Why attempt to refute what is manifestly true?
I regret that the President made the statement because I do not think that it carries conviction.

I fear that it will invite controversy and denial, and that it puts the President on the defensive." The views expressed in this memorandum were those held, I believe, by the great majority of persons who participated in the Peace Conference or were in intimate touch with its proceedings.

Mr.Wilson's published denial may have converted some to the belief that the drafting of the Covenant was in no way responsible for the delay of the peace, but the number of converts must have been very few, as it meant utter ignorance of or indifference to the circumstances which conclusively proved the incorrectness of the statement.
The effect of this attempt of President Wilson to check the growing popular antipathy to the League as an obstacle to the speedy restoration of peace was to cause speculation as to whether he really appreciated the situation.

If he did not, it was affirmed that he was ignorant of public opinion or else was lacking in mental acuteness.

If he did appreciate the state of affairs, it was said that his statement was uttered with the sole purpose of deceiving the people.