Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-29
''TRICK'PEACE
PROGRAM IS
ALLIED AIM ?
VIII Use Own Methods
With Disguise to ''Sat-
isfy Wilson," Report

Paris, Jan 29-Great Britain's
war cabinet held a special meeting
yesterday afternoon at 3 O'Clock
to discuss the difficulty arising be-
tween President Wilson's plan for
/ the disposal of German colonies
and that of the other conferees. &C
/ cording to the Paris edition OF the
London Daily Mail, which adds:
1T is believed that some ap-
proach was made toward Mr.. Will
sons viewpoint at the meeting of
| the supreme council after M Will
sons independent speech giving
more details of his plan. Premier
Lloyd George, Foreign Minister
Balfour and Premier Clemenceau
| followed Mr.. Wilson in speaking on
the subject"
London, Jan. 29.-Stating that
| President Wilson made an import
ant speech at Tuesdays meeting
of the supreme council of the peace
congress during the discussion of
the future of Germans colonies,
the Paris correspondent of the Mail
adds:
president Wilson persists in his
desire to secure some form of in
ternatiOnal control, and the allies
are seeking plan which, while
giving the practical power, desired
by the nations who want the Ger
man colonies for their own, will
still provide some shadowy form
of Observation-Disclosures for the pur-
pose of satisfying Mr.. Wilson's
ideals"
Is the Big Subject.
The future of the colonies taken
from Germany has assumed one OF
the most interesting subjects, un-
der consideration by the supreme
council of the peace council. Hear
ings are now being given by the
supreme council to members OF the
conference and to coloniaEaa<Psxfst
upon the disposition of the colonies.
The council is at the same time
proceeding with the consideration
of a general policy which shall be
adopted by the five great powers in
this matter.
At present it appears that these !
powers, through the supreme coun- |
ell, intend to dispose of the subject, |
confident of the approval of its de- !
cisiOns by the conference itself |
The hearings have already pro
gressed to the stage where the ex-
istence Of views greatly at vari- !
ance with those set forth in Pres
ident Wilson's IA points have been !
disclosed.
Americans 10 Push Plan
This development has determln-
ed the American delegates TO re-
mind the other powers of that fact
and to urge the adoption OF the
American plan at the very outset
in order to keep the rival claim
ants within the bounds OF fairness.
The plan, which was discussed
Monday and is receiving immediate
further consideration, looking to
assisting backward nationalfties
and tribes by individual powers or
by agents TO be known as ''manda-
tories" OF the league of nations.
The distribution OF these guard
ianships to be made by the league
of nations; so it again happens. as
in the case of many of the projects
of reform broached at the confer
ence, that its successful applica-
tion is wholly dependent upon the
Consummation of the league.
One argument against the leagues
control of colonies advanced by the
British colonial officials was that
the ''mandatories" might feel them
selves saddled with enormous e.
responsibilities in an effort
to develop their wards, and yet be
subject to criticism on the event
that they failed to bring them for
ward
Wilson Makes Answer.
President Wilson himself felt
called upon to answer this argu-
ment by the statement that the
plan contemplated man.
datory power would be liable only
for administrative expenses, other
expenses would be made only when
by the league. unless
the colony was able to finance itself
out Of its own resources.
While the plan has not progress
ed to point where any attempt has
been made to assign particular ma
tons TO these guardianships, tho
matter has been the subject of spe-
cial thought and consideration. In [
the case of America, il has been
suggested that, owing TO its large {
influence in Turkey through the
graduates of Robert col (
lege and because Of the conviction {
among the Turks of the disinter- |
estedness of America, If it is called |
upon to assume such charge, 1t {
might naturally first take upon
tself the guardianship not only of
Turkey in Europe but also a con-
siderable portion of Turkeys for
ner provinces, including Armenia
Up to this moment the whole
project is still subject to complete
Nevertheless il is
'elt by some Of the delegates that .
f the league of nations is assured
IN a basis OF freedom from dis {
the great powers may !
Ie willing to abandon their plans |
or the complete annexation Of for
ner German colonies and separated J
sections of late enemy states, al I
hough opposition is expected from I
he colonial governments to such a II
scheme,