The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-12
HARD FIGHTON
MONROE CLAUSE
Wilson Compelled to Use All
His Energy to Get Amend
ment Through.
FRANCE AN OBJECTOR
Lloyd George Still Opposes,
Though Lord Robert
Cecil Approved.

PARIS, April 1l.-Ine Monroe Doc
trine reservation, the insertion OF
which in the covenant President Will
son induced the league committee to
agree to last evening, has not been
drafted completely yet. This was dis
closed to-day and caused some sur
prise and speculation as to whether
further trouble might not be ex-
pected.
However. the agreement reached
that the covenant should include the
Monroe Doctrine specifically is the
important thing, and the Presidents
draft as submitted will be changed
but slightly in phraseology. Article
y was left open when the committee
adjourned, so that the Monroe Doc
trine clause could be inserted in its
final form this evening, 1t Is under
stood.
This draft in substance stipulates
that nothing in the covenant shall be
construed as preventing any nation
from pursuing any international pol
icy which has come to have general
recognitiOp and mentions then speclfl-
cally the so-called Monroe Doctrine
Of America as falling within such n
category, as it has been the cardinal
feature Of Americas foreign policy
for nearly century.
Made a Hard Fight.
1t was only after he had made a ten
minute speech, which Is described as
one OF the greatest OF his life, that the
President was able to get unanimous
agreement that this should 30 into the
covenant. This fight of the President
made in the open and designed to put
7 on record the objectors to a point sc
vital to America, came as the climax
OF an acute diplomatic situation OF
which the last has not been heard, in
all probability.
For one thing it has left feelings OF
resentment which are most significant
at the present time. Information OBJ
tanned to-day showed that when the
President arose TO make his fight he
did not know what the result would be
as he had failed to get British ap-
proval, and to the British objections
were added quite unexpectedly last
evening, II would appear, those OF
France, giving to some here a very
strong impression that a new alliance
had been formed.
Objections Made by Britain.
| From the best information obtain
able to-day these appear to have beer
the grounds advanced by Premie,
Lloyd George against acquiescencc ir
tbs Presidents repeated requests thai
he be allowed to take back to America
a covenant containing a Monroe Doc
trine clause;
l, Great Britain, while it may
have accepted the Monroe Doctrine,
never had formally recognized it
automatically in the century OF its
existence and should not be expected
10 40 30 IN SuCn an instrument as
the covenant Of the League of Ma
tions
.. It's insertion in the covenant
would constitute an exception IA
favor OF America, forming Il danger
Gus precedent
The objections OF France. of whicl
the President and Col House had haC
no warning. were based on the idea tina
the Monroe Doctrine could be construe,
In the future TO prevent America from
coming to the aid OF France
President Wilson made two arsu
ments in his short, but as his friend
describe II to-day, very brilliant speech
The first was that one Of the primar,
objects OF the league was to cllmnat
forever the danger of absolutism from
the world and that this was al lso tn
primary object Of the Monroe Doctrine
Therefore. the affirmation OF the doc
trine was merely an affirmation OF on
OF the principles OF the league and wa
roo TO be considered as an exceptio
in favor Of America.
cites British Inspiration.
The second argument was that tn
Monroe Doctrine not oHly had been ac
| cepted by Great Britain but was a Brit
ish Inspiration, suggested b.. Cann!n
and supported by all his SUCCESSORS
: To these two points the President I
his speech, which - understood to hav