Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-20
Many Ideas Being Har.
monized Into Concrete
Proposition.
WILSON DEVOTING
TIME TO PLANS
President Dsvotlns Al His Energies
Toward Pet o0sstien-Plans So Far
Agreed Upon Will Permit Freedom
to Separate Nations in Dealing With
Local vsrsiss-Gua rdianshiP
For Smaller Nations.
IBy the Associated Press.l

l'aTtS, Jan, -V.-1AS TIE SuPl eihc Sou''
Gil Of the peace congress resumed sit
tings today, marked progress was be-
ing made in the business Of comparing
various plans for the formation OF a
league Of nations and harmonizinS
them into unity Of ideas which can
be taken up as concrete proposition.
Much ,headway in this direction was
made last night at the conference AZ
the Murst residence, which was at
tended by Mr.. Wilson, Lord Robert Ce-
Gil. the British representative charged
with working out plan for a league
OF nations; Leon Bourgeois, the French
proponent Of plan for such an organ
jzation: and Gen. John Christian
SHUTS. who has formulated plan for
a league.
Preliminary conversations over tho
structure Of the league of nations are
not technically before the peace con-
rress as a whole but the fact that the
congress has advanced this question to
the foremost place in its program IS
taken to indicate that such progress 10
being made In the supreme council as
10 warrant the expectation that def
ire and somewhat detailed program
will be deyolved soon. This program. 1t
is believed. will present the common
thought OF the leaders Of the United
States. Great Britain and France and
therefore may furnish starting point
from which all the peace delegates may
participate In the work.
10 Wilson's Fad.
President Wilson Is persona lily press
inx forward this one feature Of the
peace congress to the virtual exclusion
OF all others.
With a definite plan formed for rails
Ing structure upon which all nations
can agree. there are about twenty-five
working days remaining Of the time
that President Wilson has allotted to
himself for work in France before
leaving for home. The question being
asked is whether ne can in this COM
paratively short time bring the nations
together in an agreement for society
OF, nations. Many OF the presidents
closest advisors are reasonably con-
vlnced that ne can do 50.
70 Permit Freedom Of Action.
With discussion now past the point
where It seems to be agreed there
shall be no supersovereignty nor a
common police force and that the ques-
ton Of whether a nation shall contri-
butte forces in carrying out the decis-
ions Of the league will be left to ench
nation in each instance. the general
plan being most talked about ernhodies
an enlargement Of the principles con-
fained in the treaties negotiated by
William Jennings Bryan.
These provide for a delay Of \ year
before declaring war and investiga-
tions by 4 special commission for all
disputes and that no declaration Of war
shall Be thereafter without giving cer-
tain notice.
BY this plan. II n apparently pro-
posed to internationaiize the guardian
ship ef smaller nations. with the idea
that there shall be no domination over
them by one nation. economically or
financially. 1t IL proper to state at
this iuncture that President Wilson
himself has reasonably complete
plan for the formation Of tho league
OF nations.
It.may also be stated that re highly
regards many features Of the plan pre-
scented by General smuts and Is work
ing in close harmony with Mr.. Bour-
gcois and Lord Robert Cecil.
Aside from the attention being paid
tho Russian situation the society Of
nations question IL now In an advan-
taseous position and steady advance
mcnt may be expected.
Nsutrais Dissatisfied.
The decision that the league Of ma
tions viii b outlined and organized
by belligerents alone IL understood to
be the cause Of some dissatisfaction
among the neutrals, who already are
Informally discussing the matter
among themselves. Whether any
ferrnal seton will be taken by the
neutrals to voice their protest is not
yet known, but among some Of them
there II said to be a feeling that it
would be neither fair nor dignif1ed
that they De afrttss=wwsrd asked to sub
scribe to q covenant in whose making
they had no part.
The neutrals, 1t Is understood, do
not claim participation in the dis
cussion Of peace because they took
no part in the war. but they contend
that q league Of nations Is an inter-
national Institution independent OF
the war and that therefore full dis
tinction should be made between bel
ligerent and non -belligerents.
1t is also pointed out that among the
neutrals there were several countries
whose anti- Germany feeling was as
strong ~ among the allies, but owing
!, to geographical positions and other
factors they were forced to remain
neutral.
.i Says Wilson Will Succeed.
Bcrne Jan. 20..'P President Wilson
will achieve a feasible league Of ma