Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-01-23
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
MAKING PROGRESS
CONFERENCE ON WHICH EYES or
WORLD ARE cENTERED
OPENED AT PARIS
CLEMENCEAU is CHAIRMAN
No Nation To Disarm Until It Is Seen
Whether Or Not The
League Works

WashingtOn.-The plans for a league
of nations have been reduced to a very
definite form. The general indications
are that the statesmen of the princi
pal nations are steadily drawing to
gether on a structure which will have
the support of all, the informal dis
cussions having brought the commun,
ity OF ideas to point where it may
reasonably be expected soon to APP
pear On paper.
! 1t is understood that the general
/ plan which is now most approved in
! substance by all the parties concern
ed rejects the theory of the super
sovereignty of an international police
force.
Disarmament Question
1t also contemplates the working
out, as the development of the league
progI esses, of the most delicate ques-
ton of all-disarmament-whioh par
ticularly affects the British navy. The
same principle, it is proposed, shall
apply to the other nations associated
in the war against Germany.
This idea is founded on the argu-
ment that no nation would dispose
of instruments by which it expects to
defend itself until it has been dem
onstrated that the forces proposed as
substitute will be efficient
In the opinion of international law
yers suGk decisions will remove from
actual settlement by the peace con-
ference at this sitting at least many
questions on which complete agree
ment might not be expected now, but
upon which full accord seems proba-
BILE as the development of the plans
for a league of nations advance.
Such plan will delegate to vari-
Gus commissions and committees de- |
tailed problems which shall be report |
ed with recommendations to the |
league itself. The probability of such
a plan being adopted justifes previ-
Ous forecasts that the principal &C
somplishments of the peace confer
ence as it now sits in Paris will be
agreement on broad general princi-
)les, leaving the details to be applied
n accord herewith and the making of
/ preliminary peace which will re-
urn the world at the earliest moment
possible to it's normal status
Great Questions Ahead
Paris.-The peace conference, des-
ined to be historic and on which the
yes of the world are now centered,
vas opened in the great Sale de la
'aix. The proceedings, which were
onfined to the election of Georges
lemenceau, the French premier, as
chairman of the confer
nee; an address of welcome by the {
resident of the French republic, Ray
lond Poincaire, and speeches by Pres |
lent Wilson, Premier LloydGeorge 5
nd Baron Sonnino were characterized c
y expressions of lasting friendship A
nd the apparent determination of the o
representatives. of the various nations
come to an amicable understanding
it'll respect to the problems to be de- IA
ded by the conference.
When President Poincaire spoke the o.
tire assembly stood, and the fact l. J.,
at, according to custom, no APP u
ause greeted his utterances gave IL
eater solemnity to the scene.
M. Clemenceau's acceptance of the >,
esidency of the congress was both =;
feeling expression of personal graf =,
lde and definite outline of the =,
eat questions Immediately ahead. -,
Tree of these larger general subjects ~
defined as responsibility for the
If, responsibility for crimes during a,
e war and international labor legis- ar
ion. aY