The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-15
WILSON SAILS
FROM BREST (.
ON RETURN.
TO AMERICA
President Expresses Appre-
ciation for Treatment by
French in Farewell Speech
Promises to Return.
TO DEBATE ON LEAGUE
(By Associated Press)


States on board the U. s. s. George
Washington shortly after IL o'clock
this morning. The George Washington
weighed anchor at 11:15 o'clock.
In a farewell message to the French
people before leaving Brest today.
President Wilson said he, had been
received and treated as friend, as he
had most desired to be treated. He
added that he was happy to return to
France to assist in completing the just
settlement OF the peace conference.
HISTORIC MOMENT
Paris, Feb. 15-With today's splen-
ary session of the peace conference
concluded and the newly framed COW
enant of the League of Nations read
and discussed, President Wilson left
on his way back to the United States.
Mrs. Wilson accompanied him.
When the peace conference dele
gates assembled at the foreign Office
Yesterday afternoon, there was the
feeling among them that a historic
moment had arrived. 1t was the third
plenary session of the conference, and
there was the same setting OF distin-
guished personnel and solemn dignity
that marked previous gatherings OF
the allied delegation.
President Wilson presented strik-
ing picture as he stood before the
delegates to read the covenant and
expound its merits. He spoke in .
calm, even tone. without gesture or
emphasis, except twice, when he re.
ferred to "armed forces In the back
ground" and to exploitation of help
less peoples. There was q ring In
his voice when he uttered these warn
ings which would have brought ap-
plause but for the staid procedure OF
the convention, which forbids all
demonstrations.
Cecil Shows Approval
Lord Robert Cecil, Of Great Britain.
and Premier Orlando. Of Italy, voiced
their approval Of the covenant but
Leon Bourgeois, of France, while ex-
pressing his general satisfaction,
made reservations which indicated
that his proposals for an interna tional
military force will be heard again
when the debate proceeds further.
Another slight evidence of dissent
was found in the remarks Of w. H.
Hughes, of Australia, who inquired,
with some show of feeling, il ample
opportunity to discuss the scheme
would be given. The Arabian dele
CATION also sounded a minor note Of
discord in calling attention to secret
+! treaties which were said to interfere
with the principle of self-determina-
tion expressed by the covenant.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson arrived at the
Invalides Station at nine o'clock in
a pouring rain. Their departure for
Brest was without that demonstra-
ton which marked their arrival in
Paris on December IA, but there was
every evidence of official and popular
cordiality.
| Setting War Blame
An official statement issued by the
commission on responsibility for the
war. issued today follows:
| "At a meeting Of the department Of
the interior this morning at eleven
thirty o'clock. questions of organize
ton and procedure in connection with
the three subcommittee of the com.
mission on responsibility for the war
were discussed. These subcommit-
tees are those dealing on acts of war.
responsibility for the war and the
responsibility for the violation Of the
war and customs of war.
"An arrangement was made by
which each subcommittee is to meet
at least twice during the next week." +"