The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-01-14
.BRYAN'S PLAN FOR YEAR.
OF INQUIRY BEFORE WAR
N AY FIGURE IN PEACE.
NO PLAN BY AMERICANS
FOR LEAGUE OF MA
TIONS AGREED TO

Paris, Jan. l3.-The first actual
session OF the peace congress is be-
ing held today although it is Off
cially designated as one OF the Sc
ries OF conversations for laying the
groundwork Tor the structure
which later will be presented to the
formal assembly OF the delegates OF
all the nations. Yesterdays meet
ing was preliminary to today's as
todayS is preliminary tomorrow's
and those OF the coming weeks and
months.
These conversations will take up
details OF the program to be carried
out-what subjects will be consid-
cred at the meetings, the roles OF
expert advisers and the order IN
which various matters will be CON
sidered.
Nothing has developed to alter
the statement that the American
delegates are primarily concerned
with the creation OF a league of ma
tions and the making OF a just
peace. Territorial ambitions, local
quarrels and rivalry for economic
advantages among the European
delegates are secondary in the
minds OF the Americans, who are
concerned only with the princi-
pies to be laid down for the pre-
seryation OF peace.
Reports that the American dele
CATION has agreed on a working
plan for a league of nations and
that it will be one of the first
things to be laid before the con
gress have been current in Paris 1t
is known that as late as President
Wilson's return from Italy he was
not prepared to lay down work
ing plan that he preferred to have
other plans originating among the
entente delegates offered first.
No Definite League Plan
At the same time, it is known
that Mr.. Wilson has selected live
men connected with the American
mission, recognized experts in in
ternational law to draw up ten
tative plan which he could compare
with his own ideas. Out OF the
whole, it was hoped to frame some
concrete proposition, representing
the best ideas OF the American
delegation. These men have not
finished their work, and unless the
president, without consultation, has
prepared a plan which he is will
ing to put forward as that OF the
United States, there is now no such
a thing a, definitely accepted
plan.
Naturally those studying the
problems turn to the proceedings
of the Hague conference, particu
larly the second, and it probably
will be found when the present
peace congress gets underway a
great deal OF structure of that con-
ference will be utilized. 1t is prob
able that with this will be coupled
the plan Of William J. Bryan, call
ing for a years investigation OF
disputes before a declaration OF
war. This latter feature is one OF
the very definite things that Mr..
Wilson is understood to have in
mind.
No "Loophole' Admitted
American international lawyers
are convinced that the great battle
Of wits will come in the discussion
OF whatever machinery is proposed
to lessen the probability OF war.
Not all OF them believe that the re-
suits OF this peace congress will
make war impossible, but they are
Sanguine that it will make armed
conflicts more difficult. Their
principal concern is that the struc-
ture of the agreement, whether it
is called league of nations or
something else, shall not be framed,
like the Hague conventions, in
qualifying phrases in popular termi-
nology C'loopholes') which would
undermine the whole structure.
President Wilson and his COM
missioners are working on the the
orv that Great Britain, France,
Italy and the rest OF the world
want some new machinery which
will prevent war. Upon such de
termination they are fundamentally
agreed. The business OF converse
tions which begin today is to find
a common ground upon which all
can unite for such purpose.
1t was reported some time ago
that the most that was hoped for
before Mr.. Wilson's return to the
United States is a general agree
ment on broad principles. There is
no reason now to change that fore
cast