The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1919-08-21
PRESIDENT THROWS
LIGHT ON TREATY
WILSON AND SENATORS DISCUSS
SSscT PROVISIONS AT WHITE
HOUSE SESSION.
Minute Explanations of Disputed
Points IN League OF Nations Cow
enant Are Brought Out, Presi-
dent Urging Early Action.

l. washington Wilson, In
/terpreung the league of nations COW
enant for the senate foreign relations
committee, on Tuesday, declared it i'm
posed no legal obligation for the use
of American military force in protect
ing the territory or independence Of
any other nation.
But he added that the covenant
might involve, In certain circum-
stances, an absolutely compelling
moral obligation" which might be
even stronger than legal promise.
Pressed for more exact definition
by committee members, who insisted
that the whole arrangement was a
rope of sand" he asserted that on tho
contrary he considered il as placing
the nations in IAN attitude of comrade-
ship and protection" which would com
pei respect for the principles of jus
tice and liberty.
Meeting the committee in a round
table discussion in the east room OF
the White House, in contradiction to
the precedents of more than a cen
fury and with the whole nation listen
ing through the medium of relay
OF public stenographers, the presi-
dent went into many of the details of
The peace negotiations and touched ON
all the hotly debated questions which
have divided the senate in its cOnsid-
GRAFTON of the peace treaty.
Aticle X of the covenant. guaran-
teeing the integrity of league men,
bers against aggression, he declared.
would leave to each nation complete
freedom of choice as TO the applica-
tiOn of force" Even if the American
representatives on the council Joined
in unanimous recommendation for
military action the final decision for
peace or war must rest so far as CON
cerned the United States with con
gress. he said
Whatever advice the council gave
under IT'S authority to take such action
as is deemed appropriate" must also
be deemed appropriate by the United
States TO be binding on this govern
ment. he argued, though in the back
ground would be such potential moral
force that he doubted If the nation
would often decline to act.
The president revealed that Japan's
promise to return Shantung province |
to China was reduced to written form
IL the minutes Of the peace conference. |
lie asserted he had every confidence"
that the promise would be carried out,
and told the senators it was the best |
that could be got out of the negou-
ations. Japan having given notice she
would withdraw from the conference
ii her demands were refused.
The American delegates, he said. had
tried to keep the nation free from OBJ
legations ia European affairs, $50 far
a. ii WIS hOnOrably possible to do so,
bat ne asserted that it might be neces-
sury 10 keep some American troops in
the Rhine district under the treaty
for the next fifteen years.
lie declared the nation would be its
own sole Judge whether its obligations
had been fulfilled under the disputed
withdrawal clause Of the league cove
nant; that purely domestic questions
were safe from the leagues interfer-
ence: and that the Monroe doctrine
was clearly preserved.
The league. the president explained.
was built Oh the plan Of General SHUTS
Of South Africa.
Mr.. Wilson revealed that he had
suggested the United States take no
part OF the German PREPARATIONS. but
had asked that the conference reserve
disposition Of the German Pacific
island OF Zap on a suggestion that
4 was needed for an American naval
station.
Early action on the treaty was urged
m statement by the president at the
,utSet Of the conference. This was
necessary. be held. so that a peace
,asis might be reached. and the other
reaties under negotiations now at Yer
siiies were being delayed until the
,orid learned what would happen TO
he treaty with Germany. He said he
s,w no reasonable objection to senate
but thought il unwise to
incorporate them in the ratification
.~eif.