The report was in print; it was that afternoon to be laid before the Conference; in twelve hours the President would be on his way to the United States.

Clearly it would have been useless to find fault with the report, especially if the objections related to the fundamental ideas of the organization which it was intended to create.

The President having in the report declared the American policy, his commissioned representatives were bound to acquiesce in his decision whatever their personal views were.

Acquiescence or resignation was the choice, and resignation would have undoubtedly caused an unfortunate, if not a critical, situation.

In the circumstances acquiescence seemed the only practical and proper course.
The fact that in ten meetings and in a week and a half a Commission composed of fifteen members, ten of whom represented the Five Great Powers and five of whom represented the lesser powers (to which were later added four others), completed the drafting of a detailed plan of a League of Nations, is sufficient in itself to raise doubts as to the thoroughness with which the work was done and as to the care with which the various plans and numerous provisions proposed were studied, compared, and discussed.