New-York tribune., 1919-02-08

subject at It's meeting last night. Pres
idcnt Wilson presided at the meeting.
The only article not approved was
the paragraph concerning abolition of
compulsory military service unless re,
quired by reasons of national defence
Under eXtrao .dinarv circumstances.
Premier Orlando, of Italy. opposed the
paragraph, remarking that if conscrip
ticn once was abolished an attempt to
revive it might lead to serious trouble,
even revolution.
Leon Bourgeois, one Of the French
members, Joined Premier Orlando in
strongly opposing the abolition of con-
scripticn. He declared that France, ow-
ing to her geographical position, needs
y standing army snd never could con-
sent to strip herself of her defences.
Each Nation to Choose Plan
The paragraph was then cancelled
and it was decided to leave each coun
try freedom to select q system of re-
cruiting its forces up to the amount
of troops which will be fixed later by
INC society OF udlious.
Another article which caused ami
mated discussion was that concerning
the method of applying military coer-
cion to the countries refusing to com
ply with the decision of the society of
nations or breaking it's rules. Owing
to the very conflicting views expressed
the commission decided to postpone
definite decision until another meeting
The members of the commission en-
phasze that the agreements reached
so far are provisional and in principle
only. The entire structure may yet
have TO be revised when it comes to
agreeing on details. This is the rea-
son assigned for the rigid secrecy with
which the text of the project is being
guarded.
Executive Plan Discussed
he main discussion last night was
OIL the formation of the executive
branch OF the society Of nations.
president Wilson, Leon Bourgeois FOR
France and Lord Robert Cecil each
prcsentcd plans on the representation
given to smaller powers. Each plan
differed slightly.
Unofficial information is that Presi-
dent Wilson'S proposal was for
an executive branch of five members
from the great powers and four mem
bers from the small powers. making
a, council of nine with a two thirds
vote required for the adoption # meas
ures.
Qualifications for membership. which
also is being discussed, involves the
membership Of neutrals and enemy
powers as we'll as the great and small
powers. The presence at the meeting
OF the nine representatives of the small
powers with the ten of the large pow
ers was taken to mean that the execu-
tive branch of the league as finally
formed will include both the great .',a and
small nations, instead of leaving the
executive direction exclusively in the
hands of the great powers.
New Delegates Present
The new delegates from the small
countries present were Premier Veni-
zelos, representing Greece; Premier
kramarz, for Czecho- Slovakia; NJ.
pmowski for Poland, and Premier Bra
tieno, for Rumania,
:" hile important details of the so
c4ety $ constitution stiil remain to be
agreed upon and are likely to take up
the time of several additional sessions
OF the commission the fact that more
than half of the draft has been passed
over and unanimously adopted, includ-
ing an agreement upon the big general
principles, has raised expectations that
the draft will be ready for submis
sion to the general peace conference
early next week.
Should this prove to be the case 1t
might be possible to secure action
upon 1t before President Wilson'S de-
parture for the United States
erihe official statement regarding the
Fourth meeting of the commission last
night reads as follows:
= ne fourth meeting of the COM
mlssion of the league of nations met
at 800 o'clock last evening at the
Hotel de Crillon. Messrs. Kramarz,
Aenizcios. Dmowski and Deuvanty
tDlamondy p, representing respec-
lively the Czecho Slovak Republic.
Greece. Poland and Rumanla, took
up their duties as members Of the
Commission.
The commission Professionally ap-
proved number of additional ar
tieles to the draft. The approval
OF these articles marks an accord
on certain questions Of the greatest
Importance concerning the positive
functions Of the league Substan-
tally one-ha'f of the draft has now
been covered.
"A secretariat, consisting of M.
1lauzel. Lord Eustace Percy and Mr..
-Shepardson tShepherdson p has been
appointed for the drafting Of the
proces-verbaux
THE next meeting Will be held at
$50 O'Clock this evening at the Hotel
de Crillon."