The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-18
WILSON DENIES.
ASSERTION OF
OPPONENTS|N
QUERY ANSWER
President Declares England
Cannot Outvote u. S.
That League Will Help Re-
turn of Shantung.
QUESTIONS WERE ASKED
(By Associated Press)

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1S.-Reply-
ing in a statement today to a list of
questions put to him by a San Francis
co league Of nations organization. Pres
ident Wilson declared Great Britain
could not outvote the United States in
the league; that foreign governments
could not under the covenant order
American troops abroad: that the
league would have a powerful in
fluence toward restoration Of Shan
tung to China; that the United States
would not be obligated by Article 10
to aid Great Britain in suppressing a
revolt in Ireland, and that under Arti-
Gle IL, there would be created a new
forum for questions of self determin-
alton.
A program almost as strenuous as
| that of yesterday awaited the pres
| ident today. 1t included a luncheon
a drive through Alameda county,
| across the bay from here, reviews Of
| school children in Oakland and Berke-
ley and an address at the Oakland
civic auditorium tonight.
Beside this the committee on ar
| rangements hoped the president would
| find time for an automobile tour of San
Francisco, including visit to the Let
| terman general hospital and a brief
talk to the wounded soldiers under
going treatment there. Reservations
were made for 1,500 persons at the
luncheon and arrangements were made
for the president to speak briefly.
Y. s. Equa.s England.
Mr.. Wilson's statement containing
l. Will you state the underlying
consideration which dictated an
awarding Of SIX votes to the British
empire in the Assembly, and IS it true
that England will outvote US in the
league Of nations and thereby Con-
troll the leagues action?
Answer-The consideration which
led to assigning six votes to self gov
/ ferning portions of the British empire
was that they have in effect, in all
, but foreign policies. become auton-
omous self governing states, their pol
icy in all but foreign affairs being in
dependent of the control of the British
government, and in many respects,
dissimilar from it. But it Is not true
that the British empire can outvote
US in the league of nations and there
fore control the action of the league,
because in every matter except the
admission of new members in the
league, no action can be taken without
the concurrence of a unanimous vote
of the representatives OF the states
which are members of the council, so
that in all matters of action, the af-
firmatiye vote of the United States
is necessary and equivalent to the
united votes of the representatives of
the several parts of the British en-
, pire, The united vote of the several
parts of the British empire cannot off
set or overcome the vote of the Unit
ed States.
q Is it true that under the league
Of nations foreign countries can Or
der the sending of American troops to
foreign countries?
Answer-It is not. The right OF
congress to determine such matters is
in no wise impaired.
8. What effect will the league Of
: nations have in either forwarding or
| hindering the final restoration of Shan
tung to China? What effect will the
league Of nations have in preventing
further spoilation of China and the
abrogation of all such special privi-
leges now enjoyed in China by for
eign countries.
: Answer-The league of nations will
have a very powerful effect in for
/ warding the final restoration Of Shan
tung to China, and no other instru-
; mentality or action can be substituted
. which would bring that result about.
The authority of the league will under
l. Article X be constantly directed to-
! ward safeguarding the territorial in
/ tegrity and political independence OF
China. 1t will, therefore, absolutely
/ prevent the further spoliation of China,
promote the restoration to China, OF
the several privileges now long en-
joyed by foreign countries, and as
), sure China of the completion of the
u process by which Shantung Will pre-
= presently be returned to her in full
y sovereignty. In the past there has
u y been no tribunal which could be re.
= sorted to for any of these purposes.
- 4. Is there anything in the league
of nations covenant or the peace trea
IL ty which directly or indirectly in any
manner imposes on the United States
-. any obligations, moral or otherwise
- of the slightest character to support
>. England in any way in case OF revolt
:, in Ireland?
Answer-There is not. The only
guarantee contained in the covenant
is agains external aggression and
those who formed the covenant were
p scrupulously careful in no way to In
= terfere with what they regarded as the
n sacred rights of self-determination-
5. What effect, II any will The
league of nations covenant have In
at either hindering or furthertnS the
s. cause of Irish freedom:
le Answer-It was not possible FOL
r. the peace conference to act with re
,e gard to the self determination Of any
lg territories except those which had be
OF longed to the defeated empires. bu
in the covnant of the leagu OF ma
re tions it has set up for the first time
lie in Article XI forum which all claim.
IT, of self determination which are like
Ill " to disturb the peace Of the worlt
ce or the good understanding between
80 nations unon which the peace OR IN,