Evening journal., 1919-02-27
PRESIDENT TELLS
CONGRESSOFLEAGUE
all Members Of Foreign
Committees Present But
Borah and Fall
SOME OPPOSITION
is EXPRESSED


WASHINGTON. Feb. 27-After almost
three months OF silence, President VIII
son condescended last night to com
municate secretly 10 q handful OF SEN
stors and Representatives, the majority
Of them devoted 10 his personal for
tunes, his real reasons for advocating
an internatonalism which many In
Congress believe threatens the repub-
no.
Just as the proposed constitution Of
the League OF Nations was discussed
and adopted in secrecy, so was the
. Presidents frst real information ex-
PLANTATION OF his advocacy Of Il deliv-
cred In secrecy. II was fragrantly OBJ
vious that the most extraord nary
measures were taken to keep the peo-
pie in the dark. this fact so arousing
the Indignation Of Senator Borah
(ldaho) and Senator Fall N. NJ that
they declined TO attend the dinner given
at the White House to the members Of
the Foreign Relations committees, and
thus bind themselves to silence.
These Senators, however, were the
only ones that absented themselves
from the dinner OF mystery. Senator
Lodge (Mass.) saw Il bis duty to at
tend the dinner, though It may be that
ne made an honorable reservation OF
two as TO how completely his duty 10
the people could be harnessed. Senator
Brandegee Comm said early IN the
evening that he would bow himself
out OF the diningroom II the President
attempted to impose upon him restric-
tons that would not correspond 10 his
sense Of duty to his constituents.
AS a matter Of fact q great deal OF
human curiosity actuated both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. There was a
keen desire on all sides 70 penetrate
the veil which the President had drop
ped before his motives and his reason
ings. Republicans who mean 10 con-
test 10 the last ditch Mr. Wilson's ap-
parent Intention to surrender AmerI-
canism to internationallsm hoped to
obtain out OF Mr.. Wilson's own mouth
arguments for the combat: while
Democratic members, habituated to
subserviency. hoped TO acquire from
the fountainhead srgumentative ma
terial.
At s p. m, therefore, when Mr.. VIII
son greeted his guests in the state din
ingroom. so reminiscent Of the Presi-
dent whose very name stood for
Americanism, whose trophies adorn the
walls. there were absent only Senator
Borsh and his close friend, Senator
Fall Of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee there were Senators Hitch
cock tNeb.l, John sharp Williams
(Miss.). Claude A. Swanson CVa.), Pom
creme (Ohiol. Marcus A. Smith lAriz.), /
Willard Car1zhrrrr mai dafaoNad Kav
Pittman New. John X. Shields
(Tenn). Charles S. Thomas (Col.), and
Joseph T. Robinson (Ark.). Democrats, /
liam Alden Smith tNlch), retiring;
Porter J. McCumber a. d., Frank B.
Brandegee Comm. and Philander c. |
Knox fPa.). Republicans.
~ the House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee there were Flood (Vs.). chair |
man; Linthicum Md. Goodwin tArk.). |
Stedman IN. c., Harrison iMlss.). |
Smith N. ", Shsckleford (Mo.). Sa-
bath (IllA. Ragsdale IS. c.. Huddle- |
stone tAla.), Connally tTex) and |
Thomas F. Smith ~ ", Democrats.
and Cooper (Wis.), Porter (Pa.). Rogers
lMassl, Temple PA. Foss 0ll). NIL
Ter Mimi, Mott IN. " and Kennedy
n. ~, Republicans.
As these committees stand IN per
sonel there is a fair majority that be-
Iieve IN some form Of League OF Ma
lions. but Mr. Wilson was no doubt
sware before the dinner had proceeded
very far that no majority could be
had for the constitution OF such a
league as he has offered. Opposition
was plainly expressed. although II was
,ouched IN such terms as were not
70 give offense.
Senators and Representatives natur-
lily were reticent as to what took
place. feeling themselves bound By
laving accepted the remarkable terms
II the Presidents invitation TO main
ain silence. II was gathered. however.
hat the President after making fair
y extensive speech pointing out that
conditions in Europe and the world
,ver were such that no peace would
'e worth the paper II was written on
lnless a League Of Nations was flrst
ormed 10 guarantee It's stability and ,
IS maintenance: that the feeling In ,
Europe was such that dire disaster Ger
ainly would follow the downfall OF
he project and that America was Civ ,
ng up nothing Of any real value. while .
obtaining much Of inestimable worth. /.
allied for several members OF the COM. J
nittees TO express their views. II