The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-27
Presidents Speech Seen as
Proof That Force Idea Has
Been Dropped.
CONCRETENESS LACKING
Some Upper House Members
Resent Wilson's Allegations
of Enthusiasm.
Special Despafch to THr Sen.

Wilson's address to the Peace Confer
encc on the league OF nations Is re-
garded by the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee rs supplying definite proof
that all concrete practical proposals
involving use OF International force
have been abandoned and that the
League Is in it's last analysis to be
merely an expression OF principles with
some provision to perpetuate study o.
the subject through special committees.
The Presidents address Is regar ded
as escaping the faintest suggestion OF
anything concrete or definite. One SEN
ate leader characterized 1t as II reitera-
ton OF the same vague and general
ideas without even the germ OF any
thing new excepting the phraseology.
The view Is entertained by some MEM
bers OF the committee that the President
has purposely refrained from anything
definite for the reason that his original
plan has been so altered that he has
abandoned all hope of seeing the details
worked out in the near future. Private
advices from Paris to some of the Sen
ators state that Premier Clemenceau
has refused even seriously to discuss a
ichS no vi nhtlOnS DASeu on lnleEn6tlOnAl
force and that this has upset the caicu-
lation of many OF the leagues most ar
dent advocates
Speech Carefully Read.
tions Committee read the President
speech evry carefully. Senator Borat
Gdaho) said he read II twice. TIE view
that tho praeifapt vnrpaaa1y n
sterile In definite ideas was held by a
number OF Senator's. There was disap-
pointment among those who had hoped
that the league OF nations plan nigh,
have developed into something tangible
by this time. but on the other hand
some Senators are relieved that the de-
velopments have been negative and
thereby have cleared the atmosphere &c
a measurable degree
II develops now that special advices
which have reached here for Information
Of certain Senators characterize the last
weeks developments in Paris as mega
tive with regard to the league OF nation.
and freedom Of the seas. It Is stated
that freedom OF the seas in the sense
which the President meant It Is not
going 10 BE mentioned again at ths
Peace Conference.
nc bptc-n ldsl week OF 1<OTQ tkODtr7
Cecil regarding the league Is cited a,
proof that all idea OF international force
has been abandoned. Under these cir.
cumstances Senators are not inclined
to be unduly excited over any form
which expressions OF principles or dec
larat!ons of moral purpose may take
They assume that the nations will mo-
And II difficult to agree on matters o.
abstract principle so long as the element
Of International force does not ente,
into the question.
Republican Senators say that a ieaSu,
without force to back It's DEGREES amount.
to little more than an -internationa
quilting circle" They are not concerned
over the Anal form which any non
effective league takes but they hav,
been and are deeply concerned over wha
they term the apparent waste OF tint
formulating such league to the ex
clusion OF more important practical ant
vital subjects at issue.
There Is evident resentment among
number Of the Senators without resar|
10 party affiliations over the pers!sten
claim advanced by the President befor,
the European statesmen that he reflects
the views of all Americans In asking To-
tho league. Men like Senator Henry L
Myers (Mont). n Democrat. who from
April 6. 1917. the date of America
declaration of war. until November IL
, 1918. the date OF the signing OF tn,
armistice. cast not a single vote agains
any one OF the Presidents policies, 4
bitterly opposed to any league that bind
the United States to participation In an.
European controversy.
The question OF whether the President
idea concerning the league would get
I maturity vote In the 9ena "a NAV ha noe
| to discussion. Senators admit. but the init
nation that the representatives OF tn
American people are demanding TIL
| league Is regarded as entirely unjustIfie
! by the facts. In other words the en-
I thuslasm which the President ascr.be
to his fellow countrymen IN this regar
simply does not exist, according TO Sena
tors who feel that the President shout
! not attempt to influence European opin
/ ion BY claiming that It does In his eli
thus.asrn for his subject the Presden
! pictures American opinion as he believe
1t ought to be and not as It really is,
| Is added.
Reports from Paris that Presiden
Wilson and Premier Ciemenceau O
France are now championinC rlva
| causes and that there Is impending
fight for supremacy between them ar
not regarded by diplomats as indicating
/ real friction.
1t has been obvious from the star
that the practical plans OF the Frenc
Premier would clash with some OF tn
| Presidents principles and ideals, but
! Is fully expected that any and all d!f
! ferences will be adjusted through tn
( processes OF adjustment which are TO b
such an important feature OF the Peac
Conference.