Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-20
SOLONS ARE TOLD
PACT IMPOSES NO
LEGAL OBLIGATIONS
But Wilson Says Covenant
Forms Moral Duty for
Members.
GRANTS NATIONS CHOICE
IN CONTRIBUTING ARMIES
Final Decision Remains With
Congress as to Actions of
This Country.
ANSWERS NUMEROUS QUESTIONS
Chief Executive Urges Early Rati-
fication and Will Reply to
Written Queries.
GRANTS NATIONS CHOICE
IN CONTRIBUTING ARMIES
ANSWERS NUMEROUS QUESTIONS

dent Wilson, Interpreting the league
OF nations covenant today for the
senate Foreign Relations Committee.
declared il Imposed no legal oh.iga-
tion for the use OF American military
forces in protecting the territory or
independence or any other nation.
But he added that the covenant
might involve. In certain ci-cuu-
stances. IAN absolutely compelling
moral obligation" which nigh. bc
even stronger than legal promise.
Pressed for more exact definition
by committee members, Who insisted
that the whole arranEem@1t %as
the contrary ne considered IL as placing
the nations in AN attitude OF Coiura6e-
ship and protect!on' which "puid com
pc! respect 70! the principles OF justice
and liberty.
Meeting tho committee. in =, round,
,ssle Tao HsHSiiou H9nsd "a In M tconsrade1on to
the precedents OF more than century,
and with the whole nation lisien!ns =
uublic gtenographers. the Preslden;
went into many OF the details o. the
negotiations and touched on an me
holly debated questions which haze
divided the senate ia its consideration
OF the peace treaty.
Gives Freedom OF Choice.
Article \, OF me covenant Euarans
ara;ns, agEression he declared would
leave 10 each nation complete free
dom e. ohocs as 70 ne ,,ns1ien @EHsfh'ISn renr@
sentative on the council joined IN q
unanimous recommendation tcr mill
,arv action the final decision Tor peace
or war must rest, SO itr as concernen
the United states. with Congress ne
said. :1 .o
under its authority TO take such ac-
tIon as Il "dcemed appropriately must
also be deemed approprtats hy i,hs
u
rnvcrnment he argued, though in the
BACKGROUND would be such potcntlh!
nation would often decline 10 act
The President revealed that Japan's
promise TO return Shantunc ProTincs
~ CHINA was reduced 10 written FORM
in The minutes OF the peace conference:
Ne asserted he had every confidence
tina, the promise would be carried out.
~, could be got" out OF the neGotia-
tons. Japan having given notice not tn. 1, she
would withdraw 1I IRON -dfiSsoG ,ns Go''eFt"'e
To Keep Troops Abroad.
The American delegates, he said.
had tried TO keep the nation free from
obligations in European anairs so .ar
nut he asserted that IL might be ncccs
sary TO keep some American troops IN
the Rhine district under the treaty
He declared the nation would be its
own sole judge whether its obligations
had been fuihlled undHr .I tne ,ns aisPnoyn oS
enant: that purely domestic questions
we're safe from the lSague's interIsr,
snce oaTar,y and mar nreseTve lhs Monroe Doctrine
The league, the President explained;
was built on The plan OF y Gen General
vealed that he had suggested the
United States take no part of the Ger
man repara,ion. bat had asked that the
conference reserve disposition OF the
German Pacific Island OF Nap on
suggestion that it WIS needed for an
american naval station
President declined to answer on the
ground of international policy. How
the American delegates voted on
clause in the league covenant he said
he could not disclose lin the interest
of International good Understandings"
could not go into the negotiations over
the French frontier or give, com
mittec a copy of the record OF JapanS
c>-atung promise.
early Action Is Urged.
<arly action on the treaty was
a~.ed in statement by the President
,< the outset of the conference. This
.ss necessary. he held. so that a peace
a,ss might be reached and because
ae declared the other treaties under
negotiation now at Versailles We're be-
what would happen to the treaty with
Germany. He said he saw no reason
able objection TO Senate reservations,
but thought il unwise to incorporate
them in the ratification itself. In re-
plying to long series Of questions by
(necticut, the President was, led into
i ian exhaustive discussion OF the CO.
mingling OF moral and legal obiiga-
tions in treaties.
"A moral obligation" said Mr. Will
son. "is. of course, superior to 4 legal
obligation. and. if | may say So has
greater binding force. In every
moral obligation there is an element
Of Judgment; in legal obligation there |
is no element of judgment"
Senator Brandegee suggested there
was no Important distinction. because
we are obligated in any event"
II think it is Of the greatest import
ance," replied the President, "bccause !
the element of Judgment enters into
It,"
But ] am assuming" returned Mr. |
Brandegee, .if the council should ad- |
wise us to do certain thing. and Con-
9gress refused to do il. and if every |
Asther nations representative assembly |
can do the same thing. il seems 10
INC like rope Of sand and not an