The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-02-28
UTTER CHAOS UNLESS
j. S. JOINS LEAGUE.
. PRESIDENT DECLARES
PRESIDENT SEEKS NO FOR
NAL EXPRESSION FROM
SENATE NOW.


tions today in capitol cloak rooms
and corridors followed the White
House dinner conference last night,
at which President Wilson outlined
the reasons upon which he predi-
Gates his belief that the future peace
Of the world rests upon such an Or
ganization
Republicans opposed to the
league plan, however, apparently
had not changed their views, and
they will continue to voice their
opposition in the senate until con-
gresS adjourns next Tuesday. There
will be replies from the democratic
side, Senator Hitchcock, chairman
of the foreign relations committee,
planning to speak briefly late today.
Senator Lodge, republican floor
leader, who will speak tomorrow,
had completed preparation of his
address and given confidential cop.
les to newspaper correspondents be-
fore last nights conference.
The discussion at the White
House was free and frank. The
president told the senator's and rep
resentatives that unless America
Joined the league the whole plan
would fail and that utter chaos
would result in Europe.
No Formal Expression Sought.
Details of the presidents confer
ence continued to develop today in
the discussions between the White
House guests and other members
ments was the apparent certainty
mcnt was the apparent certainty
that the president does not wish and
administration leaders ir the senate
will not endeavor to secure any for
NAL expression at this time on the
tentative draft for the League of
Nations. No resolution of endorse
ment, therefore, is expected now to
be brought before the senate.
Some republicans who were at the
conference state today that the pres
ident's discussion emphasized the
need for amendment of the tentative
draft to establish precisely many i'm
portant principles beyond contro-
versy or question.
President Wilson, it was under
stood today, did not venture any
prediction as to when peace even
tually would be established. but in
formed the committee members that
he was straining every nerve toward
the conclusion of peace, adding that
every day of delay increased the dan
ger of complications, especially i'll
Germany,
Some of the committeeman left
the conference with the impression
that the president was willing to ac-
cept a specific amendment of the
proposed constitution to guarantee
maintenance of the Monroe doc
trinc. They said, however, that he
indicated that any such amendment
might raise issues of a related ma
ture which would prove so difficult
of adjustment that the possibility
of its adoption was remote. The
president wishes, it was said. to
avoid any amendments except of A
general nature as far as possible in
order to prevent encumbrance of
the constitution.
While discussing the armament
provision of the leagues constitu-
ton, the president was asked the
reason for the clause referring to
consideration being given a coun-
try's geographical situation in de-
termining its armed forces. He is
said to have answered that the
clause referred chiefly to France,
whose people feared Germany
might become strong some time in
the future and again threaten in
vaSion. In this connection, the
question was asked if the proviso
might also help Great Britain in
retaining its great navy, and the
president answered that this might
be the result because of the wide
distribution of the British colonies.
Germany the Only Menace.
The president is understood to
have said that Germany is the only
menace to European peace and that
no war in Europe is possible for
- twenty years at least because of the
exhaustion of the countries.
Senator Brandegee of Connecti-
! cut asked how future American con-
crosses are to be bound by accept
: ance of the league and the president
+, answered that the legislative body
! cannot be bound. In this connec-
ton Senator Knox said that treaties
cannot change the constitution of
the United States, but that treaty,
c il accepted, doubtless will be OBJ
= served in the future as a matter of
good faith.
The possibility of Japan getting
a base in Mexico was referred to
during the discussion, it being ask
\ ed if Mexico might sell or lease a
part of its possessions, such as Mag
I dalena Bay, to Japan.
5 Senator McCumber was first to
5 answer, asserting that the league
c would prevent such transaction.
y Senator Lodge replied that no court
r could prevent such sale or lease,
h but that the United States would
IL seek to do so as matter of self
: preservation. The president, il was
) said, did not reply, but noddingly
h approved the position OF Senator
Lodge.