The Washington herald., 1919-02-11
League Is Expected to
Weather Political Storm
Due to French Antago-
nism to Certain Nations
Claiming Voice at Peace
Conference.
FIRST DRAFT KEPT
STRICTLY SECRET
President Wilson Expected
to Address a Plenary
Conference This Week
and Present the Report
of the Committee for
Adoption.

Paris. Feb. 1O.-The Society of
Nations came into existence today
under turbulent circumstances due
to the threat to withdraw the Peace
Conference from Paris.
No matter how sincere or insin-
cere are the rumblings of the po-
liticaI storm, the society is expected
to weather the conditions which
greeted its formal birth at high
noon today.
At that hour President Wilson and
other members of the League of Ma
tiOns Committee had concluded their
reading of the first draft of the con-
stitution of the society and were
agreed on all points.
The usual drab communique,
which was issued this evening, does
not give this information, but it
was authOritatively stated at the ex-
piratiOn of the meeting that this
day saw the birth Of the Society of
Nations.
For the present the first draft of
the constitution of this interna-
tiOnal body is being guarded with
allApe care that is usually layished
upon the jewels of an Asiatic po-
tentiate. .
The air of secrecy around the
Hotel Crillon. where the society
first saw the light of day, was as
thick as the proverbial London fog
and as impenetrable.
Wilson to Present Report.
Nevertheless it is reported that
President Wilson will address a plen-
sry conference either Thursday or
Friday-possibly Saturday-and will
present the report of the committee
for adoption.
In a large measure the creation OF
? the Society OF Nations is due 10 the
: ceaseless work of the American chief
executive. He has been instrumental
in having the committee meet morn
ing, noon and night during the past
week for the sole purpose of bringing
something tangible out of the maze
Of details which enmesh the confer
ence.
Tia President Wilson's effort has
been crowned with success is appa-
rent. for he will return home with the
details OF one of the great individual
accomplishments for the Peace Con-
ference.
He will be ready to tell Congress
what parts he expects the Society OF
Nations will play in preventing future
wars
To Iron Out Differences.
The committee will meet at frequent
intervals for the purpose of ironing
out what are deemed trivial differ
ences- Future historians villas far
as is known tOnight-nOt find anything
dramatic to record in describing the
natal day of the Society of Nations
The committee assembled at 1880
this morning. Word was passed out
at noon that it had agreed upon the
first draft and adjourned at 1.3D
O'Clock
\ Htde group Of American war
workers and soldiers. hearing tina:
President Wilson was at the CrilIon.
gathered in front of the hotel doors
to catch a glimpse of him. When he
came out they cheered.
Kut they didn't realize that they
were cheering him on the day of his
first real triumph upon European SOL.
Presents War Plot Proof.
At tOday's session of the supreme
war council the French finance min
lister. NJ. Klotz, gave detailed anaIy-
sis Of the work published in 1916 by
the GERMAN general staff. proving
the premeditated character of the de-
structiou Of French industry" accord
Ing to AN official statement. The mat
ter wss referred to the economic COM
mittcc
The Belgian members Of the supreme
war council Will be heard first when
The body meets again tomorrow.
The commission on TepaTatiOn at Il
meeting today discussed the principles
Ipon which rests the right of repara-
ton The memoranda submitted by
he various delegations were looked
ntO. The Australian Premier. William
Morris Hughes, set forth the constf-
sutton upon which the British memo-
'andum Is based.