Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-27

Senator Brandegee. of Connecticut,
Republican, took the lead in ques-
tioning the President. Senators
Lodge and Knox contented them
selves largely with listening to the
discussion. No secrecy was imposed
on the visitors, the President at the
outset emphasizing that they were
free to discuss afterwards, what
transpired.
The President was said to have
declared that America was free to
withdraw from the league at any
time; that the Monroe Doctrine was
not contravened because all sigma
tory nations would be obliged to up
hold it; and that recommendations
of the executive council for world
disarmament could not become ef-
fective until each nation had approx
ed them and thus had been given
voice in the apportionment OF such
armament.
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 between these five nations
was 'unthinkable. Should one of
these withdraw from the league or
! in any way fail to support it, i'm
potence of the league might result.
Accounts of both Democratic and
Republican members of the COM
mittees who discussed the confer
ence varied only in very minor de-
tails.
The President felt that if the
league is not ratified" said Chair
man Hitchcock, there will be des-
Nai ,srI,1 l,n old Inn n
Of failure in the effort to secure
permanent peace. Serious complica-
tion, the President felt might result
at an early date from failure of the
league. The league is already in use,
the President stated, through the
reference of the questions on various
subjects which have been referred to
international commissions"
Good Will Needed
On the question of possible inter-
ference by the league with interna-
tional domestic questions, such as
immigration the President told the
Senators he did not regard such
questions as being within the pur-
view or jurisdiction of the league.
Success of the league, the President
was said to feel. rests on the good
will and good faith of the nations
Upon the moral force of the world
| the DEGREES of the league would de-
pend, the President explained. He
expressed the opinion that If Ger
many had considered a week, or If
she had known England would en-
ter the war, the great conflict would
mot have occurred.
In the discussion of the compost
ton of the league and executive
council, the Mexican and Japanese
problems with which the United
States is concerned, were reported to
have been freely used as illustrations.
/ In this connection it was said that
the President rejected the argument
that American immigration would be
| a question determinable by the
/ league.
Denies British Power
Questions regarding Great Brit
aims five votes in the league and the
possibility of the British empire ac-
quiring more than one vote in the
executive council, elected the state
ment from the President that such
a possibility was very remote, as the
! four votes in the league outside of
I the five great powers were demand
ed by the smaller nations and that
I election would be made by the forty
! or fifty nations comprised in the
/ league.
! The President was said to have
! given no indication as to his opinion
! regarding when the peace treaty
| could be concluded, nor did he dis
cuss his plans for the return trip to
France, other than TO reiterate that
/ he would leave Washington imme-
diately after Congress adjourned.
| Wilson Answers Questions
| The dinner and discussion follow
! ing in the east room were said to
| have been marked by the greatest
cordiality and frankness. The Presi-
| dent frequently was interrupted at
his own request by questions. At the
outset he said too much importance
| had been attached to his suggestion
! to defer debate in Congress and de-
clared his intention was merely to
| explain fully questions of construc-
ton to those desiring to hear them.
| He then gave a description of the
! intricate methods of bringing to-
gether the representatives of all ma
tions for. the formation of n league
and declared he had found practical
| ly universal demand in Europe for
| a league of nations. He said the peo-
| pie there had suffered so tremen-
| dously from the war. that thcy were
| determined the old system must
/ cease and some concert of nations
formed to end war.
Permits Discussion
According to one of the Demo-
Gratis, Senator Brandegee said to the
President: "Mr. President. This
league of nations will not prevent
war"
"It will not" said the President.
Nothing will prevent war, but it will
bring about a discussion before the
beginning of n war. If there had
been one weeks discussion before
the beginning of the European war
it would not have occurred"
One Senator pressed inquiries re-
lating to the Irish question, and the
President was said to have answer
ed that Ireland would have no vote
in the league "at present" and that
the Irish question was one for later
solution between ireland and Eng
land.
During the discussion, the Presi-
dent also indirectly repeated his dec
laration, made lin his Boston speech.
that the organiZat ton of the league
would tend to stop the spread of
Bolshevism.
After the conference, Chairman
Flood, of the House committee,
made this statement:
"I am heartily in favor of a league
of nations and since talking with the
President I am heartily in favor of
the constitution presented. I see
,afbfno in that a fbo