The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-19
INTERPRETING
OF COVENANT
APPROVED BY
MR.. WILSON
Should Not be Made Part of
Formal Ratification, How
ever, President Tells Senate
Committee.
PROTESTS LONG DELAYS
(By Associated Press)


WASHINGTON, Aug. 1s.-President
Wilson told the foreign relations COM
mitee at the outset of his conference
today that he could see no reason
able objection" to interpretations of
how the United States accepts the
League of Nations provided such in
depreciation did not form a part of
the formal ratification itself.
Some Of the inside details of the
peace conference, how the league Of
nations covenant was drawn, and
other historic happenings were hand
ed out verbatim for the world to read,
IN contrast to the time-honored pro-
ceoure OF secrecy, presidential and
| senatorial Confidence.
II interpretations were part of the
| formal ratification, the president con-
tended, long delays would follow as
| other governments would have to "ac-
cept in effect the language Of the sem
ate as the language of the treaty be-
fore ratification would be complete"
Most of the interpretations, the pres
ident said, seemed to him to suggest
the plain meaning of the instrument
| itself"
The much discussed Article x, the
| doubtful Interpretation when read in
connection with the whole covenant.
The council, he said could only "ad-
wise" and as its action must be unan-
1mous, the Affirmative vote Of the
United States would be necessary to
any question affecting it.
Freedom Of Choice.
Article 16 the president said pro-
vided that where there is a dispute
bound to be solely within the jurisdic-
tion Of one of the parties, under inter-
national law, the league council shall
! SO report and make no recommenda-
tions for its settlement Of immigra-
ton. tariff. and the like, the president
said, clearly came under that pro-
vision.
The president told the committee the
league council would have nothing
whatever to do with deciding whether
the United States had fulfilled its
obligations in case of withdrawing
from the league.
The president said the United States
would have complete freedom of
choice as to the application Of force"
in Carrying out Article X of the league
covenant.
Moral Obligation.
Replying to Senator Fall, who sug-
gested that as Germany was not a
member Of the league OF nations.
amendments to the league covenant
would not be submitted to her, and she
would not have to give her consent,
the president said:
II will admit that that point had not
occurred to me. No, she would not"
| Discussing Article XI under which
he said the league could take any ac-
ton deemed appropriate" in case
war occurred or was threatened, the
president said the action contemplat-
ed also would rest entirely on a moral
obligation.
Marks New Milestone.
Besides presenting one Of the most
dramatic developments attendant upon
the conclusion Of peace, the meeting
established a new milestone in the
trend toward publicity in treaty con-
sideration. Figuratively the doors of
the conference were wide open. Ex-
pert stenographers were provided to
turn out for the public in short relays
word for word record OF all that
transpired.
1t was the first time, also, that rep
resentatives Of the senate, discussing
foreign affairs with the other branch
of the treaty making power, could
question at the same time the head
of the delegation which negotiated the
treaty under discussion. The p-esi-
dent sat in the conference rather as
a responsible delegate to Versailles
than as the head Of the national gov.
ernment.
Confronts Opponents.
Although Mr.. Wilson himself dis
cussed the first draft of the league
| hn
famous White house dinner Of last
March. senators said there was no
exact parallel for today's formal uues-
tioning Of chief executive on a
treaty actually before the committee
for ratification. The nearest approach
they said, had been the action of Pres
ldent Washington in going before the
senate itself in executive session to
discuss questions involved in treaties
with the Indians.
The conference offered the first op-
portunfty for the president to con-
front some Of the most determined op-
ponents Of the treaty in its present
form and some of the bitterest critics
OF his course in the peace negotiations.
There are seventeen members of the
committee as follows: Senators Lodge,
Massachusetts,, chairman; McCumbe
North Dakota; Brandegee. Connecti-
cut; Borah, Idaho; Fall, New Mexico;
Knox, Pennsylvania; Harding. Ohio;
Johnson, California: New, Indiana;
and Moses, New Hampshire, Republf.
cans, and Hitchcock, Nebraska; VIII.
liams, Mississippi; Swanson, Virginia;
Pomerene, Ohio; Smith, Arizona; Pitt.
man, Nevada, and Shields. Tennessee,
Democrats.
Presidents Speech.
The president, referring to the ratt
fication Of the treaty, said in part:
Our military plans, of course, wait
upon it. We cannot intelligently or
wisely decide how large a naval or
military force We shall maintain OF
what our policy with regard to mill.