The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-04-11
AMERICA WINS
SIGNAL VICTORY
Monroe Doctrine Excepted
From League of
Nations.
NO BITTERNESS SHOWN
Though at Times Debate
Over Question Grew
Warm.
NO BITTERNESS SHOWN
(By John Edwin Neyin.)

Paris. April ILL. N. S.)-Presi-
dent Wilson personally announced at
| o'clock this morning that the Mon
roe doctrine has been specifically ex-
empted from any interference by the
league OF nations. This announce
ment followed session of the league
or nations committee, which started
early last evening and lasted until
well after / o'clock this morning. The
committees action represents one of
the greatest victories won by the
Americans to date.
The president personally moved for
the adoption of the exemption as a
SPECIFIC article in the league of ma
tions covenant. A general debate
followed and the presidents move
was finally unanimously agreed to.
The league of nations committee
also selected Geneva, Switzerland, as
the first home of the league.
The decisions arrived at by the
committee are subject to ratification
by the plenary session of the coun-
Gil, which will be called when the
report is completed.
1t is the general intention of ma
jority of members of the committee
~ NJ &c NhcL tlC Initial lIlCCllllk OI
the league of nations be held in
Washington next October coincident
with the meeting there of the inter-
national labor conference.
In addressing the league of nations
committee, President Wilson made
an impassioned plea for the adoption
of the clause specifically exempting
the Monroe doctrine. He declared
that while 1T was agreed by a ma |
Jority of the members of the COM |
mittee that the original preamble OF |
the league of nations constitution ex-
empted the Monroe doctrine, public
sentiment in the United States was
lnsistent that the time honored doc
trine be completely protected from
any possible misunderstanding.
Following his speech, the commit
tee at once took the matter up in
debate and the unanimous
agreement resulted.
Despite the ract that the president
lad been up since before O'Clock
morning, he devoted the
whole of last evening to fight for the
of the Monroe doctrine.
rhe early part of the evening was
wasted debating upon questions, the
french delegates leading in the die
ussions. They demanded that the
ext be printed in French alone.
,ther delegates insisted that the text
e printed in both French and Eng =
sh. Women delegates also spent ,
luch time in arguing for the COM s
lete representation and equal rights, a
When the league of nations COM
littee finally adjourned early this
forming, eleven articles had been
ompleted. The Monroe doctrine ex- ,
nption clause was added as a sep J
rate article, which also included !
ecognition of all specific agreements +
aking for the peace of the world. S
Although plainly fatigued, the
was very happy when he
as leaving the committee meeting. S
sked whether he could make any I
atement for publication, he said: .
I'VE are making good progress" "
The president then explained that q
e Monroe doctrine had been specif-
lily exempted. Off1cials generally
cepted this announcement as q,
Gaming that the greatest obstacle to Il
e ratification of the peace treaty in n,
e United States had been removed. a.
The Japanese equality amendment M
Is not reached during the nights a,
5cussions. The Japanese delegates, Il
len asked about it, said they had +,
{ yet made up their minds whether bi
press their amendment before the
Lgue of nations committee or wait -
d bring it before a meeting Of the
mary council.
t is understood that while the de- III III
tes on the various questions waxed III
r1n at times, there was no bitter a
IS at all. 1t was apparent that the
egates only desired to secure ab- So
ute agreement whereby all nations at
/ be in accord when the treaty is m
ally completed. -