Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-27
Speaks Last Word
to Present Congress
'ortin"ed from PAGE One


stttution 10 guarantee maintenance of
the Monroe Doctrine. They said, how.
ever, that he indicated any such amend.
ment might raise issues of a related ma
ture which would prove SO difficult OF
adjustment that the possibility OF its
adoption was remote.
The President wishes, II was said, to
avoid any amendments except of q gen.
eral nature as far as possible In order to
prevent cncumbranco Of the constitu-
ton.
Chairman Hitchcock OF the Senate
Committee said the President held that
decisions Of the league's executive coun-
Gil ON disarmament would not be bind
ing. until specifically approved by each
slgnatory nation, and that consequently
the American Congress would have the
opportunity 70 pass on the apportion-
mont of armament for every nation con
cerned. The President said this section
had been misconstrued.
Decision Must He Uuanimou.
Concerning the clause giving the
r'Fh' 20 the league to consider the acts
threatening world peace, President Will
son sad that the clause was indefinite
ana would be made more clear by writ
ing in a safeguard which would re.
duire that every recommendation by the
co.ncll should be unanimous
II also was said that the President
Informed the Senators and Representa-.
tives that disarmament provision would
not interfere with the military training
OF men, but II was evident that n trained
body of men would not be a danger TO
world peace II their armament supplies
we're kept in check.
Wilson said the provision for enforce
ing the determination OF the council in
case 1t was disobeyed by any nation
would apply in only one case. and that
where the party against whom a de-
cision was rendered had property. in
cluding territory, in it's possession which
1t would not surrender.
Tho President was said to have held
that the mandatories In TIE constitution
we're not compulsory, but required the
consent OF the nations TO which the man
datory was assigned Senators said he
expressed the opinion that the United
states would desire to become a manda-
tory for Armenia.
On the question If American SOW
ereignty the President was said to have
taken the position that recession Of
American sovereignty was not n new
precedent being an incident of every
treaty.
No Usurpation OF Powers
Denying that the league meant usurp-
alton of the powers of Congress to de-
clare war, the President said the league
was promise by the treaty making
power that its congress would do all
N Its power to carry out the agreement,
a situation which prevailed in many
present treaties.
The President was said 10 have stated
that 1t was necessary that the United
States stand to the SUPPORT of the Czecho-
Slovaks the JuRo-Slavs Poland and
other weak and struggling peoples made
free as the result Of the great war.
The President however made the sig
nihcant statement that the general dis
position was to look toward the United
States to act in the case Of Armenia.
The question of immigration. which
would include the japanese alien land
question, was not included In the pro-
visions OF the league constitution as
interpreted by himself and the other
delegates at the conference.
To Marshal Moral Force
As outlined by President Wilson the
league as proposed in the draft which
AS Will llllll 10 al
marshaling of the moral force of the
| world. When his attention was called
TO the fact that he had said in France
that back OF II was force" he said this
was true. that behind was n great po-
| tential force. but AZ explained by him.
! the league lacks teeth which il was sup
posed TO possess.
| The President acknowledged that the
draft which has been adopted Is the
British proposition. France. Italy. Great
Britain and the United States submitted
tentative drafts. but after final discus
sion 1t was decided TO accept the British
proposition. but not the one drawn by
General SHUTS.
Geographical Position
While discussing the armament pro-
visions of the leagues constitution. the
President was asked the reason for the
clause referring to consideration being
given country's geographic situation
in determining its armed forces. lie
is said to have answered that the clause
referred chiefly to France. whose people
feared Germany might become strong
some time In tho future and again
threaten invasion. In this connection
the question was asked II the proViso
might not also help Great Britain In
llo SIcit uh' 'iS i'S'
dent answered this might be the result
because of the wide distribution of the
British colonies.
The President is understood to have
said Germany was the only menace to
European peace, and that no war In
Europe was possible for twenty years
at least because Of the exhaustion OF
the countries.
BRO ndaUna N nglFpH how flturc
American Congresses were to be bound
by acceptance of the league. and the
President answered that the legislative
body could not be bound. In this con-
nection Senator Knox said that treaties
could not change the Constitution OF the
United states, but that treaty II ac-
ceped. would be doubtless observed In
the future as a matter of good faith
Fears Despair In world
The President felt that If the league
is not ratified" said Chairman Hitch
cock, there would be despair through
cut the world, because of failure In the
effort to secure permanent peace. Seri-
GUS complication. the President felt,
might result at an early date from fall
ure of the league. The league Is al
ready in use. the President stated.
through the reference of the questions
on various subjects which have been re-
ferred 10 international commissions"
United States Hands Free
In the discussion OF the composition
of the league and executive council, the
Mexican and Japan problems, with which
the United States Is concerned, were
reported to have been freely used as
Illustrations. In this connection 1t was
said that the President rejected the