The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-02-18
Spokesman of Allies Have
Voiced Adherence to i
Agreed Principle
GREAT PIECE OF WORK
Nations Need Not Sign Until All
Phases of League Have Been
Discussed

PARIS, Feb. 18-President Wilson
was the central figure of the plenary
Peace Conference when in person he
read the covenant establishing a
League of Nations. There was add
ed interest in the session, as it was
the last gathering of the delegates
prior to the Presidents departure, as
we'll as being the occasion of pre-
senting the document with which his
name is identified.
The President was received with
military honors as he arrived at the
Foreign Office, and the large crowds
which had congregated gave him a
cordial welcome as he passed through.
The delegates already were assemb-
led when the President entered the
council chamber.
When he entered, the President was
greeted by Premier Clemenceau, For
eign Secretary Balfour, and Viscount
Miner, of Great Britain, and the
American delegates at the head of the
table. There was little formality.
Premier Clemenceau, as president Of
the Conference, called the session to
order, and President Wilson rose and
addressed the gathering.
IL have very great pleasure" SAID
President Wilson as he began, in
presenting the report of the commit
tee which has framed the constitu-
ton of League of Nations. l am
particularly happy to be able to say
it is report signed by the represen-
tatives of all the Powers on the COM
mittee.' President Wilson spoke ear
nestly, but without oratorical effect.
The best report l can make" the
President continued, "is to read thu
document itself"
Thereupon he read from printed
sheet the constitution of the League
while the assembly followed his read
ing with the closest attention.
Lord Robert Cecil, head of the
British Commission on the League of
Nations, followed the interpreter in
an earnest speech. 1t was agreed on,
said Lord Robert, that this document
be laid before the world before be-
ing finally enacted, so that peoples
everywhere could advise upon and
criticise it. The problem had been
one of great difficulty, for it was to
preserve the peace of the world with
the least possible Interference with
national sovereignty. The results ac-
complished, he continued, embraced
two main principles First, no nation
shall go to war until every other
means of settlement shall be fully
and fairly tried; second, no nation
shall forcibly seek to disturb ter
ritory's integrity or interfere with
the political independence of the ma
tons of the world These were The
great principles, but later arother
great principle must be laid dow,
namely, that no nation should retain
a11naments fit only for aggressive
purposes.
DIR. Vittorio Orlando, the Italian
Prime Minister, expressed deep sat
isfaction at having cellaborated in
what was going to be one of the
greatest documents of history. He
would not speak of the merits of
the scheme, DR.. Orlando continued,
as these had been explained by one
whose noble inspiration had brought
forth the necessity for this docu-
ment.
fThus born out of the pains oe
war;" the Premier exclaimed. "this
is document of freedom and right
which represents the redemption of
humanity by sacrifice"
Leon Bourgeois, of the French del
egation, spoke in behalf of France on
the goodwill which he said had pre-
vailed in formulating the project. At
the same time, he said the French del
egates reserved the right to present
their views en- certain details of the
plan as whole, which was work
of right and justice and knew no dis