Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-02-27
WILSON FREE IN DISCUSSION
 OF COVENANT
Makes Explanatory Talk
 and Invites Questions.
OPPONENTS ARE UN-
 CONVINCED TO LAST
Lengthy Discussion of Ability of the Nations to
 Withdraw.

Washington, Feb. 26.--President Wilson told members of the con gressional foreign relations commit tees tonight that unless the United States entered the league of nations the league would fall and chaos and turmoil beyond description would re- suit in Europe. Views of republican members opposing the league constitu- 1 tion as reported to the peace confer ence apparently were not changed by | the conference.
 The president was said to have stat ed that it was necessary that the Uni ted States stand to support of the Czecho- -Slovaks, the Jugo-Slavs, Pol and and the other weak and strug- gling peoples, made free as the re- suit of the great war.
 Views of republican members of the congressional foreign relations committee who oppose the proposed constitution of the league of nations apparently were unchanged after a long dinner conference tonight with President Wilson at the House House. 1 This opinion was expressed by both democratic and republican senators. Discussion of the constitution as presented to the peace conference was said to have been quite general and the president was questioned closely, especially by Senator Brand egee, of Connecticut. Republican leader Lodge and Senator Knox of Pennsylvania, former secretary of state, took very little part. ] The president after making an op- tehing explanatory statement, answer ling all questions freely and specific ally emphasized that his guests were free to discuss the conference and all it's information with newspaper men or others.
 Discuss Withdrawal. One question on which much time was spent was whether a nation once ! in the league could withdraw, raised Iby Senator Brandegee. The president was said to have held that any coun- try could withdraw, but Senator Brad egee contended this would be impos- sible under the constitution as now drafted.
 1 President Wilson denied that the league plan would interfere with the i Monroe doctrine, declaring that the doctrine would be guaranteed by all member powers in the world society. The president was said to have held that the mandatories in the consti- tuition were not compulsory, but re- quired the consent of the nations to which the mandatory was assigned. Senators said he expressed the opin- ion that the United States would de- sire to become mandatory for Ar menia.
 On the question of American sov- ereignty, the president was said to have taken the position that recess ion of American sovereignty was not a new precedent, being an incident of every treaty.
 He urged that the constitution he
 amended to insure denial of power to the tribunal to interfere with or set
 tie dome of any nation. { Regarding the general scope of the
 league, Senator Owen said it was "wise and sound and just in its fun
 damental principles"
 It represents the aspirations of
 the peoles of the world" he added. ito
 safeguard the eace of menkind.' | Not Bindings.
 Chairman Hitchcock of the Senate committee, said the president held tthat decisions of the leagues execu- ltive council on disarmament would not be binding until specifically ap- lproved by each signatory nation and that consequentlyq the American con l ,Continued on page fivel