The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-03-25
PEACE MAKERS AT
ODDS OVER TREATY
DELEGATES SPLIT ON PRELIMI-
NARY DOCUMENT. WILSON
THE STORM CENTER.

sion in the ranks of the peace con-
ferees in Paris have been heard in
the French capital, in London, in
Rome and in Washington. The pro-
posed league of nations is believed
to be the principal bone of conten-
ton, although there are other points
on which the delegates have not yet
reached a complete agreement But
it is the problems centering in the
\ league of nations which are causing
the main conflict.
! President Wilson, apparently, is
determined that the league of ma
tions plan shall be included in the
preliminary peace treaty, which it
was hoped to have ready for presen-
tation to the German delegates at the
end of March. England and France
do not raise any objections to this
program if the work can be done
speedily. There is every indication,
however, that any peace treaty which
is to include the league of nations
program cannot be completed until
May 1, at the earliest, and to this de-
lay London and Paris are critical.
Seek an Immediate Peace.
England and France are DESTROYS
of having the preliminary peace trea-
ty signed by all parties concerned as
soon as possible. The British and
French premiers, knowing that the
submitted constitution for the league
of nations is to be the subject Of
long debate, suggested that the pre-
liminary treaty of peace with Ger
many and her allies be signed imme-
diately.
This preliminary treaty was not to
include the league of nations idea,
which was to be debated at leisure
and either amended or adopted as it
now stands. Then it was to be incor-
porated in the final terms of peace,
which would be ready for presenta-
ton some time in June.
Wilson Upset Program.
: This was the program believed to
have been decided upon by the peace
conferees during the meetings held
, while President Wilson was absent
: on his trip to the United States. But
the president no sooner returned to
Paris than he upset the plan, one of
? his first announcements being that
< there had been no change in orig
= inal idea of linking together the
: league of nations and the peace
: treaty.
The very next day Stephen Pichon,
the French minister of foreign af-
fairs, gave out a statement to the
American newspaper correspondents
in Paris that it is not possible to in
corporate the league of nations in
the preliminary treaty of peace with
Germany.
England's Position.
England's position, while not ag-
excessively held, is apparently in sup
port of President Wilson, providing
the preliminary peace treaty is ready
for signing in few days. The Brit
ish delegates are intent only on one
= demand at the present time, and this
p Is that the peace treaty be signed at
a the earliest possible moment so that
, the nations of Europe can return to
: the ways of peace again.
The British take the position that
q peace treaty should have been
= signed month ago, and that the
y longer the real peace gathering is
S postponed the more difficult it will
be for the allies to make Germany ac-
cept their terms.
S Fear United States Senate.
% England and France, it is believed.
: also fear that the inclusion of the
| league of nations in the peace treaty
. will wreck the entire document in
( the United States senate, and leave
r the work 10 be done over again.
! London and Paris have secured
= knowledge of the extent of American
opposition to the league constitution
. as at present drafted. If there is no
[ revision of the document the Unit
ed States senate may make good their
! threat and deny ratification.
If the attempt is made to meet
American objections by a wholesale
: revision of the league constitution
the entire affair will be thrown ON
the table for general debate. and it
VIII take at least month to harmon
re conflicting opinions into results.
Such delay, it is said, will not prove
acceptable to Britain or France. An
immediate preliminary peace is their
demand, with the details of the doc
ument to be worked out later.