The Washington times., 1919-09-18
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SAYS PRESIDENT
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Francisco League Of Nations Society
a series Of questions and answers
dealing with communications pre-
viously put to him.
They were as follows:
f, Question No. 1.-Wdll you state
the underlying consideration that
dictated an awarding of six votes
i to the British empire in the assem-
| bly,, and is il true that Great Bri-
tain will outvote US in the League
Of Nations and thereby control the
leagues action?
SeIf-GOVeFnInE States.
Answer-The consideration which
| led to assigning six votes to the self
governing portions Of the British EN-
pire was that they have in effect, in
all but foreign policies, become au-
tonomous self-governing states, their
policy in all but foreign affairs being
| independent of the control of the
! British government and in many re-
spects dissimilar from it. But it is
not true that the British empire can
outvote US in the league of nations
and therefore control the action of the
league, because in every matter ex-
cept the admission of new members
TO the league, no action can be taken
without the concurrence Of a unani-
nous vote of the representatives of
the states which are members Of the
council, so that in all matters of ac-
tion. the affirmative vote Of the
United States is necessary and equiva-
lent to the united vote Of the repre-
sentatives Of the several parts of the
British empire. The united votes of
the several parts Of the British en-
Iire cannot Offset or overcome the
vote Of the United States.
2-Is IL true that under the league
Of nations foreign countries can or
der the sending of American troops
to foreign countries?
|. Answer-It is not. The right of
Congress TO determine such matters
is in no way impaired.
Discusses Shantung Issue.
3-What effect will the league of
nations have in either forwarding or
hindering the final restoration of
Shantung to China? What effect
will the league OF nations have in
preventing the further spoliatiOn Of
China and the abrogation Of all such
special privileges now enjoyed in
China by foreign countries?
Answer-The league of nations will
warding the final restoration Of
Shantung to China and no other in
strumentality or action can be sub
stituted which could bring that re-
suit about The authority of the
league, under Article Y, will be con-
stantly directed toward safeguarding
the territorial integrity and political
independence Of China 1t will. there
fore, absolutely prevent the further
- nsnHn q
storation to China Of the several
privileges now long enjoyed by for
eign countries and assure China of
the completion of the process by
which Shantung presently will be
returned to her in full sovereignty.
In the pasEthere5 has been no tribunal
which could be resorted to for any of
these purposes.
Ifs there anything in the League
Of Nations covenant Of the peace
treaty which directly or indirectly in
any manner imposes on the United
States an obligation, moral or other
wise OF the slightest character, to
support England in any way in case
Of revolt in ireland.
Again Aggression.
Answer-There is not. The only
guarantee contained in the covenant
is against external aggression, and
those who framed the covenant were
scrupulousIy. careful in no way to
interfere with what they regarded as
the sacred right of self-determina-
ton.
What effect, if any, will the
League OF nations covenant have in
either hindering or furthering the
cause of Irish freedom.
AnSwer-It was not possible for the
peace conference to act with regard
to the selft determination Of any ter
ritories except those which had be-
longed TO the defeated empires, but in
the covenant OF the League Of Ma
tions, il has set up for the first time,
in Article y, a forum to which all
claims Of self determination which
are likely to disturb the peace OF the
world or the good understanding be-
tween nations upon which the peace
OF the world depends, can be brought.