and departed. Many members of the
house crowded into the rear of the
senate chamber and most of the
members of the cabinet were seated
near the vice-president's desk.
Speking from the same platform,
where eighteen months ago, he as
founded the world with his first dec
laration for league of nations, the
president read his address slowly
and in a clear, quiet voice. His man.
uscript, typewriter on small pages,
he held in his left hand and with his
right he punctuated his utterances
with an occasional gesture. Before
him on the vice-president's desk lay
the treaty, brought by him in per-
son from Versailles.
No Attempt at Oratory.
There was no attempt at oratory
and no applause interrupted the ad-
dress. Nearly every senator was in
his seat, and all listened attentively.
Afterward his supporters were un-
stnited in their praise for the presi-
dents words, while those opposed
either declined to comment or de-
ciared he had dealt only in unsatis-
factory generalities.
In his talks ,afterward with league
supporters, the president was said
to have discussed at length the
Shantung and Irish questions. He
was quoted as saying he was not
satisfied with the treaty provision
giving Shantung to Japan, but as
declaring there was an informal un-
derstanding among the peace dele
gates that eventually Japan must
make an acceptable. agreement with
China in the matter. He was repre-
scented as expressing confidence that
Japan would deal rightly in the final
settlement.
Why Irish Not Received.
Discussing the failure of the peace
conference to receive the represen-
tetives of 1rish-American organiza-
tons on behalf of Irish freedom, Mr..
Wilson was said to have told sena-
tors that the representatives had so
identified themselves with the revo-
lutionary element in Ireland that it
became impossible to receive them.
He was quoted as saying that both
he and David Lloyd George, the
British premier, had been anxious
to arrange for a hearing.
The decision not to bind Germany
to definite indemnity, the presi dent
was reported to have, said, was
reached over his protest. He was
quoted as saying he consented to
the indeterminate plan to help Pre-
mier Lloyd George over domestic
obstacles.
1t was said the question of Fiume
was not mentioned. 49,. ...
Against Senate Reservations.
In talking to the senators the
president was said to have taken
firm stand against any reservations
in the senate's ratification Of the
treaty. 1t was asserted he would
not be disposed kindly even toward
interpreting reservations to make
the senate's position clear, pointing
out that there always might be
doubt as to whether any particular
reservation really were innocuous or
would vitiate some league principle.
The president also was quoted as
saying he believed two-thirds'
majority would be necessary to
write any reservations into the
ratification resolution, but it was
said afterwards that he probably
meant that the reservations, once a
part Of the resolution, would have
to have the support of thirds of
the senator's to secure action when
the ratification vote was taken.
Z Among senate leaders the i'm
preston has been that only a simple
majority would be required to
amend the ratification resolution,
and the presidents reported state
.ment met sharp denial from oppo-
sition senators, who cited a senate
rule proving that considering
treaties two-thirds shall be required
for ratification, but only a majority
onA all other motions and ques-
tons" involved,
Stipulation Unnecessary.
Regarding the proposed reserva-
ton under which the senate would
declare the nation could not enter
war under Article 10 without a war
declaration by congress, Mr.. Wilson
was reported to have declared such
a stipulation unnecessary. He was
quoted as saying that the eonstitu-
tional inability Of the United States
to make war without a congressional