The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
FRENCH WILLING
TO AMEND PACT
Join British in Readiness to
Heed Protests Of
Senator's.
WANT U. S. IN LEAGUE
Request by President for
Notifications Would
Ease Situation.
WANT U. S. IN LEAGUE
By StaD Correspondent Of THE SUN.

By stag Correspondent OF THE SUN
Copyright. 1919; all rights reserved.
PARIS, March 15.-In high diplo-
matte circles here little doubt Is en-.
tertalned that If President Wilson
pressed the point he could have q
provision completely safeguarding the
Monroe Doctrine included in the cove
nant Of the League of Nations.
The position of Lord Robert Cecil
of the British delegation has been
that the provision which makes
unanimity of the Supreme Council of
the league necessary before the In.
tervention of any armed force pro-
tected the United States fully in the
Western Hemisphere, beause any
European intervention there would be
impossible unless the United States
approved 1t beforehand.
The British are eager for Ameri-
can participation in the league and
are willing to make many concessions
10 that end. II President Wilson
made a strong bid for the Monroe
Doctrine, admitting frankly that ma.
jority opinion in America demanded
it. the British would support him.
| This was indicated some time ago :;
it is even truer now. since much in
formation Is reaching Paris from the
United States that the only sure way
to disarm American criticism is to
write the Monroe Doctrine into the
covenant.
Feeling would BE Easier.
The fact Is that In some quarters
the feeling would he much easier If
President Wilson did present this as
rejecting American sentiment. Euro
pean statesmen would be placed in n
difficult position toward their own
people If the President declared the
Monroe Doctrine need not be included
in the covenant and, acting on that
assurance, If they agreed upon the
constitution with that feature
/ omitted, and subsequently the Ameri-
can Senate refused to ratify it. The
popular reaction In their various
countries would not he pleasant for
these leaders.
If the covenant of the League Of
Nations is TO be included In the pro-
liminary treaty with Germany, diplo-
mats here are asking, why not also
In the treaties with Austria, Bulgaria
and Turkey? This would mean that
boundary lines and multitude OF
other questions, many of which are
far from settlement by the commits
sions studying them, would have to
be determined before the documents
are signed.
Concerning Turkey no one knows
yet what Is to be done with the vari-
Gus subject nationalities of the old
empire; the complications involved
are endless. For the Americans also
President Wilson's idea of jammina
through the league covenant as II
stands without material amendment
may cause serious difficulties. but II
is pointed out by a high authority
that no matter what Europeans may
think Of the extent to which Presi'
dent Wilson Is or Is not supported
by American public opinion they
could not even appear TO doubt his
y word If he ~Hcclared that American
opinion justified him in going ahead
with the Monroe Doctrine or othel
Republican ideas left out.
Presumption OF Diplomats.
So far as the diplomats of the Al
lies are concerned President Wilson
must be presumed to speak with thu
voice of America, just as Prcmiel
Lloyd George speaks for Grea
Britain and Premier Clemenceau fo
| France. The British express them
, selves as satisfied with the presen
t covenant virtually MS it stands. On,
amendment they propose Is the sug
gestion of Lord Robert Cecil per
mitting the election OF delegates L
the permanent congress of the leagu
as n concession to British labor sen
b timent.
: With this reinforcement Presiden
, Wilson may be able to force thi
! covenant, with all the features tina
!. are Objectionable to the Republicans
y through the conference with onl.
= minor changes. The French, nov
that they are assured of safe
I Rhine frontier, may relent somewha
l on their internationd army ide
=, rather than risk the advantages of
, future partnership with the Unite,