Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-01-14

original draft OF the
Covenant OF tho League OF Nations.
remember the surchareed atmo-
sphere OF the Crillon Hotel when the
word went round that this document
had been at length distributed. Who
had ~ What was In II? 1t had
been secretly printed. with the
single word covenants word the
President lilSed-upon the cover. In
Il was set forth. concrctely for the
FIRST time. what tho President
meant by the proposed League of
Nations. ana In certain mysterious
supplementary articles" he also de-
vclopcd his ideas regarding some of
the specific settlements. He had
sent this document TO various OF the
leaders In order TO get their reac-
lions.
IL il sasy enough 10 accept gen.
cral principlos-all the world pays
plous homage 10 the phrase dis
or Limitation OF arma-
mont'--hut the real fight begins
with the concrete application of
those principles. Thus IL went in
stantly around Parsley "A kind of
wireless tolesraphy not known to
Marconi--what the Americans really
meant by the reduction OF arma-
mcnts az expressed In the fourth of
the Fourteen Points. ito the lowest
point consistent with domestic
safety
Article ~ OF the Presidents mys-
FERROUS now covenant contained the
terms OF a program that cut at the
very root of continental power and
safety Among other things, COM
pulsory military service was 10 be
abolished, not only in Germany, but
every whcrc-"all the powers sub
scribing 20 the Treaty OF Peace"
The manufacture OF munitions and
implements OF war by private enter
prise or for private profit" was to be
forbidden. Pull and frank public
ity as to all national armaments'
was 90 disturb the cornerstone of
secrecy upon which. under the old
system, military preparation had
always rested. And. above all. there
was "a new standard OF armament
proposed. that OF domestic safety"
II was AS though Samson had given
"A FIRST shake 20 the pillars OF the
Temple,
The storm broke at once: private
conferences were held by the Presi-
dent, notably one with the alarmed
Premier OF Italy. Orlando: another
In which the whole subject OF the
covenant was discussed with Lord
Robert Cecil and General SHUTS.
and the discussion opened I'D soon
afterward both I'm the Council of
Ten and in the important League of
Nations Commission. For Article
~ of the covenant based upon
Point laid bare what was un-
douhtedly the fundamental problem
Of the Peace Conference; the prob
lem OF the safety OF nations and by
what means IL was 20 be made
secure.
Fears Of the Nations.
The great war had shaken the old
world into ruin: old habits and re-
lationships had broken down; and
each nation. feeling its very exist
cnce In danger. flew 90 arms TO pro-
tect itself, A great fear prevailed.
Each nation had reverted TO a primi-
tive reliance upon its own sword.
The sword OF France was it's army.
and the army rested upon the insti-
tuition ~ compulsory service. The
sword OF Britain was her navy and
her power upon the seas.
Therefore. the proposal 20 limit
ornaments struck at the very roots
% European safety. When IL touched
land armament IL set France and
italy ashivcr; when Il touched
navul armament. the British Empire
shook, and every small nation ir
Europe. fearful OF It's neighbors, wa.
In deadly fear lest. II IL be not per-
mittcd 20 keep up a large army. IS
very existence be endangered.
II would have been the wildes'
folly. as the President clearly saw
90 propose any real disarmament
without setting up some new guar
antec OF safety I'm place OF Il. which
would relieve the fears OF Europe
restore confidence. He proposed
only wha, many thoughtful men hat
proposed before him. and what th'
American colonies had achieved, /;
guarantee OF safety based upor
common agreement. backed by fore,
n necessary. In which the nations
could trust: in short. a strong co
operative League OF Nations.
But tho President. Ike mos
Americans--for America had neve
been thoroughly frishtened--did no
fully realizes until he arrived Il
Europe how enormously exag
rcated were the fears and hoy
prccarlous the safety OF Europe
how every discussion. for example
where France was concerned. go
back To- question OF French secur
ny.
II was borne in upon him at ever
conference. the press was full of Il
the very atmosphere reeked with Il
The President clearly revealed q
his speeches at that time that h
realized increasingly the gravity O
the problem.
remember well the powerful i'm
preston made by the President
address upon crowded audience 4
the French Chamber OF Deputie
delivered February 3. soon after h
had visited the ruins at Rheims. II
said OF France in this address.
Hers was the immediate peri
Hers was the constant dread.
do not need 10 point out TO you tina
east OF you In Europe the future /
fun OF question. Beyond the Rhin,
across Germany, across POLAND
across Russia. across Asia there ar
questions unanswered. Franc