New Britain herald., 1919-02-07

mission dealing kth the
was officially an bounced
approving a number Of add
ticles of the daft, the coh
reached an accord, it is stats1
certain questions of the greatest
portance concerning the positive
functions of the league. The accepts
ance of these additional articles was
provisional.
Sccrctariat Is Named.
Tho commission has appointed
general secretariat consisting of M.
Clusel, Lord Eustace Percy, of the
British foreign office, and Mr.. Shep-
herdson.
The number Of territorial conflicts
now making their appearance in peace
conference circles is attributed in
some quarters to an early realization
of a society Of nations plan which will
involve the elimination of all such
claims by a legal tribunal of the So
ciety for adjudication with due regard
to the wishes and welfare of the in
habitants of the districts in dispute.
Hints OF Resistance Heard.
The community of interest Of some
nations in certain questions has led to
hints of cooperation between those
nations to make up Il majority in the
conference Gossip in the corridors
even mentions threats of resistance to
any decision adverse to those interests
The special commission working on
the society of nations plan is not
moved by these rum ors, and is going
about it's work quietly but rapidly.
All Claims Being Heard.
At the same time the supreme coun-
its policy of hearing patiently all
claims and generally referring them
to special or standing committees for
thorough examination, although this
procedure, it is understood, is not en-
tireIy agreeable to all the powers in
terested.
Opposed to Secret Treaties
Secret treaties made under the !
stress Of war and which may be con- |
sidered out of harmony with the prin-
cipIes on which a society of nations |
is being organized have provoked |
great deal of comment. The Amer |
lean delegates at least, have said that |
such agreements, in so far as they are |
in conflict with the principles Of So |
ciety of nations, must give way.
Russian Question Comes Up.
The Russian problem again will !
come to the fore today in connection
with the acceptance by the Moscow !
Bolshevik governmen of the invita-
ton to the conference on the Princes
Islands In some quarters the action
Of the Moscow government has been
hailed with satisfaction and relief, in
view of the promise it gives of an i'm
mediate termination Of Bolshevik at
tacIxs on the little allied army in the
Archange1 sector.
Small Crowds Gather Around.
Small crowds are beginning to
gather around the foreign office
where the supreme council meets, but
thew do not disturb the experienced
diplomats who say that what sur
prises them is that the proceedings
have been so remarkably harm onious
in view Of the multiplicity and the
completely of questions.
The society of nations commission
met again last night under the chair I
manship of President Wilson, who is
pressing forward to bring about a
constitution for the society
in these nightly sessions, which last
until midnight.
Early settlement Expected.
The great progress now being made
indicates that the task may be COM
Dleted within the next four or five
davs. Or we'll ahead of the time for
the preside ent's return to the United
States on February Is. The members
OF the commission emphasize, how
ever, that the agreem ents reached so
far are provisional and i'll principle
only The entire structure may yet
have to be revived when 1t comes to
agreeing on details. This is the rea-
son assigned for the rigid secrecy with
which the text of the project is being
guarded.
Discuss Executive Branch.
The main discussion last night was
on the formation of the executive
branch of the society of nations.
President Wilson, Leon Bourgeois for
France and Lord Robert Cecil each
presented plans on the representation
given to smaller powers. Each plan
differed slightly.
Unofficial information is that Pres
ident Wilson's proposal was tor an
executive branch of five members
from the great powers and four from
the small powers, making a council l
of nine. with a tWo-thirds vote re- s
1uired for the adoption of measures.
Qualification for Membership.
Qualification for membership, which 7
also is being discussed, involves the
membership of neutrals and enemy {
powers. as well as the great ana small i,
powers. The presence at the lhi00'i"s +
y, pao oa \