New-York tribune., 1919-11-23
Italy Is Sole Exception to
Decision to Carry Out
Covenant Even if u. S.
Declines To Be Member
Britain Looks to France
English Sentiment, However.
FayOrs at Least a Tacit I'm.
derstanding With America
Nelc York Tribune
I.~x- D
,ocrr-,gf,t ieie. New Tors rr,bnne ln,I

Copyright. 1919 New ymx Tribune Incl
LONDON. Nov. 22.--Great Britain
,0s France, in their determination to
s,srd firmly as nucleus for league
n cations and for enforcement of the
,eace treaty. whatever the final deci-
.ion OF the United States will be. are
imported by practically every other
Allied and associated power.
One notable exception at present on
the fence is Italy, whose decision re-
rarding useless league is indetermi-
liable to-day Japan will join France
sna Britain, as will Belgium. Chna's
ssapproval of the treaty as regards
the Shantung award already has been
voiced
II is suggested that Italy may put
.he Allies in an embarras ssing position
hy renewing her demands for Fiume
snd the other Adriatic ports to which
America has objected, claiming that.
with the United States out of the way,
he other nations should grant her de-
msnds as the price Of her joining.
United States Commands Respect
II is considered almost impossible
that the Allies would do this, in view
Of the objection of the United States,
tor although the United States may
lave lost some moral pres tige because
~ her refusal to abide by what Eu-
rope considered United States prof.
ect she commands universal respect
ss most powerful nation, and all
9o-vers viii bid for her good will, even
though she IS not member OF the
lessu
hat Eng and viii turn TO France (th-
fact is, she IS believed already to have
done so for an alliance IN case the
United States definitely withdraws
rem Europe, a vast majority of the
sentiment in this country favors an
understanding, even if only a tacit
countries above all other forms of an
alliance.
Here in England there are at least
four distinct schools of thought in re
,ard to the attitude and action of the
United States. There are the ultra
Conservatives. who feel that the United
States would be acting right II 1t with
drew to "a splendid isolation" and
.hey urge the same course for Britain.
Conservatives for League
Then there is group of Conserva-
.ives. headed by the Northcliffe press,
which believes Britain has most to gain
from league of nations and urges the
camn awaiting of a participation in
some form by the United States, while
Insisting upon the seriousness of the
present status.
There IS still another Conservative
group which. hysterical over the ap-
parent withdrawal of the United States
from all European affairs, would bring
every pressure TO bear to get that
country back in line. Lastly, there are
he Liberals who are most bitter OF
all, because they considered the United
States the backbone of the league
which was 70 lead Europe away from q
reaction to miitarism, which they
from the first opposed. They now feel
they have been let down and left
isolated in g sea of reaction.
The attitude of labor is 70 ignore
The situation as created by the Senate
move completely, because labor always
ass held the treaty is too severe and
looks to the Internationale as the real
foundation for Il world union.