The commitment of the United States to any guaranty seemed to me at least questionable, though to prevent it seemed impossible in the circumstances.

It did not seem politic to try to persuade the President to abandon the idea altogether.

I was certain that that could not be done.

If he could be induced to modify his plan so as to avoid a direct undertaking to protect other nations from aggression, the result would be all that could be expected.

I was guided, therefore, chiefly by expediency rather than by principle in presenting my views to the President and in openly approving the idea of a guaranty.
The only opportunity that I had to learn more of the President's plan for a League before arriving in Paris was an hour's interview with him on the U.S.S.George Washington some days after we sailed from New York.
He showed me nothing in writing, but explained in a general way his views as to the form, purpose, and powers of a League.