The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-27
WILSON EXPLAINS
LEAGUE Of NATIONS
Doubters Reported Not to
Have Been Cha ged in
Their Views.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-President
! Wilson told members OF the congress
sional foreign relations committee
last night that unless the United
/ States entered the League Of Nations
! the League would fall and chaos and
turmoil beyond description would re.
!sult in Europe. Views Of Republican
members opposing the league consti-
tuition as reported to the Peace Con-
ference apparently we're not changed
II by the conference. The President was
questioned closely, especially by Sen
ator Brandegee, of Connecticut. Re.
! publican Leader Lodge and Senator
Knox, Of Pennsylvania, former secre.
tary of state. took very little part.
!; The President after making an open.
| ing explanatory statement, answered
all questions free ~ and specifically
emphasized that his guests were free
to discuss the conference and all its
! information with newspapermen or
iothers.
( One question on which much time
was spent was whether nation in the
league could withdraw, raised by Sen
ator Brandegee. The President was
said to have held that any country
could withdraw, but Senator Brande-
gee contended this would be impossi-
! bic under the constitution as now
drafted.
| President Wilson denied that the
| Leagye plan would interfere with the
/ Monroe Doctrine, declaring that the
doctrine would be guaranteed by all
j the members powers in the world So
ciety.
The President was said to have held
that the manufactures in the constitu.
| ton were not compulsory, but required
| the consent Of the nations to which
the mandatory was assigned. Sena.
| tors said he expressed the opinion that
| the United States would desire to be.
come mandatory for Armenia.
On the question Of American sover.
eighty, the President wa ssaid to have
taken the position that recession Of
! American sovereignty was not new
precedent, being an incident OF every
treaty..
Chairman Hitchcock, Of the Senate
committee said the President held tina.
|, decisions Of the leagues executive
council on disarmament would not be
binding until specifically approved by
each signatory nation and that cor
sequently the American congress
would have the opportunity to pass
o nthe appointment Of armament for
every nation included. The President
said this section had been miscon.
| strued.
Concerning the clause giving the
right to the league to consider acts
| Threatening world peace, President
Wilson said that the clause was in.
definite and would be made more clear
| by writing in Safeguard which would
require that every commentator by
! the council should be unanimous.
1t also was said that the President
| informed the senators and representa-
! tives that the disarmament provision
would not interfere with the military
training of men, but that 1t was evi.
dent that q trained body Of men
would not be danger to world peace
lie their armament supplies were kept
! in check.
MIR. Wilson sal dthe provision for
enforcing the determination of the
council in case 1t was disobeyed by
any nation would apply in only one
case, and that where the party against
!, whom a decision was rendered had
property, including territory in its
| possession which 1T would not sur.
render.
In conceding that acme sovereignty
must be surrendered by membership
| in the league the President declared
1t was inconcelyable that there could
labe any concert Of action by nations to
eliminate war and protect the weak
unless each nation was willing to give
i3up something. i,
Denying that the league meant
usurpation Of the powers Of congress
to declare war, the President said the
League merely wa so promise by the
treaty making power that its congress-
would do oil in its power to carry out
the agreement, a situation which pre-
vailed in many present treaties.
/ The President. was said to have
stated that. ii was necessary that the
United States stand to the support
of the Czecho.S lovaks, the Jugo-
! Slavs, Poland and other weak and
struggling peoples made free as the
result OF the great war.
Senator Lodge refused to see news
paper men or make any statement az
\ ter the conference.
I The strength Of the league would
rest on the friendship Of America,
Great Britain. France, Italy and Japan,
! the President said, and he expressed
the opinion that serious trouble be
tween these five nations was "un-
ithinkable. !" Should one Of these with
4 draw from The league or in any way
| fail to support 1t. impotence Of the
league might result.
4 Accounts Of both Democratic and
\ Republican members Of the commit
I!tees who discussed the conference va
ried only in very minor details.
y NVThn hpracidnnt Colt %Iot ~ tho lao.