The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-02-18
RUSSIAN
QUESTION !
uNSOLvED! !!
Associated Powers at Sea To
day Regarding Best Plan
to Pursue Regarding
Former Ally.
TO WITHDRAW TROOPS
Frenci, Desire Intervention to Limit
While British and American
Delegates Urge Evaou-
| ~i-im. ~A,.
TO WITHDRAW TROOPS

lBy Fred 8. Ferguson, United Press
Staff Correspondent
PARIS, Feb. 1s-The associated
powers today were apparently COM
pletely at sea regarding a Russian
policy Although the supreme war
council has reopened the question, it
is understood that no progress has
been made toward a definite solu-
tion.
The one thing that seemed Ger
tain was that British and American
troops Will be withdrawn from north.
ern Russia as soon as practicable.
While it is possible that this may not
be accomplished before the ice
breaks up in the spring, It is said
that steps are already being taken
to facilitate evacuation This policy
apparently will be adhered to in the
face of renewed efforts by the
French to obtain armed Intervention
on a large scale.
1t was still doubtful today whether
the proposed joint conference origi-
.nally scheduled to open last Saturday
at Prinkf2os will go through. A de-
cision. on this is expected within a
few days.
A proposal by Winston Churchill.
British war minister, that was said to
include provision for declaration Of a
state Of war If necessary, is under
stood to have been tabled by the su-
preme council, the majority of the
members disappearing. Churchill has
returned to England.
Await Return Of Wilson.
[By Ed. L. Keen, United Press Staff
Correspondent
PARIS. Feb. 1S.-The pence con-
ference is expected flgurative1y to
mark time until President Wilson re-
turns from his brief furlough in the
United States.
While the foundation for the peace
settlement has been firmly LAID, the
conferees realize that the structure
cannot be- completed without the
guidance of the spokesman of
people totally disinterested in Euro
pean affairs. Work on the details of
the various problems Will continue
during the presidents absence, but
1t is understood that no momentous
decisions viii be made until he again
takes his seat at the peace table,
probably the middle Of next month.
The peace conference formally
opened just month ago today. In
that month events moved faster than
even the most sanguine delegate be-
Iieved possible. Yet there were count
less problems, large and small, of
which the conference has barely
scratched the surface. In the solu-
tion Of these, the conferees will be
confronted by constantly overlapping
and conflicting claims, necessitating
the presence of an international un-
pire for which office President Will
son is admitted by the conferees
themselves and the European peoples
as well, to have qualified.
The constitution of the league Of
nations, recognized as the ground
work of the entire peace settlement,
has been completed.
But the draft is at best tentative
affair. When 1t comes up for debate
in the general peace congress it Is
believed practically certain that
some amendments will be made.
Meanwhile the league is before the
court of public opinion and is sure
to be discussed by the parliaments
Of the various signatory nations.
In as much as these parliaments
will be required to ratify the treaty
of which the league constitution will
be part, they are expected to at
tempt some modification or extension
OF the text before according It their
Parliamentary ratification
of treaties in some countries is not
of course, but in the case
of the pending peace settlement, all
precedent will be waived in favor of
this democratic custom.
The menace Of militarism appar-
entity has been removed, so far as
the enemy countries are concerned.
lContinued from page IL