The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-07
ANIMATED DISCUSSION
OF MILITARY COERCION
Against Those Nations That
Break the Rules of the
Society of Nations - The
Decision on That Was
Postponed.

Paris, Feb. ELEVEN articles of the
project for the society of nations were
discussed and approved with small modi-
fcations by the peace conference COM
mission on that subject at its meeting
last night President Wilson presided
at the meeting.
The only article not approved was tine
paragraph concerning abolition of com
pulsory military service unless required
by reason of national defense under ex-
traordinary circumstances Premier Or
lando of Italy opposed the paragraph,
remarking that il conscription once was
abolished an attempt to revive it might
Leon Bourgeois, one of the French mem
bers, Joined Premier Orlando in strongly
opposing the abolition of conscription.
He declared that France, owing to her
geographical position, needs standing
army and could never consent to strip
herself of her defenses. The paragraph
was then cancelled and it was decided to
leave to each country freedom to select
system of recruiting it's forces up to
the amount of troops which viii be fixed
later by the society of nations.
Another article which caused animated
discussion was that concerning the meth.
cd of applying military coercion to the
countries refusing to comply with the
decision of society of nations of break
ing its rules owing to the very conflict
ing view expressed. The commission de-
cided to postpone a definite decision un.
til another meeting.
Paris, Feb. THE number of terri
torial conflicts now making their appear
ance in Paris conference circles is attrib-
uted in some quarters to the prospects of
an early realization of a society of ma
tions plan which will involve the exam
nation of all such claims by a legal
tribunal of the society for adjudication
with due regard to the wishes and wei
fare of the inhabitants of the districts in
dispute.
The community of interest of some ma
tions in certain questions has led to hints
of cooperation between those nations to
make up a majority in the conference
Gossip in the corridors even mentions
threats of resistance to any decisions ad-
verse to those interests. The special
commission working on the society of
nations plan is not moved by these ru-
mors, and is going about its work quiet
ly but rapidly
At the same time the supreme coun-
Gil in short sessions continues its policy
of hearing patiently all claims and gen
4Ioy, IN auopta1 pr gfand
ing committees for thorough examina-
tion, although this procedure, it is under
stood, is not entirely agreeable to all the
powers interested.
Secret treaties made under the stress
of war and which may be considered out
of harmony with the principles on which
a society of nations is being organized
have provoked a great deal of comment.
The American delegates, at least, have
said that such agreements, in so far as
they are in conflict with the principles
of a society of nations, must give way.
The Russian problem again will come
to the fore to- day in connection with the
acceptance by the Moscow bolshevist
government Of the invitation to the con-
ference on the Princes islands. In some
quarters the action Of the Moscow gov
ernment has been hailed with salts
faction and a relief in view of the prom
ise it gives of an immediate termination
of bolshevik attacks on the little allied
army in the Archangel sector.
Small crowds are beginning to gather
around the foreign offices where the su-
preme council meets, but they do not dis
iurb the experienced diplomats, who say
that what surprises them is that the pro
ceedngs have been so remarkably har-
monious in view Of the multiplicity and
complexity of the questions.
The society of nations commission met
again last night under the chairman
ship of President Wilson, who is press
ing forward to bring about a complete
constitution for the society in these
nightly sessions, which last until mid
night.
The great progress now being made in
dicates that the task may be completed
within the next four or five days, or we'll
ahead of the presidents return to the
United States, on Feb. 10.
The members of the commission en-
phasize, however, that decisions reached
so far are provisional and in principle
only. The entire structure may yet have
10 be revived when ii comes to agreeing
on details This is the reason assigned
for the rigid secrecy with which the
text Of the project is being guarded.
The main discussion last night was