New-York tribune., 1918-11-14


given to her in accordance with the
provisions of the treaty of London.
1t is believed, however. that Con-
stantinople, the Straits and the Bos-
porus will be internationalized, and
that, instead of receiving any substan-
tial increase Of territories, Russia will
lose quite extensive areas, in addition
to Russian Poland, Finland and pos
sibly the Ukraine Other Russian prov
inces aspire to Independence, provinces
inhabited by distinct nationalities,
which may become border states .,r
buffers between Russia and Germany.
Such questions as freedom of the
seas and the League of Nations, it is
thought, will be the last to be con-
sidered and settled. They will require.
publicists believe. longer time to be
countries.
1t is regarded as possible that special
| conferences may have to be called to
determine the future relations of ma
tlOuS W OIlc diAOtHCI u WllttCiA
constitution creating a league of ma
tions, and that a separate conference
will have to codify international law,
as the views of the European conti-
nentals on the one hand, and of Eng
land on the other: and of the United
States in opposition to those Of both
Europe and England, are SO different
that in order to arrive at a common
agreement, considerable examination of
the recognized >body of international
law will have to be undertaken by ex-
pert legists.
The views of all nations which may
become signatorX to the league of ma
tions convention may thus be so modi-
fed as to make an acceptable code pos
sible. Every rule applicable must be
declared, nothing being left to the
law except enforcing respect for it.
There will be no application of rules
of equity unless explicitly provided
for, and no adaptation Of common law
rules.
The League of Nations Convention
is not expected to be perpetual
| treaty but limited for a definite Pc
riod, as it will be an experimental un-
dertaking but containing provisions
both for amendments and for renewal
at the expiration Of the time limit, or
| before, as is usually the case in trea-
ties of allegiance. 1t is not, however,
likely to contain a provision permit
ting any signatory to denounce it.
Economic Issues Also
Another important feature of the
peace conference will be it's considera-
tion of economic questions. For very
M I ho oil
the present belligerent nations, with
the sole exception of the United States
and Japan, will be engaged in works of
reconstruction of a magnitude never
before conceived The nterdependence
of the powers will be greater than
ever imagined. The entire fabric Of
international cooperation might. con-
ceivably, be wrecked on the rocks of
competition, if it is to be merciless
and ineXorable.
Oh the economic phase of the after
the-war conditions, the United States,
the most favorably situated and con-
d:tioned of all the belligerents, is
looked to to exercise most wholesome
influence. The economic power of the
country will be felt in the political de-
cisions of the peace conference, as each
of~the Allied nations, no less than the
Central Powers. will lean upon the as
sistance of America
The smaller Allied nations are op-
posed to economic leagues directed
against the Central Powers. One Bal
kan diplomat said to-day that his coun-
try has a certain prospect of disposing
of its agricultural products to the Cen
trail Powers at prices more profitable
than they could obtain from England
and France, and that if they should be
obliged to sell to the latter their in
terests would suffer materially. Presi-
dent Wilson is understood also to be
opposed to an economic league and to
favor policy of consideration and ac-
commodation.