Possibly he concluded that the only way to obtain his plan for a League was to insist upon its practical acceptance before peace was negotiated, and that, unless he took advantage of the universal demand for peace by making the acceptance of the Covenant a condition precedent, he would be unable to obtain its adoption.

While I believe this is a correct supposition, it is not responsive to the question as to the reason why he wished me to deliver to him a draft resolution.

In fact it suggests another question--What, from the President's point of view, was to be gained by having the resolution in his hands?
I think the answer is not difficult to find when one remembers that Mr.
Wilson had disapproved a resolution of that sort and that the Council of Ten had seemed disposed to approve it.

There was no surer way to prevent me from bringing the subject again before the Council than by having the proposed resolution before him for action.

Having submitted it to him I was bound, on account of our official relationship, to await his decision before taking any further steps.