Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-20
LEAGUE PLAN
PLANP PUSHED
AT MEETINGS
Wilson Giving It Whole
Time-Neutrals Oppose
Formation Idea.

Paris, Jan. 20.-CBy the Associa-
ted PressD-AS the supreme cOun-
Gil Of the peace congress resumed
sittings today, marked progress was
being made in the business of COM
pairing various plans for the forma-
tion of league of nations and
harmonizing them into a unity OF
ideas which can be taken up as a
concrete proposition.
Much headway in this direction
was made last night at the confer
ence at the Murat residence, which
was attended by Mr.. Wilson, Lord
Robert Cecil, the British represen-
tatiVe charged with working out of
plan for a league of nations /;
Leon Bourgeois, the French pro-
ponent of a plan for such an or
ganization and General Jan Chris
tian SHUTS, who has formulated a
plan for a league.
Wilson Pushing Plan.
Preliminary conversations over
the structure of the league of ma
tions are not technically before the
peace congress as a whole, but that
the fact that the congress has ad-
vauced this question to the fore
most place in its program is taken
to indicate that such progress is be-
ing made in the supreme council
as to warrant the announcement
that a definite and somewhat de-
tailed program will soon be evolv-
ed. This program it is believed will
present the common thought of the
leaders of the United States, Great
Britain and France and therefore
may furnish starting point from
which all the peace delegates may
participate in the work. President
Wilson is personally pressing for
ward this one feature of the work
of the peace congress to the vir-
tual exclusion of all others.
Little Time Lett
With a definite plan formed for
erecting a structure upon which
all nations can agree, there are
about 25 working days remaining of
the time that President Wilson has
allotted to himself for work in
France before leaving for home.
The question being asked is wheth-
er he can in this comparatively
short time bring the nations to-
gether in an agreement for a So
ciety of nations. Many of the
presidents closest advisers are rea-
sonabIy convinced he can do so.
With discussions now past the
point where it seems-to be agreed
there shall be no super-sovereignty
nor a common police force and that
the question of whether a nation
shall contribute force in carrying
out the decision of the league will
be left to each nation individually
in each instance, the general plan
being most talked about embodies
an enlargement of the principles
contained in the treaties negotiated
by William Jennings Bryan. These
provide for a delay of a year be-
tore declaring war and investiga-
tionS. by a special commission of
all disputes and that no declara-
tiOn of war shall be made therefore
without giving certain notice.
President Has Scheme.
By this plan, it is apparently
purposed to internationalize the
guardianship of smaller nations,
with the idea that there shall be no
over them by one ma
ton, economically or financially.
1t is proper to state that he highly
regards many features of the plan
presented by General Smutz, and is
in close harmony with NJ.
and Lord Robert Cecil.
Aside from the attention being
paid to the Russian situation, the
society of nations question is now
in an advantageous position and
Development may be expected
Neutrals Oppose Idea!
The decision that the league OF
nations will be outlined and or
ganized by the belligerents alone
is said to be the cause of some dis
among the neutrals
who are informally discussing the
matter among themselves. Wheth-
er any formal action will be taken
by the neutrals to voice their pro-
lest is not yet known, but among
some of them there is said to be a
feeling that it would be neither fair |
wards asked to subscribe to a GOV
enant in whose making they had /
40 part.
Hold Right to Voice.
The neutrals, it is understood, dc |
not claim participation in the dis !
,ussion of peace terms because
hey took no part in the war, but |
hey contend that a league of ma
ions is an international institu- /
ion independent of the war, and /
hat therefore no distinction should |
De made between belligerents and !
lon-belligerents. 1t is also point I
I'd out that among the HeutraIs |
here were several countries whose |
feelings were as |
strong as among the allies, but that |
owing to geographical positions |