The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-19

To that the president agreed. ad-
mitting freely that the point had not
occurred to him before.
Replying to Senator Borah, the
president said the provision of Article
ten under which signatories to the
league agreed to guarantee one an
other against external aggression was
only a moral obligation.
: Senator 'Borah thought it would be
a legal obligation. The president
thought not. because there was in
VOWED the element OF Judgment as to
whether territorial integrity or politi
cal Independence was being invaded
or impaired.
No Legal War Obligation.
Senator Borah wanted to know
what would happen IL the actual facts
were beyond dispute There would
then be the legal obligation to apply
the automatic terms OF the covenant,
the president replied, but not legal
obligation to make war, no matter
how strong the moral one.
1--WE would have complete choice as
to application of force" said the pres
ident in answer to further question
The action contemplated as
deemed appropriate. in case of war
or threatened war was also, the preSt-
dent commended. a moral one.
Congress, the president said. would
have to give its assent to the United
States participating to enforce advice
of the league council even tho the de-
cision of the council was unanimous
and had been concurred in by Amer
ica's representative. He laid stress on
the assumption that the representa-
tives OF nations in the council would
be guided by their own public opinion.
Held in the East Room.
The conference was not held in the
Blue Room as had been planned. the
president taking his visitors into the
East Room. where they were seated
around a big table. Senator Lodge sat
next to the president Because of a
misunderstanding regarding the steno-
graphic transcript, two teams OF
stenographerS, one provided by the
White House and one by the commit
tee. were present to report the confer
ence The arrangement by which
newspapers would have to pay for the
committee transcript caused White
House officials to provide for a tran
script of their own which was given to
the press without charge.
Lodge Begins QuizIIng.
After the president had delivered his
| statement Senator Lodge said:
Mr.. President SO far as am personally
lconcerned-and l think l represent perhaps
the majority of the committee In that re-
Spect-we have no thought of entering upon
| arguments ms to interpretations or points
very DESTROYS Of getting Information on
| certain points which seem not clear and on
which they thought information would be
of value to have in consideration of the
treaty which they. / think, may say.
for myself and others, desire to hasten in
| every possible way.
Your reference to the necessity OF action
| leads me to ask one question. II we have
/ TO restore peace to the world 1t Is neces-
sary, l assume, that there should be
treaties with Austria, Hungary, Turkey
land Bulgaria. Those treaties are all more
or less connected with the treaty with
Germany. The question I should like TO
ask is what the prospects are or receiving
those treaties for action.
The president: IT think 1t is very good.
sir, and so far as I can judge from the
contents of the dispatches from my COL
| leagues on the other side Of the water, the
chief delay is due to the uncertainty as
to what is going to happen to this treaty.
This treaty is a model of the others.
saw enough OF the others before l left
Paris to know that they are being framed
on the same set of principles and the treaty
with Germany is the model. l think that
is the chief element Of delay, sir
No Essential to This Treaty.
Senator Lodge: They are not regarded
as essential to the consideration of this
The president. -They are not regarded
as such, no sir they follow this treaty"
Senator Lodge: II do know about other
| treaties, but the treaty with Poland, for
example, has been completed ?"
The president: Yes and signed; but II
Is dependent upon this treaty. My thought
was to submit it upon the action on this
| frpatyo