Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 March 1919 — PRESIDENT TO ASK CHANGES IN WORLD PACT [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENT TO ASK CHANGES IN WORLD PACT

Wilson Tolls Washington Correspondents Territorial Rule WIN Be Altered. HITCHCOCK DEFENDS LEAGUE Declared It Will 1M More War and Preparations for War or the Covenant of Nations —Internationalism la Here.

Washington, Feb. 28.—President Wilson desires closing of a peace treaty nq speedily ns Is consistent with the great questions Involved, and, except for adjustment of territorial differences, he believes n great part ol the work is approaching final-form. This was learned by newspaper correspondents with whom the president had a free and frank discussion of his work at Paris and the legislative situation after he had spent two hour* conferring with administration leaders at the capltol. It was the first time the correspondents In Washington had been invited to see the president In several years. It was learned that the amendment to the proposed constitution of tho league of nations which the president Intends to suggest upon his return to Paris will deal with measures to bo used by the league In enforcing territorial decrees. Doubt Held Unjustified. It was gathered that the president believed thnt with the exception of the clause relating to enforcing territorial decrees the only ambiguities connected with the league constitution existed In the minds of persons dlw cussing them. The president let It be known thal he Is firmly convinced that In no particular does any provision of the league charter conflict with the American Constitution. He told his callers that In the Paris conferences he had closely und carefully kept In mind constitutional fea J Hnres, and had had the advice of expert American lawyers on nil constitutional questions arising.' Those appearing to conflict with the Constitution were rejected or altered! Regarding the Monroe doctrine the president felt that the league constitution could not contravene It wV-:i It provided for maintenance of the doctrine by all the world. In regard to congressional legislation the president made It known that he was Interested In securing passage of several Important leglsla* tlon bills, but thnt most of his conferences at the capltol were to re" celve requests for action from senators and representatives. Hitchcock In Defence. Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, thd chairman of the foreign Relations committee, speaking In the Senate In favor of the proposed constitution, declared that the alternative of the league of notions Is war.

‘‘Which shall It be—war or preparation for wpr, or a league of nations?” he said. ‘‘Those are the alternatives." “I have observed ns far as this discussion has gone that most senator* who oppose this league of nations would oppose- any league of nations. They quibble and split hairs, enormously magnify the sacrifices of the United States in going Into this league as though the United States was giving up everything and getting nothing. “Internationalism Has Come." “Two of my eloquent colleagues attack It as a form of internationalism. They object to internationalism. They are too late. Internationalism has come, or is coming, and we must choose between the internationalism of Justice and honor and peace and mutual support among the nations of the world and the internationalism of the socialist, the anarchist, the bolshevik. “If we fail to ndopt an internationalism of governments that will unite to end wars we shall be face to face with the internationalism of the individual. “If war and the preparations for war are to continue the chief business of national governments we may expect a development of socialism and bolshevism in the United States. ,Nor will it be confined to orations on soap boxes In the public streets of our great cities, but it will appear here in congress, in the house of representatives and the senate. It will afreet legislation in this country as it has in other countries; it will seize political power in this country as it has in other countries. I therefore repeat that we niust choose between the internationalism of the league and the internationalism of the socialist.” '• Senator Hitchcock contended the proposed league would strengthen the Monroe doctrine. - ~T3 .