Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-12
PRESIDENTS FIRST
DRAFT Of LEAGUE
GIVEN T0SENAT0RS
w. c. BulIitt, Emissary to
Soviet, Says Col. House
Gave Original to Him.
ONLY ARTICLE X REMAINS
INTACT, HE DECLARES
"Little Contact Between Top Of
Delegation and Experts"
Committee Is Told.

.
Committee Is Told.
President Wilson's original PROPOSE
ton on the league of nations. written
by him on his own typewriter, was
filed with the Senate foreign relations
committee today by William c. Bullitt
of Philadelphia, formerly attached to
the American peace delegation at
Paris. The copy was presented to Mr..
Bullitt by Col E. NJ. House, and bore
the Inscription by the latter. I'm ap-
probation Of your help in the hour of
need
Article Z All That Remains.
The witness gave the committee
record of all plans for a league, and
said. in answer to question by Sena-
tor Knox, that in it's final form the
only proposal by the President that
remained intact was article X
Senator Knox wanted to know if
there was not, a feeling of dissatis-
faction at Paris at the way in which
the American delegations work was
handled.
There was little contact between
the top of the delegation and the ex-
perts," Mr.. Builitt replied.
Quotes Secretary Lansing.
Mr. Bullitt testified that Secretary
Lansing told him in Paris last May
that IL ."the Senate and the American
people knew what the treaty meant it
would be defeated"
Mr.. Lansing told me the day re-
signed" the witness said. that he
was opposed to that part of the league
covenant relating to a mandate for
Armenia. He said he considered the
Shantnng award and the league of
nations bad-that the league would be
had arranged the world to suit them
selves. and that England and France
got what they wanted.
lodge Would Understand"
After saying he believed the Sem
ate would defeat the treaty IL IT. real.
lied It's meaning. Mr.. Lansing ex-
pressed the opinion that Senator Knox
really would understand the treaty,
thai Me Lodge would. but that Mr..
Lodges position would become purely
political
The committee senators burst into
= round of laughter. and Mr.. Bullitt
reading any more from the memoran-
dunn of his conversations.
Secretary Lansing, Henry White and
Gen. Bliss all expressed vigorous
opinions regarding the treaty. Mr..
Bullitt said. Senator Lodge asked il
the opinions were enthusiastic.
T regret TO say they were not" said
1t was no secret in Paris, he de-
clared, that1.ansing. White and Bliss
objected Vigorously to numerous pro-
visions 81 the treaty.
Wheel ISenator I,of1<-e' eaid he
thought the Secretary's opinion on
Shantung was known. Mr.. Bullitt
II think Secretary Lansing was not
at all enthusiastic about the league of
nations"
Z Emissary to Soviet.
Mr.. Bullitt said he was sent to Rus
STA by Secretary Lansing In February
to obtain from the soviet government
. statement Of exact terms on which
it would agree to stop fighting on all
fronts.
Before proceeding Mr.. Bullitt said
he asked Col House a number of
questions bearing on the American
position, and Col. House told him, he
said. that if the bolsheviki were
ready to stop lighting and declare an
armistice the United States would
Mr.. Bullitt was in Russia one week
and on his return to Paris sent a re-
port to President Wilson,
There was serious discussion Of
conditions In Russia and the ques-
Ton or Withdrawing troops, Mr.. Bull
lit testified, and 1t was because Of
this that he was directed to proceed
to Petrograd.
From Helsingfors Mr.. Bullitt sent
confidential kilograms to the Presi-
dent, Secretary Lansing and Col
eNnIalnJnr
found them and saying Lenin and
others associated with him realized
the need of peace. They were ready.
he said, to pay their foreign. debts.
ASKED now this information was re-
eeived by the American mission, Bull
lit said:
Col House wrote me a telegram
Of congratulation, but because IL was
signed House and mission. it was not
sent The colonel gave 1t to me when
] got back to Paris"
Col House Favored Plan.
Mr.. BulIitt and Col House were on
Enthusiastically in favor of making
peace on the soviet proposal. A day
or two later, while having breakfast
with Lloyd George and Gen. SHUTS
the former urged him to publish his
report on Russia, which gave first
hand information of the situation
there under bolshevik regime.
Il prepared a statement for the
press" the witness said. (which
submitted to the mission nono ~
whose members was ready to take
the responsibility for the pubIication
1t was referred to the President who
said he did not want it printed at that
time"
Mr.. Bullitt said the President made
an appointment with him, but can
celed it because Of headache.
Later Col House explained to me 70
Nal
had a single-track mind, and as he
was dealing with Germany he couId
not bother with Russia"