The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-02-15

the question of. mandatories for back
merlts developed at times, but these
animity in the end.
Various big issues presented them !
selves. some of which were diverted
skillfullv to commissions which are to
report afterward to the league of ma
lions, while others were disapproved
rather suddenly in the light of the de-
velopment of the plan for the league of
nations.
+ OF such was the yexed. question OF
freedom of the seas, which jeopardized'
the support of Great Britain. 1t was.
realized that with perfect league of
nations there would be no neutrals,
and that consequently no. questions
could ariscssas to the freedom of the
seas in time of, war, while in time OF
peace equitable relations between ma
ticns were guaranteed by special pro-
visions of the covenant. ~
/ Finally after these discussions were
over it can be stated that no hard feel
ings remained, there was absolute
Iunanimity so far as the special COM
mission was concerned, that those ma
tions which at first had doubted the
efficiency of the project came out of the
discussion III an attitude of its firmest
advocates
i Looking to the future the special
commission attaches much Importance
to the provision made for the admission
to the league of neutral or late enemy
states. The latter are known to be anx.
ious to adhere. but the commission has
taken every precaution to make sure
that they enter with proper motives
| and prepared to live up to the oblga-
: tions of the league. The point was
made that such adhesion should be en-
eouraged, as it was highly desirable
having at heart the interest of the
Z whole world, that the industries of late
5 enemy states and neutral countries
G which suffered from the blockade be
set in motion at the earliest possible
e moment.
II The decision was not based upor
: sympathy for Germany, but upon tn,
Z absolute conviction that the safety OF
: continental Europe and perhaps of tn
I whole world depended upon turning TIN
d German population into ways of indus
e try, so that it might be able to pro
t 1uee goods to pay off the enormous III
c IDENTITIES to Re imposed upon it.
d 1t was the conviction that otherwis
o Germany might drift soon into the con
v dition OF Russia and that there woul
'ei be no responsible government wit
y which the peace treaty could he cor
A. cluded. In that case it wonld be me-
essary for the peace congress to cor
st tinue indefinitely in existence, awaitin
he the social and economic reorganizatio
i that might follow an era of Bolshevisl
c, lasting perhaps for years.
to Russia itself was regarded by Il
lc delegates as the great problem. yet
er be settled, although the hope was G.
o. pressed that the Prinkipo eonferen'
would be realized and something Iii
or peaceful relations restored between Il
various factions. 1t was regarded
= necessary at the outset to convince Il
= Bolshevist elements that the peace co
II ference had no desire to force upc
| them settlements of debts and 9th
such matters as conditions of u sueces
| full conference.
Much work remains for the vario
commissions before the return TO Pal
lof President Wilson, Premier Lilo.
George of Great Britain and Premi
IlOrlando of Italy, but the materi
gathered BY them is expected to fac
itate greatly the work of the elosi1
days of the conference.
In conclusion it may be said that [
or special commission did not underta
~ to select permanent home for t
- LEAGUE of nations. That was left t
- the determination of the eonferen
be later.