Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-09
Past Week Most Productive of
ConcIave; Two Most Import
ant Questions Well on Way
Toward Accomplishment.
RUSS AND NATION LEAGUE
PUZZLES NEAR SOLUTION
Considerable Progress Also
Made in Settlement of the
Territorial and Political
Claims of Smaller Nations.
BY ED Il. KEEN.

Fafls, Feb. S-The past week has
been the most productive since the
peace conference began. 1t has seen
what are doubtless the two most i'm
portant questions before the delegates
the league of nations and settlement
of the Russian situation--well on the
way toward accomplishment In Just
six days the constitution of the league
of nations has grown from a loosely
correlated maize of plans to a con-
crete program that tonight was sub
stantially in the form it will be pre-
scented to the general peace conference
Tor ratification next week. It's % ar
ticles have been agreed on by the
special league committee and it has
been referred to "A sub committee for
partial redrafting, owing to some
minor changes in the original pro-
gram.
RUSS FARLEY LIKELY.
Acceptance by the Russian Soviet
government of the associated powers
invitation to a jaint conference at
Prinkipos gives assurance that the
meeting will be held.
Some French officials are under
stood to feel the conference should
not take place without participation
of the Russian anti -Bolshevik fac
tions, but the American and British
delegates hold contrary wiew--and
are believed to possess sufficient in
fluence to control the situation as
they have done in previous matters
The Anglo-American attitude appears
to he that the anti Bolsheviki had
their choice and that their refusal to
confer with the Soviet representatives
-hl Il, m,
the opposing Russian factions will
reconsider their refusal appears more
than q probability because of fear
that the Bolshcviki may win some ad-
vantage over them at Prinkipos.
LAND TANGLE EASED.
Settlement of the territorial and po-
litical claims of various small nations
also showed considerable progress this
week. The claims of Greece, the
Czecho- Slovak republic and the Arabs
We're placed in the hands of special
committees composed of representa-
tipes of the larger nations. These
claims are expected to be disposed of
within few days. Steps were also
taken to arbitrate the territorial dis
putes between the Czecho- Slovaks and
the Poles and between the Jugo-
Slavs and the Italians. Responsibility
for the war Is being determined by u
special committee, of which Secretary
Lansing, was unanimously chosen
chairman. Three sub committees
were appointed, two to examine the
question of international law involved
and one to inquire into the facts pre-
sented This committee is also eX-
pected to determine what punishment
shall be mcted out to those consid-
cred guilty of starting the war and of
violating the recognized rules of war
fare.
LABOR LEGISLATION.
Recommendations for International
labor legislation will be made by the
committee headed by Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor This committee al
ready has urged establishment of per-
manent organizations to handle inter
national labor matters. American del
egates on the committee today pre-
sented comprehensive program for
a peace settlement, including several
economic and social reforms, such as
a universal wage scale and an eight
hour day.
The. program also urged inclusion
of all of President Wilson's points in
the controversy, particularly estab-
lishment of the league of nations
Other social and economic legisla-
tion is expected to be asked by the In
ternational Labor and Socialist con-
gress, now in session in Berne. Amer
lean and Belgian labor leaders refused
to participate in this conference be-
cause of the presence of German dele
gates, but the meeting has received Of
ficial recognition of the other countries
represented.
Observation-Disclosures of certain water
ways, ports and railways is being con-
sidered by a special committee on
which the United States is represented
by Henry White. The principal water
ways to be considered are the Darda-
nelles, Rhine and Danube. Constanti-
nople is the important port involved.
The Siberian railroad and the Berlin
to-Bagdad line are practically certain
Of internationalization
FOOD RELIEF IN ACTION.
Allied food relief under American
distribution Is progressing rapidly.
Great quantities of supplies have been
delivered to the Czecho- Slovaks, Poles
and Austrians. Preparations are prac-
tically completed for getting food into
Germany also.