Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-22
NATURAL. RIGHTS
TO BE BASIS FOR
NEW BOUNDARIES
Abolition of Balance of Power
Is Presidents Aim at
Peace Table

Washington, Nov. EFF the coun-
sci of President Wilson prevails, the
theory of balance of power, which
has dominated the settlemnts OF
previous wars, will not obtain at the
world peace conference. President
Wilson will carry to Europe the hope
and the expectation that every terri
torial settlement will be based on ma
tural right, which derives its force
from geographical as well as racial
and historical principles. The deli
mite statement was made at the state
Department that there VIII be voting
of nations at the peace table, accord
ing~to the general acceptance or that
word. There will be agreements as
suming the form of treaties, and
such voting" as may occur viii be
in the nature of signatures OF ma
tions to the treaties.
1t is held in Washington that there
is good reason to believe that some of
tn powers are being influenced, pos
sibly unduly, by the principle of the
balance of power. President Wilson
has stated his uncompromising opin-
ion to such a course of settlement.
CIear-Cut Issue Presented
President Wilson's presence at the
peace table, it was pointed out to-
day, means that there will be a clear
cut issue between the Liberals and the
old Conservative or Tory groups OF
all the great Powers. Leaders of the
latter class will face the necessity of
accepting the proposed new order
or clinging to the old: the league of
nations and freedom of the seas must
be guaranteed by them, or they will
have the alternative of confessing
their unbelief in the practicability of
the new order, and that measures to
prevent future wars cannot exist out
side of the imaginations of altruists.
1t is believed in Washington that
President Wilson will devote the ma
jor portion of his address at the
opening of the peace congress and
also of his statements at the prelim-
mary conference at Versailles to a
discussion of his ideas and program
for n league of nations.
Great Britain has unequivocally
declared for Il league of nations.
Italy is enthusiastically in favor of
it. The smaller nations even more
earnestly desire it. Only France is
thought to be opposed and her op-
position can be overcome, it is be-
lieved, by President Wilson's pres
ence in France, his counsels and the
support given by all the other Pow
ers to the proposal.
Some of the allied countries, it was
learned desire q more comprehen-
sive scheme for the league of ma
tions than was thought to have been
contemplated here. The idea has
prevailed in Washington that Presi-
dent Wilson's proposal would COM
prise a treaty, to be universally sign
ed, creating an international court,
to which all the signatory nations
would be obliged to submit their dis
putes for settlement. Some of the
Allied nations propose economic ar
rangements such as will prevent any
country from being forced by the
necessity of circumstances from be-
coming tributary to another country.
the abolition of the most-favored
nation treatment, which is under
stood TO be favored by President Will
son also.
1t is believed here that the pres
sure will be 50 strong that President
Wilson will have to consent to visit
ing London and Rome. The ovations
he will receive in both capitals, it was
declared by an Entente diplomat to-
day, will be without precedent. The
French government intends to invite
the heads of all tn Allied nations to
visit Paris on the occasion of the
signing of the peace.