Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-02-14
SMALL NATIONS :
PLANS A Menace
Peace Conferees Feverishly at
Work to ConCiIiate Conflict
ing Points of. View.
STUDY SPECIAL PROBLEMS.
One of Tasks Which Will Tighten and
Expedite Work of "Big Five"
Desire of Lesser Powers for
Equal Representation.

Parls.-The directing force of the
peace conference, which resides n
what now are generally called the big
FIVE" allied and associated powers, is
finding great relief from the study OF
the details of complicated secondary
questions through the commissions
which have been created for these spe.
cial problems. In this category falls
the subject of the conflicting claims of
the smaller nations Of the entente to
territory which is likely to be taken
from enemy countries. This question
takes a great deal of time to study.
1t is the design of the Supreme Coun.
Gil, or "big five," that such questions as
these be ultimately adjusted in har'
mony with the principles Of the So.
ciety Of Nations, it is explained, but
pending the completion of the organ
ization Of that society it has been
found eXpedient to arrange for full
hearing Of all these claims.
Thus complex issues raised by the
claims of Greece not only to enemy
territory, but to sections also claimed
by other friendly states, after being
stated by Premier VeniZelos, were re-
ferred to a committee of experts for
further examination, leaving the Sill
preme Council free to take up other
questions in the meantime. The re-
port of this committee probably will
not be acted upon until Society of
Nations is in being and the principle
established on which all such claims
will be decided
1t is expected that the same course
will be followed with the claims OF
Italy to territory beyond the Italian
Irredenta proper, including the Dalma'
tian coast which are to be heard next
by the Supreme Council.
This method of work gives the mem
bers of the Society of Nations com.
mittee a better opportunity to hasten
their work. Indications are that this
system will make it possible to get the
Society of Nations plan out Of COM
mittee and before the plenary confer
ence within the ten days remaining OF
President Wilson's stay in France.
The smaller nations are beginning to
show q disposition to revolt against
any plan that does not recognize their
full equality in a Society of Nations
with greater powers. Thus situation
similar to that at the second peace
conference at The Hague, at which the
plans Of Elihu Root, an American del
egate, for Supreme Court Of Nations
was frustrated, threatens to develop.
The greater powers, 1t is supposed,
would not consent to the admission of
the court of member for each state,
of it's size and Importance,
fearing that they might be found in
the minority, Notwithstanding their
greater interests in every great issue.
1t is hoped that the experts, profiting
from the experience at The Hague
conference, will find way to secure
the adhesion of the smaller states to
the plan which is being perfected rap
idly. ~
The peace conference Committee on
met and exchanged views
the principles covering
for damages caused by the
enemy and based on memoranda which
will be presented by the delegations Of
the countries affected.
President Wilson had a conference
during the forenoon with Premier
Lloyd George and A. J. Balfour, the
British foreign secretary. The Presi-
dent and the British statesmen We're
together for some time
The preamble and two articles Of the
constitution of the Society Of Nations
wers Professionally agreed upon by the
commission, it was officially an
nounced.