Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1919-03-26
PRESIDENT EXPLAINS
CONSTITUTION OF
LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

The question of the adoption or re-
/ lection of the Peace-Conference plan
! for a League of Nations being I'M
/ doubtedly the most important matter
before the world today, the following
i classified review of statements made
/ by the president during the dinner
/ and conference at the White House,
with the Foreign Affairs committees
of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, on the evening of Febru-
airy 20, 1919, is submitted:
Sovereignty Diminished.
/ When asked by senator whether
the joining of the League of Nations
would involve any surrender of SOW
! ereignity by the United States, the
/ president frankly stated that in his
/ opinion this nation would relinquish
/ some of its sovereignty, but he as
serted that every other nation in the
League would make a similar sacri-
| flee and surrender He also stated
that, if the world is ever to eliminate
war by concert of nations, there
must necessarily be some sacrifice;
and that the recession of American
! sovereignty involved in our agree
ing to the League Constitution would
not be the first instance of such ac-.
ton, similar recession of greater or
less evtent being :lcident to every
treaty.
Disarmament.
Among the statements made by the
president was one to the effect that
the provision of the League Consti-
tuition as to disarmament would not
involve any surrender of the right of
Congress to fix and determine our
armament. Regarding this much
discussed question the president said
that, while it does not so appear in
the text OF the covenant as published,
1t was the unanimous understanding
OF those who framed the document
that every proposal relating to the
fixing of the size of ornaments
would have to be unanimously ap-
proved by each of the nine powers
represented in the Executive Council
that is, by England, the United
States, France, Japan, Italy, and the
four nations to be selected by the
body of elegates-before the plan of
fixing ornaments could be put into
effect.
Monroe Doctrine.
Regarding the doctrine announced
by President James Monroe. on De-
cember 2, 1928, to the effect that the
United States would mot permit for
eign aggression on this hemisphere,
President Wilson said that this doc
trine would not be destroyed by the
League plan but that the plan of pro-
tecting existing nations from outside
aggression would be made world
wide and sustained by an countries
instead of by the United States alone.
EngIand'S Power in the League.
The suggestion was made that
since England would probably have,
through her colonies, five votes in the
body OF delegates, she might there
lore get two representatives in the |
executive council, the supreme gov
erning body of the League. In re-
ply to this the president clearly
pointed out that this situation was
hardly conceivable in view of the !
fact that the body of delegates
which, under the proposed plan is to |
select four members of the executive
council-wouId be largely made up
OF smalL nations and would never con-
sent to give to- England, a great ma
ton, more than her present repre- /
sentative in the executive council.
LO
Upon being asked what would hap
pen to- the League-of Nations plan if !
the United States should refuse to
accept it, the president stated that he
believed that in such a contingency
the plan for the League would fail.
He also stated that it was his be-
Lief, and also the belief of others |
with whom he had discussed the mat
ter abroad that, If no League Of Ma
lions were formed, all Europe would |
be thrown into such a turmoil that
tire resulting horrors would be be- |
E0nd description.
Withdrawal From League.
During the conference the presf- |
dent said that any member Of the
League could withdraw, at any time, |
by taking the steps usual in con
nectiom with the abrogation of trea-
elas..
Immigration Problem.
Regarding the possibility of inter
ference by the League with inteTna-
tional domestic questions such aE inn
migration the president told the con
ferees5 that he did not regard such
questions as being within the, Iurfs-
dictiom of the League. In this con-
HeCClOu, during discussion Oh the
Mexican and Japanese problems, the
president rejected the suggestion
that American immigration wW1Td be
question within the Jurisdiction of
the League.
Strength and Durability of league.
Daring a general discussion of the
League pan the president STATED that
the efficiency and permanently of the
| 7 o. OH no R1,i0 Tct1 in
of America, Great Britain. France,
Italy, and Japan. He also expressed
the opinion that serious trouble be-
tween these five nations was ttun-
thinka6le." He stated moreover,
that, should one of these nations
withdraw from the League or fail in
-, 7