Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-02-15


speech at the peace conference at the
reading of the draft of the league OF
MIR. Chairman,--l have the honor.
and assume II very grave privilege.
OF reporting in the name OF the COM
mission constituted 10y this conference
on the formulation of Il plan for the
league of nations. | am happy 10 say
that IT is unanimous report. II unan-
iTnouS report from the representatives
of fourteen nations-thc United states
Great Britain, France. Italy. Japan.
Belgium. Brazil China. Czecho- Slo-
vakia. Greece. Poland, Portugal. Kou-
maria and Serbia.
,n,sre Il ink i viii be ssrvissahls and
read the document as the only report
we have to make.
President Wilson thenread the draft.
When he reached Article Nv. and had
read through the second paragraph, the
iresldent PAUSED and said:
with one of the sentences l have just
rcaoIii any party shall refuse TO COM
ply. the council shall propose measures
necessary TO give effect to the recon-
mcnoatlons.
QUOTES HYPOTHETICAL.
DISPUTE OF NATIONS
"A case in point. "a purely hypothcii-
cal case. ~ this: suppose there IS in
the possession of a particular power
piece OF territory. or some other sub
stantial thing IN dispute. 10 which /,
is claimed that II is not entitled. SUN
pose that the matter is submitted 10
the executive council for recommeu-
dation as 10 The settlement OF the dis
puie' diplomacy. having failed. and
suppose that the decision is in favor
OF me party which claims the subject
matter Of dispute. rs against The party
which has the subject matter in dis
putc.
Then, IL the party in possession Of
the subject matter i'll dispute merely
SIS still and does nothing II has ac-
ccpted the decision OF the council. IN
-
nUi something must DE done to see
that II surrenders the subject matter
in dispute.
In such case the only case con-
temp!aied. il is provided tina; the exec
utlNe council! may then consider what
steps VIII be necessary 10 obiise the
b bas1 s AGAINST whom Judgment has
cis!ons OF the council
or MUCH
GRAVE DISCUSSION
President Wilson also stopped and
soas s} me IA; ay o that before being en-
subject matter OF very careful dis
greater parties. and that their unani-
nous conclusion is The matter en-
bodied In this article
After having read the entire Locu-
nSn,. President Wilson continued as
follows:
1t gives me pleasure 10 add 10 this
formal reading OF the result Of our
.aoogs shat the character OF the discus
: ION which occurred at the si;tlngs OF
The commission was not only OF the
sor 0q OF w ihe 9 sJ,en
throughout our discussions that. al
.noush there were subjects upon which
mere We're individual d!serences OF
Judgment with regard TO the method
- which our objects should be OBJ
tanned. there was practically at no
point any serious differences OF opinion
or motive as TO the objects which we
were seeking.
UNDERToNE OF RESPECT
OF PLAN FOR SOCIETY
Indeed, while these debates were
no; made the opportunity for the eX-
l think the other members OF the COM
mission Will agree with me shat there
" vas an undertone Of high respec, and
OF enthusiasm FOR the thing we were
throughout every meeting.
Because We felt tina, in way this
conference did not intrust unto us the
expression Of one of It's highest and
most important purposes. 10 see 10 il
that the concord Of the world in the
future with regard 10 the objects o:
OF uncertainty; that the CO. operation
OF the great body OF nations should be
assured in the maintenance OF peace
upon terms OF honor and OF interna-
=
The compulsion OF that task was
constantly upon US, and at no noint
was there shown the slightest desire
10 DO anything. but suggest the best
There Is very grca; significance. there
fore, Ia the fact that the result was
reached unanimously.
NO NATION
WOULD RESIST SOCIETY
Fourteen nations were represented
"A Df
Tor convenience we have called the
great powers, and among the rest
representation of the greatest variety
OF circumstances and interests. So tina,
ihinI; We arc justified in saying that
the significance OF the result there
fore, has the deepest OF all meanings.
the union OF wills in "A common p,lr-
pose. union OF Wills which canno, be
resisted. and which. l dare say, no ma
ZION VIII run the risk OF Alternating
to resist.
document While IL has consumed
some zine TO read this document.
THINK you viii see at once that II
is very simple and nothing 80 simple
as in the structure which i; suggests
Tor league of nations body OF
H"leSates' an executive council and a
permanent Sccrctariat.
When il came 20 the question of
determining the character OF the ron
resentation in tho body OF delegates
we were all aware Of feeling which
IS current throughout the world
lnasmuch As am stating it in the
presence of the Official representatives
of tho various governments here prcg-
"nt. including myself. I MAY say that
there IS a universal feeling that the
world cannot rest satisfied with merely
"i'Icihi guidance There has reached
" through many channels tho fccliut;
that II INC celebrating body Or the
i'aEhe OF nations was merely to be a
body OF officials representing tho
various governments, the peoples OF
INC world would not he sure that come
az the mistakes which prcoccupied Of.
nciaIs had admittedly made might not
be repeated.
Loo. 100000 PEOPLE
Ar: REPnESENTED
~ uas impossible to conceive II
method or an assembly SO large and
various as to be really representative
~ the great body OF tho peoples Of
Tic wor!d. because. as roughly r"cI.om
I. "" represent as We sit around tins
l"b!" more than 100000. 900 people
on cannot have prescntaivc
assembly Of zoos 900, 600 people. but II
90" !"aN" u TO each government, to
nave. Il 1, pleaSes. one or Two or three
representatives. though only with
Slngi" vote, II may vary its repre-
s"nia'iou from time 10 time not only