The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-27
BY LAURENCE HILLS.


Copyright. 1919: oil rights reserved
PARIS. Jan. 26.--The complaints of
the small nations that they are being
ignored caused much discussion here
to-day, and some disappointment was
expressed by the representatives Of
these nations that President VIII
son has not supported their con-
tentions for n greater representation
on the committee which will have
charge of the drafting of the league Of
nations and other committees. The
complaint wns dismissed yesterday
by Premier Clemenceau, acting as
chairman of the second plenary meet
Ing OF the conference, where he said
that large committee would be too
bulky and would retard signing Of the
peace treaty.
Belgium's action In sending a let
ter of protest to Premier Clemenceau
against the slim representation which
the martyr kingdom is getting on the
committees shows which way the wind
blows. Serbia, which probably WAS
the greatest sufferer Of all and has a
burning sense of injustice, Is ready 10
back up the Belgians. The feeling in
the Rumanian and Greek delegations
Is sympathetic.
The meeting of the small Powers
tomorrow, called by Premier Clemen-
ceau to elect five representatives to the
committee on the league of nations.
promises to bring things to head and
prove of real Importance 1t Is likely
to bring out the resentment Of the
small nations not only against the
personal rule Of Clemenceau but
against the monopolIzation OF power
by the "blg five"
Contention OF Belgium.
The Belgian letter to Premier Clem-
e1ceau. rs chairman of the Peace Con-
greSs, contains resume of Camille
Huysmans's argument before the con-
gress yesterday, pointing out Bel
gums sacrifices, the Importance of
her geographic position and the cf-
fects of the war upon her economic
life, Beyond this Belgium and Serbia
and even Greece and Rumania feel
that 1t Is unjust that they must meet
with the twenty-five smaller states,
many of which never fired Il shot nor
iY, tl,A
parently an equal chance of being rep
resented on the committee.
The idea that unscathed Brazil has
three delegates In the conference is
CALLING 10 those who have fought
through the war, especially since it Is
understood that President Wilson is
backing Brazil. Belgium and Serbia
believe that the nations should have
been represented In the Peace Con.
gress in four classes: First, the big
Ave; second, the nations that have
fought through the war and have sac
riticed everything; third. those that
have fought for shorter periods;
fourth. the nations that have only
broken relations with Germany.
Small Nations Are bitter.
There Is the strongest resentment
on the part OF the Belgians, Serbians,
Rumanians, Greeks and others not
only against Premier CemenceGu =
action. but also against his speech in
which he treated them, they say, like
naughty boys, ns Is evidenced in his
sarcastic retort to Premier Bratiano
Of Rumania when the latter suggested
| that the small Powers would like 10
examine the present principle Of rep
rcsentatlon, although not dcslrouS Of
bringing about any discord
| The small Powers believe that n
their viewpoint ever IS going to 10
accepted 1t must be now while the
congress is young. There is some
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