The sun., 1919-10-20
Resolution Declares That Men,
bership on Commissions
Is a Privilege.
TO FUNCTION THIS WEEK
Meeting Is Probable on the
the Same Day the Treaty
Becomes Operative.
BY LAURENCE HILLS.
Star Correspondents Of Tun sun.

Copyright, 1919, all rights reserved.
PARIS, Oct. IS (delayed) A resolu-
ton OF extreme Importance regarding
the operation of the peace treaty was
adopted to-day by the Supreme Council
when 1t went on record as declaring
that membership on any commission
named in the treaty shall be regarded
as privilege and not as an obligation"
Obviously this is designed to procure
American representation on the different
commissions in advance of the ratifica-
ton of the treaty by the Senate.
BY eliminating any sense of obliga-
ton the Allies hope to modify the feel
ing of opposition in America to what
the treaty seems to impose as binding
obligation. Furthermore, as privilege
it is held in certain circles here the
United States can accept It before IT
ratifies. The Americans took no part
in this discussion, Mr.. Polk maintaining
that the matter concerned Washington
and particularly the Senate itself.
Whether the Senate will be moved to
allow American representatives to par
ticipate before 1t ratifies the treaty Is
awaited here with much interest
The Supreme Council confined Itself
| almost entirely to-day to a discussion
Of the whole treaty situation, which has
become Of overshadowing Importance,
because nothing now remains but to APP
point the day to put it into effect.
League to Meet on Same Day.
Although not positively decided. it is
likely from the discussion to-day that
8 meeting OF the council of the league
will be called for the same day upon
which It will be decided to deposit the
ratifcations here, so that there will be
no legal hiatus between that date and
the assumption by the league of its au-
| thority under various clauses. This
date, It is indicated, may be next Fri
day or Saturday. A report on the mat
ter will be made next Thursday and
the date cabled to Washington for the
President to issue the call for the meet
| ing, which will be sent by cable to
Paris, where all will be in readiness.
Representatives of France. Great
Britain, Italy and Belgium will act az
the council This plan Is necessary, II
| is held, because the moment the ratifca-
tons are deposited. Jurisdiction by Ger
many over German colonies, for
example, ceases and passes to the
league. Therefore. the council will on
|
Under it's mandate to Great Britain
France and Japan under the plan drawn
zip here by Premier Clemenceau and
Lloyd George, Baron Maxine and Presi-
dent Wilson as their famous meetings
which the Italians have so bitterly at
tackled and at. which they were not
represented.
Germans Chiefly Apprehcnsive.
I There are places In Germany where
the sovereignty of Germany ceases the
moment the treaty is effective. ano
which the league council shall assume
technically. Apparently. with the Brit
ish pushing the plan. it Is designed &c
put the league in operation without the
United States, some British diplomats
believing that this will have grea'
moral effect on America. On the Other
hand there are some who fear that II
will have ansopposite effect In proving
that Europe can look out for Itself with
out Americas assistance. What Is yer,
obvious in all foreign diplomatic circle'
is the anxiety to have American repre-
sentatives on the various commission
J Immediately. The Germans appear Il
be the keenest for this. The reason Il
that they do not want to be left, as the!
put 1t, to the tender mercies of France
: and Great Britain.
} Another question discussed to-da!
was whether action by commission
without America represented on ther
!; could be contested legally by Germany
The French show great anxiety as I
this point, and 1t is understood that tn
Germans are examining It, particular
respecting the reparations commission
! Experts who were heard this mornin
by the council are said to have ex
pressed their belief that the legalit
of such commissions cannot be al
tackled. Nevertheless, behind the resc
luton adopted is plainly seen the desir
of France, Great Britain and Italy {
get the Americans on these commission
: Immediately IL they possibly can. feaI
ing the effect of their trying to functio
: without all members expressly name
~