The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-03-27
final DRAFT
OF COVENANT
IS SCOMPLETED
BY DELEGATES
Amendments Proposed by
Taft Considered by Com
mission-Freedom to be
Required Of Nations.
PREM|ERS IN SESSION
(By Associated PressS

10Y AoSOCiAlSo 6iS0os
PARIS, March 27-President Will
sons study was again the center OF
intense interest today as he with the
premiers of Great Britain, France and
Italy resumed the effort to settle the
questions standing in the way OF
peace.
No event of the peace conference
has excited such interest and discus
sion as this action of the president
| and the premiers in taking affairs in
| to their own hands, and while criti-
cism and sarcasm are yet in evidences
| In some quarters, including the French
| chamber of deputies, still the prevail
! ing view in conference circles is that
| the time had arrived for the adoption
| of a strong policy assuring early and
| definite results.
A proposal which seeks to settle the
| conditions required for admission to
the league of nations has been pre-
sented to the peace conference. 1t
says that countries which wish to be-
| come members of the league must
| prove that they ENSURE to all citizens,
| as well as all foreigners in their terri
tory, full religious freedom, protec-
tion to person and property, liberty of
the press and free exercise of such
rights of suffrage as may be guaran-
teed by their constitutions, customs or
legislative enactments."
Consideration Completed.
The proposal would apply not only
to enemy countries but to nations like
| Russia, Mexico and Costa Rica, the
last two of which were not invited to
| participate in the meeting of neutrals
| with belligerent nations to discuss the
| league of nations.
The league of nations commission
of the peace conference. with Presi-
| dent Wilson in the chair, met for
three hours last night and completed
! its consideration of the covenant of
the league. The covenant was re-
ferred to drafting committee con-
! sisting of Colonel E. NJ. House, repre-
| senting the United States; Lord Rob-
| ert Cecil for Great Britain; Premier
Venizelos OF Greece, and Ferdinand
| Larnaude, dean of the Paris law fac
ulty. This committee will &C through
the document, correct its wording
where necessary and refer it back to
the commission as soon as possible.
| probably within two days, for final
| consideration by the commission be-
fore it is reported to the executive
| committee of the peace conference.
The covenant still contains twenty
six articles. No amendment has been
| incorporated which specifically meets
the desires of Japan for recognition of
national equality.
TAFT's PLAN CONSIDERED
WASHINGTON, March 27-The
text Of the supposed league of nations
covenant suggested by former Presi-
dent Taft, which was considered by
President Wilson and the allied pre-
miers in Paris yesterday, was sent
from the White House less than a
week ago, after Mr.. Taft had been
assured by Secretary Tumluty that
any suggestion from him would be
! welcomed by the president. This be-
came known at the white house to-
day.
When President Wilson received
the message making known that Mr..
Taft desired to submit amendments.
it was learned today the president
cabled the white house urging that
they be sent as soon as possible, and
expressing appreciation that the for
mer president had concluded to make
the suggestions.
White house officials had a mes
sage today from Rear Admiral Gray
son stating that the president was
working practically night and day,
but that his health was withstanding
the strain admirably.
MUST BE IN TREATY
LONDON. March 27.-Any doubt
that the covenant of the league of ma
tions will be mentioned in the peace
treaty was removed by an authorita-
tive statement from responsible
British source today. 1t was said that
some reference to the league must be
contained in the treaty, if only be-
cause the treaty will require the Ger
mans to cede their colonies to the
leagues mandatories, says a Reuters
dispatch from Paris.