The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-03-21
NEUTRALS AT
LAST CONVINCED
Positive Indication of Belief
of League of Nations
Effectiveness.
HOLLAND MAKES REQUEST
Wants The Hague Chosen as
Seat--Swiss Urge Geneva.
Treaty Ready Soon.
(By John Edwin Nevin.''


Paris. March 21.-Q. N. S.)-The
first positive indication that neutrals
are absolutely convinced that the
league of nations will be in effect i'm
mediately after the first peace treaty
is signed developed when Holland
made formal request that The Hague
be chosen as the seat for the sague.
A similar request came from the
Swiss, who wanted Geneva selected.
Other neutrals followed with the sug-
gestion that their territory be chosen.
1t was declared in various circles
today that, whatever changes may be
decided upon in the covenant of the
league as a result of conferences, the
full league of nations commission will
not allow any delay when it meets
under the craftsmanship of President
Wilson tomorrow.
The general tenor of Objectionable
agreements will not be changed, al
though, wherever possible, the view
point of delegations which are insist
ing upon noninterference by the
league in the domestic affairs of any
country will be strengthened.
While material progress is being
, made by the league of nations sub
committee and the "big three" COM
mittee. composed of President Will
son, Premier Lloyd George and Pre-
mier Clemenceau, it must be several
days before the complete results are
available. Naturally, when three men
take up the greatest problems of civ
ilization they do not desire to outline
for the world what they are discuss
ing. This is the reason why Presi-
dent Wilson and Premiers Lloyd
George and Clemenceau. who are
dominating the center of this won
derfully picturesque stage, are being
surrounded with mystery.
World journalists, therefore, who
are gathered here are having an IN
centive to theorize and are doing SO
without restraint.
The matters under consideration
are of such magnitude that false or
premature publicity might pfecipi-
tateta critical situation. The situa-
ton might be summed UP this way:
Three statesmen, burdened as never
statesmen have been before, have
been dragged from consideration of
the grave domestic affairs of state
which confront them to work out a
great plan which shall safeguard the
ideals of democracy and prevent the
creation of a crazy patch guilt
peace. They are making the great
est possible progress.
Col. Z. Nj. House, in addressing a
delegation of British press corre-
spondents, predicted that the com
plete first treaty would be ready for
consideration by plenary session OF
the peace conference by March 30.
The Germans, Col. House believes,
will be called in within three weeks
for their signatures.
Two communicates were issued
dealing with committee meetings
held Thursday afternoon. They fol-
low:
The commission on the interna-
tional regime of ports, waterways
and railways met Thursday at the
ministry of public works. The COM
mission examined the draft of causes
for freedom of transit, presented by
the British delegation, to be inserted
in the peace treaty"
The other communique dealt with
labor:
"The thirty-first meeting of the
committee on international labor
legislation TOOK place Thursday un-
DER the presidency of Samuel Com
pers. The committee took up the
discussion of labor clauses intended
for inclusion in the treaty of peace"
julius Kahn. republican represent
ative from California. who will be
the next chairman of the house COM
mittee on military affairs, has ar
rived here to secure data from
French. British, Italian and other
military experts for use in reorgan-
izing the United States regular army
Mr.. Kahn was very outspoken today
in his praise of the allied armies.
He said he was securing the cream
or information from the commanding
officers in Europe.
It is possible to state that the cam
paign against President Wilson has
strengthened his position rather than
weakened it. The reasons behind
this antagonism in at least two
countries are entirely of a practical
nature. The president does not in
tend to make any reply until his task
here is finished. Whether any reply
at all is made will depend upon the
presidents final viewpoint. Right
now the president does not even give
ordinary consideration to the things
said about him