The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-27

Tue President was said to have stated that 1t was necessary that the United states stand to the support of the Czecho-S1ovalxs, the Jugo-Slavs, Poland and other weak and struggling peoples made free as the result of the great war.
 ssThe President felt that if the league is not ratifed,' said Chair man Hitchcock, "there will be de- Aspair throughout the world be- cause of failure in the effort to secure permanent peace. Serious complications, the President felt. might result mt an early date from failure of the league. The league is already in use, the President stat cd. through the reference of the questions on various subjects which have been referred to i'm ternntiOnal commissioner
 Discussion of the constitution as pre- sented to the peace conference was said to have been quite general and the President was questioned closely, es- pecially by Senator Brandegee of Con- necticut. Republican Leader Lodge and Senator Knox of Pennsylvania, fo-- mer Secretary of State, took very lit tie part.
 The President, after making an open-
  all questions freely and specifically, emphasized that his guests were free to discuss the conference and all its in- formation with newspaper men or oth- CTS.
 One ques ton on which much time was spent was whether nation once in the league could withdraw, raised by Sena- tor Brandegee. The President was said 10 have held that any country could, withdraw, but Senator Brandegee con- tended this would be impossible under the constitution as now drafted
 MONROE DOCTRINE
 President Wilson denied that the league plan would interfere with the Monroe doctrine, declaring that the doctrine would be guaranteed by all the member powers in the world society.
 The President was said to have held that the mandatories in the constitu- tion were not compulsory, but required the consent of the nations to which the mandatory was assigned. Senators said he expressed the opinion that the Unit ed States would desire to become a mandatory for Armenia.
 On the question of American sov- ereignty, the President was said to have taken the position that recession of American sovereignty was not a new precedent, being an incident of ev- cry treaty.
 Chairman Hitchcock of the Senate committee said the President held that decisions of the leagues executive council on disarmament would not be binding until specifically approved by each signatory nation and that conse- quently the American Congress would have the opportunity to pass on the ap- porti 5nment of armament for every na- tion concerned. The President said this 1o boo ,iSpo Sfr cd
 Concerning the clause giving the right to the league to consider acts threatening world peace, President Wil- son said that the clause was indefinite and would be made more clear by writ ing in safeguard which would re- Quire that every recommendation by the council should be unanimous.
 It also was said that the Presi- dent informed the senators and rep resentatfves that the disarmament provision would not interfere with the military training of men, but that 1t was evident that trained body of men would not be n danger to world peace If their armament supplies were kept in check.
 Mir Wilson said the provision for enforcing the determination of the council in case it was. disobeyed by any nation would apply in only cne case and that where the party against 
 property, including territory in its pos- session which it would not surrender.
 MUST MAKE SACRIFICES
 In conceding that some sovereignty must be surrendered by membership in the league, the President declared it was inconceivable that there could be any concert of action by nations to eliminate war and protect the weak unless each nation was willing to give up something.
 DenyinR statements that the league meant usurpation of the power of Congress to declare war, the President said the league mere ly was . promise by the treaty. nakinE power that its coMgress would do all h it's power to carry
 cut the agreement, q situation which prevailed in many preseht treaties.
 Senator Lodge refused to see news paper men or make any statement after the conference.
 Accounts of both democratic and re- publican members of the committees who discussed the conference varied only in very minor details
 Inc strenKth of the league would ret on the frienship of America, cFeat Britain, France. Italy and Japan. the President said. and he expressed the Opinfon that serious tRo0ble between these five nations
 waA suAthinkable." Should one of
 theae Withlrawn from the league
 eR 1n any way fall to support 1t.
 impotence of the league might re-
 salt.
 'The President was said to have tols the senators and representatives that th' lea8ue of nations constitution adopted was Dfopesed by Great Britain, but wal not tho one AraS9ns 6E General Smuts on, 0f tko Br5tfsh au<hdrfties on the leaGu' propoaal Drafts presented by the Unites 3tatoa France. bnd Italy were rejected