Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-17

Washington July 10.-The peace treaty
with its League of Nations covenant
was laid before the Senate by President
Wilson to-day in an address accounting
to the country for his part in the negotia-
lions at Versailles.
The league, declared the President. was
born of the conviction of practical states
men that an international concert had
become world necessity to end the old
order and guarantee civilization. He as
serted that In such concert the world
looked confidently to America for leader
ship. and added that while the treaty
might not be exactly as the American
delegation would have written it, no vital
principle had been sacrificed by the
necessary compromises.
The Senate, already divided in bitter
fight over the league proposal, received
the President with cheers and listened
to his words in a grave silence. When
he had concluded there was another
burst of cheering until he had passed
out of the chamber and had gone to his
Capitol office where he talked for an
hour with senators who wished to ask
about specific features Of the treaty or
of the negotiations. In those confer
ences the President discussed freely such
subjects as the disposition of Shantung,
the German ndemnities and Irish free
DOM
In his address, however, there was no
direct reference to many Of the questions
around which Senate debate has conferred,
the President declaring he could not con-
strue details of the treaty in short adj
dress. He did not directly mention the
Monroe Doctrine, Shantung or the obliga-
lions assumed under article ten of the
league covenant. nor did he allude to the
proposal to write reservations into the
ratification. He asserted a hope that he
would be given opportunity to discuss
details later either with the whole Senate
or the foreign relations committee.
MY services and all the information
I possess said Mr.. Wilson, will be at
your disposal and at the disposal of your
committee on foreign relations at any
time either informally or in session. as
you prefer; and l hope that you will
not hesitate to make use of them"
American isolation, the President as
serted, was ended 20 years ago when the
war with Spain put the nation in partial
control of Cuba and the Philippines.
But we have not exploited them
he continued. 1--WE have beer
their friends and have sought to serve
them - there can be no question
Of our ceasing to be a world power. The
only question is whether we can refuse
the moral leadership that is offered us
whether we shall accept or reject the
confidence of the world.
1.-THE stage liz set. the destiny disclosed
1t has come about by no plan Of our con-
ceiving, but by the hand of God who
has led us into this way. We cannot
turn back. We can only go forward
follow the VISION
Abiding to the skepticism with which
the plan for a League Of Nations frs
was received. the President said tina
as the peace negotiations proceeded 4
became apparent to all the delegates tina
such a concert was "a practical neces
sity," demanded by "ali the peoples o
the world" For the United States 4
reject it. he asserted, would break tn,
heart of tho world" Pointing out tina
many minor compromises were necessar,
to secure the support of all the inter
| ested nations, he continued.
The treaty, as a result, is not exactl,
| what we would have written. 1t Is prob
ably not what any one of the nationa
ucles nave WIittoH. but re
suits We're worked out which. on tn,
| whole. bear test. I think that 1t will
be found that the compromises whicl
were accepted as inevitable nowhere GU
to the heart of any principle"
TREATY ORDERED PUBLISHED
- In disregard of precedent tn
Senate received the address in open SEES
sion and afterward ordered that the treat.
be published in the Congressional Recort
and as a public document. The gallerie
were overfiowing and crowds unable t,
gain admission waited in the rain to chez
the President when he arrived and de
parted. Many members of the Hous
crowded into the rear Of the Senate cham
Der and most of the members Of the cabi
net were seated near the vice-president'
desk.
| Speaking from the same platform where
30 months ago. he astounded the worl,
with his declaration for League of Ma
tions, the President read his address
slowly and In a clear, quiet voice. Hi
manuscript, typewriter on small pages
he held in his left hand and with his RICH
he punctuated his utterances with an &C
casional gesture. Before him on the vice
presidents desk lay the treaty. brough
by him In person from Versailles.
There was no attempt at oratory and n
applause interrupted the address. Near
every senator was In his seat, and al
listened attentively. Afterward his sup
porters were unstinted In their praise TO
the Presidents words while those Oppose
either declined to comment or declare
he had dealt only In unsatisfactory gen
eralities,
DIsAPPROVEs SHANTUNG CLAUSE
In his talks afterward with leagu
supporters. the President was said t
have discussed at length the Shantun
and Irish questions. He was quote
as saying he was not satisfied wit
the treaty provision giving Shantun
to Japan. but as declaring there wa
an Informal understanding among tn
peace delegates that eventually Japa
must make an acceptable agreemer
with China in the matter. He wa