davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-07-13
Reporter's Body Recovered

A body found off Coney Island was
identified yesterday as that Of James
Martin, twenty-one, a Newark news
paper reporter, who was drowned when
his canoe capsized of Keansburg, N. j.,
June 20. The body was identified by
Chester Beaman, who was rescued at
the time Martin was drowned.
New-York tribune., 1919-07-13

other note to the French Foreign Of
sace giving statistics requested by the
French Minister OF Reconstructions.
DR.. Theodor LewAld and Herr
Schroeder. heads Of two German COM
missions which arrived Thursday, left
tonight for Berlin to get further In
structions. They will return to YER
sailles In few days.
New-York tribune., 1919-07-13

that manifested in England and France.
He said the entire Navy Department
deserved credit for his success in cross
ing the Atlantic.
Yorke and Read were presented with
medals struck in their honor.
The Washington times., 1919-08-19
Thinks It UnWiSe to Make
Reservations in Resolution

understanding and the construction
that should he cfven to that portion
OF the treaty would il be necessar
for them to act on il again?
The President think il would,
Senator.
Senator MCCumber-Couldt they not
merely accept it by acqulesence?
The President-My experience as a
lawyer was not very long, but that
experience would teach me that the
language OF a contract is always part
OF the debatable matter, and can
testify that in our discussions in the
commission on the League OF Nations
we did not discuss ideas half as much
as we discussed phraseoIOEy.
Senator McCumber-But suppose,
Mr.. President, that we should make
a declaration of that kind which
would be in entire accordance with
your view OF the understanding Of all
OF the nations, and without saying
anything the nations should proceed
to appoint their commissions, and 10
act under this treaty. would not that
be a clear acquiesceuce in our con-
struction?
The President-Oh. it might be,
Senator: but we would not know for
a good many months whether they
were going to act in that sense or not.
The Washington times., 1919-08-19
Withdrawal With Honor
Is Possible At Any Time

The President-Well, when the no
tice is given II is conditional on the
faith OF the conscience Of the with
drawing nation at the close Of the
twO-year period.
Senator Borah-Precisely but IL Is
unconditional so far as the legal right
or the moral right is concerned.
The President-That is my interpre-
tation.
Senator Borah-There is no moral
obligation on the part OF the United
States to observe any suggestion made
by the council?
The President-Oh, no.
Senator BOrah-With reference to
withdrawing?
The President-There might be a
moral obligation IL that suggestion
rad weight, Senator, but there is no
other obligation.
Senator BOrah-Any moral obliga-
tion which the United States would
feel would be one arising from its
own sense OF obligation?
The President-Oh, certainly.
Senator Borah-And not by reason
OF any suggestion by the council?
The President-CertainIy.
Senator Borah-Then the idea
which has prevailed in some quar-
ters that the council would pass upon
such obligation is an erroneous one
from your standpoint?
The President-Yes, entirely.
The Washington times., 1919-08-19

Senator Borah-And as l under
stand of course, you are expressing
the view which was entertained by
the commission which drew the
league?
The President am confident that
that was the view. That view was
not formulated. you understand; but
am confident that that was the view.
Senator McCumber-May 7 ask
question right here? Would there
be any objection. then, to a reserva-
ton declaring that to be the under
standing Of the force Of this section
The Prcsident-Senator. as I indl-
Gated at the opening OF our confer
ence, this is my judgment about that:
Only we can interpret a moral obli-
CATION The legal obligation can be
enforced by such machinery as there
is to enforce ii. We are. therefore,
CATION. The legal obligation can be
which we undertake a moral obliga-
tion. What l feel very earnestly is
that II would be mistake to embody
that Interpretation in the resolution
OF ratification, because then it would
be necessary for other governments
TO act upon 1t.
Senator McCumber-If they all un-
derstood at the time that this was the
The Washington times., 1919-08-19

Senator Borah-Mr. President. II no
one else desires to ask a question l
want, so far as I am individually
concerned, to get n little clearer in
formation with reference to the with
drawal clause in the league cove
nant. Who passes upon the question
Of the fulfillmcnt of our interna-
tional obligations: upon the question
whether a nation has fulfilled its in
ternational obligations?
The Prcsident-NObOdy.
Senator Rorah-DOes the council
have anything to say about it?
The Nothing whatever.
Senator ROrah-Then If country
should give notice OF withdraw 1t
would be the sole judge Of whether
or not il had fulfilled its interna-
tional obligations, its covenants TO
the league.
The President-That is as l under
stand it. The only restraining in
rluence would be the public opinion
of the world.
Senator Borah-Precisely but II
the United States should conceive
that it had fulfilled its obligations,
that question could not be referred TO
the council in any way, or the council
could not be called into action.
The President-No.
Senator Borah-Then as under
stand, when the notice is given. the
right TO withdraw is unconditional
The Washington times., 1919-08-19
Gable Convention to Pass
On Island of Yap Control

Senator Wnliams-The Island Of
zap?
The PresiGent-Yap. II is one Of
the bases and centers of cable and
radio communication on the Pacific
and / made the point that the dispO-
sition, or rather the control Of that
island should be reserved for the
general conference which is TO be
held in regard 70 the ownership and
operation OF the cables. That subject
is mentioned and disposed Of in this
treaty and that general cable con-
ference is to be held
The Chairman had understood,
or I had heard the report that our
General Board of the Navy Depart
ment, our chief of operations. had
recommended that we should have a
footing there, primarily in order to
secure cable communications
The President think you are
right sir.
The Chairman-That we were like
Iy TO be cut off from cable communi-
cation, that is that the cables were
likely TO pass entirely into other
hands unless we had some station
theFe, ana IL seemed 10 me 4 matter
Of such Importance that / wanted TO
ask the question.
Now / want TO ask this further
question-There was a secret treaty
between England and Japan in re-
gard TO ShantunE; and in the Corre-
spondence with the British ambassa-
dor at Tokyo, when announcing the
acquiescence of Great Britain in ia
pan having the German right In Shan
tung, the British ambassador added.
The Washington times., 1919-08-19
u. S. Given Full Choice
About Applying Force

reference TO Article X-you will OBJ
serve that 1 am more interested in
the league than in any other feature
or this discussiOn-in listening to the
reading OF your statement ! got the
Impression that your view was thai
the hrst obligation Of Article X. 70
wit
The members. OF the league UNDER
take to respect and preserve as
against external aggression the ter
ritortal integrity and existing politi-
cal independence OF all members OF
the league" was simply A
moral obligation.
The President: Yes, sir; inasmuch
as there is no sanction In the treaty.
Senator BOrah: But that would Be
legal obligation 50 far as the United
states was concerned. IL il should en-
ter into; would 1t not?
The President would not fntar-
pret that way, Senator, because there
is involved the element OF JUDGMENT
as to whether the territorial integrity
or existing political Independence Is
invaded or impaired. In other words,
1t is an attitude Of comradeship and
protection among the members of
the league, which in its very nature
is moral and not legal
Senator BOrah-If. however, the
actual fact Of invasion were beyond
dispute, then the legal obligation, Il
seems to me-I am simply throwing
this out in order TO get a full express
sion OF views-the legal OBLIGATIONS
would Immediately arise II the fact oR
actual invasion were undlsputed?
The President-The legal Obligation
to apply the automatic pUnishments oR
the covenant. undoubtedly, but not the
legal obligation to go to arms and
actually to make war-not the legal
obligation. There might be q very
strong moral obligation.
Senator McCUmber-Just 50 that 7
may understand definitely what your
view is on the subject. Mr.. President.
do I understand you to mean that
while we have two different remedies.
and possibly others. we would simply
be the sole judge OF the remedy We
would apply. but the obligation would
still rest upon US to apply some rem
sdy to bring about the result?
The President-Yes. 7 cannot quite
accept the full wording that you used.
sir. We would have completes free
dom OF choice as to the application Of
force.
Senator McCumber-Would we not
have the same freedom OF choice a.
10 whether We would have the appli-
cation OF a boycott? Are they not
both under the same language. so that
we would be bound by them in the
same way.
The President-Only in regard to
certain articles. The breech Of car
tain articles of the covenant does
bring on what I have designated a.
an automatic boycott, and In that We
would have no choice,
The Washington times., 1919-08-19
HERE IS STENOGRAPHIC
REPORT Of THE HISTORIC
WHITE HOUSE MEETING

After reading his statement today,
the President said to the Senators:
q thought that the simplest way,
Mr.. Chairman, to cover the points that
I knew to be points Of interest"
Senator Lodge-Mr. President, so
far as 1 am personally concerned
and think ] represent perhaps the
majority Of the committee in that
respect-we have no thought Of en-
tering upon argument as TO interpre-
tations or points OF that character;
but the committee was very desirous
Of getting information on certain
points which seem not clear and on
which they thought information
would be Of value to have in consider
alton of the treaty which they, I think
I may say for myself and others, de-
sire to hasten in every possible way.
Your reference to the necessity Of
action leads me to ask one question.
If you have to restore peace to the
world il is necessary. 1 assume, that
there should be treaties with Austria,
Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria Those
treaties are all more or less connect
ed with the treaty with Germany. The
question should like to ask is, what
the prospect is Of our receiving those
treaties for action?
The President think IL is very
good, sir, and, so far as l can judge
from the contents OF the dispatches
from my colleagues on the other side
Of the water, the chief delay is due
to the uncertainty as to what is go
ing TO happen to this treaty. This
treaty is a model OF the others. 1
saw enough Of the others before l
left Paris to know that they are be-
ing framed upon the same set of
principles and that the treaty with
Germany is the model ] think that
is the chief element Of delay, sir.
Senator Lodge-They are not re-
garded as essential to the considera-
tion Of this treaty?
The President-They are not re-
garded as such, no sir; they follow
this treaty.
Senator Lodge do not know
The Washington times., 1919-08-19

about the other treaties. but the
treaty with Poland, for example, has
been completed?
The President-Yes, and signed;
but it is dependent on this treaty.
My thought was to submit it upon
the action on this treaty.
Senator Lodge should like. If
may, to ask a question in regard to
the plans submitted TO the Commits
sion on the League Of Nations. il that
is the right phrase.
The President-Yes sir.
Senator Lodge-You were kind
enough to send US the draft OF the
American plan. In February il I
understood you rightly, when we
were here-I may be incorrect but I
understood YOU to say that there
were other drafts of plans submitted
by Great Britain, by France and Italy.
Would il be possible for US to see
those other tentative plans?
The President would have sent
them to the committee with pleasure,
Senator, il I had found that / had
them. took it for granted that I
had them; but the papers that remain
in my hands remain there in a hap
hazard way. I can tell you the char
acter of the other drafts. The British
draft was the only one as remember
that was in the form Of a definite
Of a league. The French
and Italian drafts were in the form
of a series of propositions laying
down general rules and assuming
that the commission. or whatever
body made the final Foundations
would build upon those principles il
they were adopted. They were prin-
action.
1 remember saying to the commit
tee when 1 was there in March,
have forgotten the expression I used,
but it was something to the effect
that the British draft had constituted
the basis. I thought afterwards that
that was misleading. and I am very
glad to tell the committee just what
l meant
The Washington times., 1919-08-19

The President-As I say, that re-
mains to be decided.
The Chairman-By the commission?
The President-By the commission.
The Chairman-Going now onto an
other question, as 1 understand the
treaty, the overseas possessions OF
Germany are all made over TO the five
principal allied and associated pow
ers. who apparently, as far as the
treaty goes, have power to make dis
position of them, ! suppose by way OF
mandate or otherwise. Among those
overseas possessions are the Ladrone
Islands, except Guam. the Carolines,
and, i think. the Marshall Islands.
Has there been any recommendation
made by our naval authorities in re-
gard 10 the Importance of our having
one island there, not for territorial
purposes. but for naval purposes?
The Presidcnt-There was a paper
on that subject, Senator, which has
been published. l only partially re-
member il. 1t was a paper laying out
the general necessities OF our naval
policy in the Pacific and the necessity
OF having some base for cOmmunica-
ton upon those islands was mention
ed, Just in what form | do no. re-
member. But let me say this: There
is a little island which ! must admit
| had not heard Of before.
The Washington times., 1919-08-19

Senator Pittman-Mr. President,
Senator McCumber has drawn out
that il is your impression that the
allied and associated powers have the
same opinion Of the construction of
these sO-called indefinite articles that
you have. Is that construction also
known and held by Germany?
The President have no means Of
knowing.
Senator Pittman-Germany, then,
has not expressed herself to the COM
mission with regard to these mooted
questions?
The President-No; we have no ex-
preston from Germany about the
league except the expression OF her
very strong desire to be admitted
to it,
Senator Pittman-And is it your
opinion that il the language OF the
treaty were charged in the resolu-
tion Of ratification, the consent OF
Germany would also be essential to
a consensus OF opinion between Ger
many and the United States?
The PTesident-Oh, undoubtedly.
Senator Lodge-Mr. President. in
that connection did not mean to
ask another question: take 1t there
is no question whatever, under inter
national law and practice. that an
amendment to the text of a treaty
must be submitted to every sigma
tory, and must receive either their
assent or their dissent. 1 had sup
posed it had been the general diplo-
matte practice with regard to reserva-
tions-which apply only to the re-
serving power. and not to all the
signatories, of course-that with re-
Ga I'd n he
general practice that silence was re-
garded as acceptance and acquies-
Oence: That there was that dis
tinctiOn between textual amendment
which changed the treaty for every
signatory, and a reservation, which
it only for the reserving
power. In that I may be mistaken.
however.
The President-There is some diff |
ference Of opinion among the authori- |
ties, am informed. I have not
had time to look them up myself I
about that; but it is clear to me that |
in a treaty which involves so many |
signatOries, a series Of reservations |
which would ensue. undoubtedly, j
would very much obscure our conf
dent opinion as to how the treaty was \
going to work.
Senator Williams - Mr.. President. |
suppose for example that we adopted |
b reservation as the Senator from 1
calls it. and that Ger
many did nothing about it at all, and /
that afterwards contended that so far /
rs that was concerned IL was a new \
matter, to which she never was a /
party; could her position be justI- /
iably disputed?
The President-No.
Senator Borah-Mr. President, with J
The Washington times., 1919-08-19

want to ask, purely for information
is il intended that the United States
shall receive any part of the repara-
tion fund which is in the hands Of the
reperation commission?
The President left that question
open, Senator, because I did not feel
that I had any final right to decide it
Upon the basis that was set up in the
reparatiOn clauses the portion that
the United States would receive would
be very small at best, and my own
judgment was frequently expressed,
not as a decision. but as a Judgment,
that we should claim nothing under
those general clauses. I did that be
cause I coveted the moral advantage
that that would give us in the cOun-
sells of the world
Senator McCumber-Did that mean
we would claim nothing for the sink
ing OF the Lusitania?
The PTesident-Oh. no. That did
not cover questions Of that sort at all.
The Chairman understood that
pre-ws! claims were not covered by
that reparatiOn clause.
The President-That is correct.
The Chairman asked that ques-
tion because l desired to know
whether under the reparation COM
mission there was anything expected
70 come to US.
The Washington times., 1919-08-19
Would Be Under Moral,
But Not Legal Obligation

right, sir. Senator addressing San
ator Knox, you were about to AK
something?
Senator Knox only wanted %
tell you that I asked that question
because I was a little confused by the
language Of yodr MESSAGE transmit
ting the 9rOPos;i Franco-AmeGica1
treaty to lhs Senate, in which yUll
said, in substance and. I thinSS, prag-
tically in these terms, that this %
only binding US to do Immediately
what we otherwise would havs been
bound to do under the league OF nA-
tons?
The President-Yes.
Senator KnOx-Perhaps I am mis-
taken with respect to its having been
in that message. am sure I am miS-
taken; it was not in that message; iE
was in the message that Mr.. Tumulty
gave out
Senator Ladge interposing)-MAy
10th.
Senator KnOx-Yes.
The President-Yes.
Senator knoX-That il was merely
binding US TO do Immediately without
waiting for any other power that
which we would otherwise have been
bound to do under the terms OF the
League OF Nations
The PRESIDENT did not use the
word bound" but morally bound"
Let me say that you are repeating
what / said TO the other representa-
tives. I said. "Of course. IL is under
stood We would have to be convinced
that it was an Unprovoked movement
OF aggression" and they at once ae-
qUiesced in that
Continued on Page Five-)
The Washington times., 1919-08-19

Senator Knox-Mr. President. allow
me to ask this question: Suppose
that it is perfectly obvious and ac-
cepted that there is an external ag-
gression against some power, and
suppose it is perfectly obvious and
accepted that it cannot be repelled
except by force OF arms. would we be
under any legal obligation to par
ticipate?
The President-No. sir; but we
would be under an absolutely COM
pelIing moral obligation.
Senator Knox-But no legal obliga-
The President-N as I contem-
plate il.
Senator Winiams-Mr. President,
each nation, if l understand il is,
of course, left to judge the applica-
biIity of the principles stated to the
facts in the case, whether there is
or is not external aggression?
The President-Yes.
Senator Williams-And if any coun-
try should conclude that there were
not external aggression, but that
France or some other country had
started the trouble Indirectly. we
would have the same right, If ! un-
derstand it, that italy had to declare
that her allegiance with Germany
and Austria was purely defensive,
and that she did not see anything de-
fensive in il; so when you come ID
Judgment Of the facts. outside OF the
international law involved, each na-
tion must determine, IL I understand,
whether or not there has been ex-
ternaI aggression
The President think you are
The Washington times., 1919-08-19

Some months before the conference
assembled a plan for the league OF
nations had been drawn up by a Brit
ish committee, at the head of which
was Mr.. PAillimore-I believe the Mr.
Phillimore who was known as the
authority on international law. A
copy Of that document was sent to me,
and built upon that a redraft- 1
Will not now say whether I thought Ii
was better or not an improvement;
b9t l built on that a draft which was
quite different, inasmUch as il put
dehniteness where there had been
what seemed indefniteness in the
Phillimore suggestion.
Then. between that time and the
time OF the formation Of the commits
sion on the league OF nations, 1 had
the advantage Of seeing a paper by
General SmUts, OF South Africa, who
seemed to me to have done some very
clear thinking, particularly with re-
gard to what was TO be done with the
pieces OF the dismembered empires
After I got TO Paris, therefore, / re-
wrote the document TO which l have
alluded, and you may have noticed
that IL consists Of a series Of articles,
and then supplementary agreements.
It was in the supplementary agree
ments that / embodied the additional
ideas that had come to me, not only
from General SmUts' paper, but from
other discussions. That is the full
story OF how the plan which ] sent to
the committee was built up.
Senator Lodge-Then, OF course, il
: obvious that the General SHUTS plan
sd been used. That appears on the
face Of the document.
The President--Yes-
Senator. Lodge-Then there was a
previous draft in addition TO the one
The Washington times., 1919-08-19
Changed II Points After
Reading Gen. Shuts VieW

you have sent to US. You spoke of a
redraft That was not submitted to
the committee.
The President-No; that was pri-
vately, my own.
Senator .Lodge-Was it before our
commission?
The President-No; it was not be-
fore our commission.
Senator Lodge-The one that was
sent to US was a redraft Of that?
The President-Yes. I was reading
some of the discussion before the
cOInmittee, and some one, think Sen
ator Borah, il I remember correctly,
quoted an early version Of article 10.
Senator Borah-That was Senator
Johnson.
Senator Johnson took it from the
Independent.
The President do not know how
that was obtained. but that was part
OF the draft which preceded the draft
which ! sent TO you.
Senator Johnson-Tt was irst pub
lished by Mr.. Hamilton Holt in the
Independent; il was again subse-
qUently in the New Republic. and
from one Of the publications I read
it when examining, I think. the Sec
retary OF State.
The President read IL with the
greatest interest, because ! had for
gotten it, to tel! the truth, but I rec
Ognized il as soon as ] read it.
Senator Johnson-It was the orig
inal plan?
The President-It was the original
form Of article 10, yes.
Senator Lodge was about to ask
about article 10, as the essence of il
appears in the article OF the draft
which you sent-whether that was in
the British plan, the Smuts plan, or
the other plans.