The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-08-19
foreign Relations Committee is Urged to Make
Haste in Ratifying Document and
League of Nations.
PRESIDENT MAKES AN ADDRESS
Says Only Real Obstacle in Wav n Do,,h+
About Meaning of Some Provisions
of Covenant.
fBy L. C. Martin, United Press Staff
COrreSpondent1

tBy L. G. Martin, United Press Stat
Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 - Urgin,
that the senate expedite the ratifica
ton Of the peace treaty, President vii
son today opened his conference will
members Of the senate foreign rela
tons committee at the white house b,
making long statement in which hs
said:
That the readjustment of our ma
tonal life to normal conditions abso
lutely depends on getting the treaty
out of the way.
That until 1t is out Of the way the
mines, factories and business Of the
country, both domestic and foreign
VIII be at tremendous disadvantage
That Great Britain and other ma
tons that have ratified the treaty will
get the jump on the United States in
trade way.
That the only obstacle which ap.
pears to stand in the way of imme
diate ratification is doubt about the
meaning of certain provisions Of the
league of nations.
That there is no doubt in the minds
Of those who wrote the covenant that
The so-called doubtful provisions mean
exactly what the United States senate
wants them to mean.
The president discussed the effect
N reservations on article ten, the Mon
roe doctrine, withdrawal and domes-
tic Questions. He declared there can
De no objection to passing resolu-
lion Interpreting these provisions from
Tile American point of view, but this
resolution. he added, must be kept
from the subject of ratification If it
Is made part OF the ratification, the
President said. 1t will force the United
states to go to Germany begging her
10 accept our construction of the cove
nant and that is something, Wilson de.
cared, which he Is very reluctant to
d.
BY ten o'clock, the hour set for the
conference, practically every member
ol tne committee was in the blue room
OF the white house where the presi-
dent met them.
the text of the presidents address
follows:
! am sincerely glad that the com
O ohouuu nave responded III lHls
way TO my intimation that would like
70 De OF service to it. l welcome the
opportunity for a frank and full inter-
cnange Of views.
Il hope, too, that this conference
WIN serve to expedite your considera
uoh OF the treaty Of peace. l beg that
you VIII pardon and indulge me If /
sssin urge that practically the whole
0sS OF bringing the country back to
noimal conditions of life and industry
Naits upon the decision Of the senate
WIN regard to the terms Of the peace.
! venture thus again to urge my
aasice that the action of the senate
!. "i'n regard to the treaty be taken at
ne earliest practicable moment be-
:. .ause The problems with which we are
,aee TO face In the readustment OF our
aa,iVnal 80 lie are of the most pressing
~ saa critical character, will require for
,neir proper solution the most intimate
~ aau olslnterested cooperation of all
tsaiues and all interests, and cannot
NC oe posfponed without manifest peril to
WI people and to all the national ad-
an.ases we hold most dear. May l
snuon few of the matters which !
sau saanot be handled with intelligence
~ a.i tne country knows the character
~ the peace 1t is to have? l do so
"y py very few examples.