The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-19
PACT MUST STAND

tContinued from Page one.l
wise and. as its action must be unani-
nous, the affirmative vote of the
United States would be necessary for
any question affecting II"
Article sixteen, the president said
provided that, where there is a dis
pute found to be solely within the jur-
isdiction of one of the parties, under
international law the league council
shall so report and make no recon-
mendation for its settlement. Immi-
grafton. tariffs. and the like, the pres
ident said, clearly came under that
provision.
The president told. the committee
the league council would have moth
ing whatever" to do with deciding
whether the United States had full
filled its obligations In case of with
drawal from the league.
Freedom OF Choice on War.
The president said the United States
would have complete freedom of
choice as to the application of force"
in carrying out Article ten of the
league covenant
Replying to Senator Fall who sug-
8ested, as Germany was not a member
of the league OF nations, amendments
to the league covenant would not be
submitted to her and she would not
have to give her consent, the president
said:
II will admit that that point had
not occurred to me. No, she would
not"
Discussing Article II under which
which the league could take any &C.
! ton deemed appropriate in case war
occurred or was threatened, the presi-
dent said the action contemplated also
would rest entirely on a moral obhga-
ton.
Would Hold Japan Down.
The president intimated that the
League of Nations would prevent
Japan from assuming any complete
sovereignty over Shantung.
President Wilson said he disagreed
with the opinion given the committee
by Secretary Lansing that Japan would
have signed the treaty regardless of
whether 1t contained the Shantung
provisions.
The conference was adjourned in
the early afternoon for luncheon at
the White House and it was not re-
sumed, the members OF the commit
tee departing at 2:45 p. m.
The plan for the league finally sub
mitted in Paris. the president said, had
been built up first from a plan drawn
by a British committee headed by a
Mr.. Phillimore, and later including
ideas from a plan drawn by General
SHUTS. From these and other discus
sions coupled with the presidents own
ideas the league plan was made
plan 1 sent to the committee was
drawn up" the president stated. His
own private redraft of the Phiilimore
plan, the president said. was not SUBJ
| mitted to the American peace mis-
sion. He had seen Secretary Lans-
ing's proposal only informally For
the moral asset he thought It would
give the United States not to partici-
pate in German Indemnity, the presi-
dent said he ! - suggested that not
be done but he aided in reply to ques-
| tioning that his idea did not refer to
! pre-war claims such as the sinking of
1 the Lusitania
Can't Prevent Withdrawal.
! Senator Borah questioned the presI-
/ dent at some length about the right of
! withdrawal from the league. The
president said his Interpretation was
that the council had no power to pass
on withdrawal of a nation or to de-
eide whether it had fulfilled its obli-
cations.
THE only restraining influence
would be the public opinion of the
world" said the president. That. the
president said, was the view of the
| commission which drafted the league
Senator Harding wanted to know
guage making provisos for the fulfill
ment of covenants was put into the
! article.
Leave It To Conscience.
Merely as an argument to the con-
science OF the nations" responded the
president, adding that 1t merely served
notice that fulfillment of obligations
was expected prior to withdrawal.
! II that were true, Senator Harding
said, he thought the language rather a
far fetched provision.
The president said in answer TO
questions he had no way of knowing
whether Germany placed the same
construction on the articles as did the
allies.
Senator Mccumber asked whether
J other governments could not accept
interpretations by "'acquiescence'
The president thought there either
would have to be explicit acquies-
the United States could know whether
acquiescence was being given.
Treaty Changes To Weima-.
Any change in the treaty would
have to be resubmitted to Germany.
the president said, in reply to Senator
Pittman. Senator Lodge said 1t was
his understanding, however, that any
United States rather than to the others
would under interna tional practice
be understood as acquiesced in If 9TH
er signatories were silent.
Replying to Senator Lodge, the
president said he had not looked up
the authorities on the point but felt
that in a treaty involving so many
signatories reservations by others
would follow and how the treaty was
to work would be obscured. If Ger
many for instance remained silent In
regard to a reservation and later con-
tended II did not affect her the presi-
dent thought her position could not
be "1ustifiably disputed"
Huns Have No Say on League.
FAN pointed out. however. that. as
Germany was not a member of the
league. charges in the covenant would
ha.ra n h. n.ahrraltfnd "a