New-York tribune., 1920-09-29
First Campaign
Plea by Wilson
Is ON Ireland
Initial Document of Set
To Be Issued i'm Behalf
of Cox Quotes Answers
Given ON Western Tour
Prepared by Tumulty
Denies U. S. Would Have to
Help England, Under Ar.
ticle X, to Quell Revolt

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28.-President
Wilson took his first active part to-day
in the Presidential campaign. He had
Secretary Tumulty write the first of g
series of documents regarding the
League Of Nations and other public
questions which it is proposed to issue
from the White House to further the
candidacy of Governor Cox.
The document was in the form of q
letter to E. M. Swartz, of Los Angeles,
Calf, discussing the League of Nations
covenant. Mr.. Swartz had written the
President that some Republicans con-
tended that if the league covenant were
ratified with Article x in it this coun-
try "woald be bound to support Eng
land in holding Ireland under subjec-
ton"
In his letter of reply Mr.. Tumulty
called attention to certain questions
and answers with reference to Article
X and the question Of self-determina-
tion which were made public by the
President while he was on his Western
tour in the interest Of the league a
year ago.
Text Of Tumulty Letter
The letter to Mr.. Swartz follows:
'In reply to your letter of the goth
of September l beg to say that the
identical questions contained in your
Aetter, with reference to Article x and
the right of self-determ2nAtiou found in
the covenant of the League of Nations,
were placed before the President while
he was on his Western Grip last year
and fully answered by him. The Presi-
dent directs me to call your attention
to the following questions and answers
given by him to the press-at that time,
which think satisfactorily answer
your inquiries. The questions and an
swers are as follows:
"Q-Under the covenant, does the
nation obligate itself to assist any
member Of the league in putting down
a rebellion of its subjects or con-
quered peoples?
Alt does not.
"Q.-Under the covenant, can this
nation independently recognize gov
ernment whose peoples seek to achieve
or have achieved their independence
from a member of the league?
"A.-The independent action Of the
matter of this kind is in no way limited
or affected by the covenant of the
League Of Nations.
Forum to Hear Claims
"Q-Under> the covenant, are those
subject nations or peoples only that
are mentioned in the peace treaty en-
titled to the right Of self-determina-
tion, or does the league possess the
right to accord similar privilege to
other subject nations or peoples?
Alt was not possible for the peace
conference to act with regard to the
self-determination of any territories
except those which had belonged to the
defeated empires, but in the covenant
OF the League of Nations it has set up
for the first time, in Article XII, forum
to which all claims Of -determina-
&ion which are likely to disturb the
peace Of the world or the good under
standing between nations upon which
the peace Of the world depends can be
brought.
"Q.-Why was the case OF Ireland
not heard at the peace conference
And what is your opinion on the sub
ject Of elf-determination Of Ireland
"A.--The case of Ireland was not
heard at the peace conference because
the peace conference had no jurisdic-
tion over any question of that sort
which did not affect territories which
belonged to the defeated empires. My
position on the subject of self-deter-
mination for Ireland is expressed in
Article XII Of the covenant, in which I
may say I was particularly interested
because it seemed to me necessary for
the peace and freedom of the world
that forum should be created to
which all peoples could bring any mat
ter which was likely to affect the
peace and freedom Of the world"