guaranty, I did not feel for the reason stated that I could delay longer
in submitting my views to the President. There was not time to work out
a complete and well-digested plan for a League, but I had prepared in
the rough several articles for discussion which related to the
organization, and which might be incorporated in the organic agreement
which I then assumed would be a separate document from the treaty
restoring peace. While unwilling to lay these articles before the
President until they were more carefully drafted, I enclosed in my
letter the following as indicative of the character of the organization
which it seemed to me would form a simple and practical agency common to
all nations:

"_Suggestions as to an International Council For Discussion_

"_December_ 21, 1918

"An International Council of the League of Nations is hereby
constituted, which shall be the channel for communication between the
members of the League, and the agent for common action.

"The International Council shall consist of the diplomatic
representative of each party signatory or adherent to this
convention at ----.

"Meetings of the International Council shall be held at ----, or in
the event that the subject to be considered involves the interests of
---- or its nationals, then at such other place outside the territory
of a power whose interests are involved as the Supervisory Committee
of the Council shall designate.

"The officer charged with the conduct of the foreign affairs of the
power where a meeting is held shall be the presiding officer thereof.

"At the first meeting of the International Council a Supervisory
Committee shall be chosen by a majority vote of the members present,
which shall consist of five members and shall remain in office for
two years or until their successors are elected.

"The Supervisory Committee shall name a Secretariat which shall have
charge of the archives of the Council and receive all communications
addressed to the Council or Committee and send all communications
issued by the Council or Committee.

"The Supervisory Committee may draft such rules of procedure as it
deems necessary for conducting business coming before the Council or
before the Committee.

"The Supervisory Committee may call a meeting of the Council at its
discretion and must call a meeting at the request of any member of
the Counci