The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-05-06
BRITISH and FRENCH
COLD TO The LEAGUE
INITIAL GATHERING OF WORLD
BODY IN THE UNITED STATES
DURING NEXT OCTOBER.

PARIS.-It has been virtually de-
cided that the first meeting of the
league of nations shall be held in
Washington next October.
Plans are being formulated for the
holding of this meeting, the initial
gathering to be in the white house
under the presidency of President
Wilson.
The salary of Sir Eric Drummond,
secretary of the league of nations,
is to be $4,000 yearly, with SINH
lar amount for the expenses of the
office, including the clerical staff, ac-
cording to the representative of
Reuters limited, in Paris.
Dubious About the League.
The covenant of the league of ma
tons arouses little enthusiasm in the
press of this city. Indeed many of
the principal newspapers abstain from
comment altogether.
Writing in The Echo de Paris,
"Pertinax," spokesman of the nation
alist, declares outright:
"The league of nations is dead be-
fore its birth" He also refers to ru-
mors of treaties being made between
the allied powers, remarking "to re-
assure US, Premier Clemenceau and
Foreign Minister Pichon allege they
hold favorable alliances in their port
folios. These parchments must be
beautiful, complete and eloquent to
justify such docility on the part of
French ministers"
The London Daily Chronicle ques-
tons whether in its present form the
league will meet any of the demands
which the future is likely to make
upon it. The newspaper criticises
what it considers the weakness of the
amendments, of which it says:
Most Of them have been inserted
to win over reluctant opinion in
America"
The Morning Post describes the
league as very large and dubious
experiment. "The world gains moth.
ing whatever by the signature of the
covenant so far as the present posi-
ton is concerned" says The Post
though it possibly may years hence
Europe Sore on United States.
The Italian incident has provoked
very great European emotion. Europe
is reaching the conclusion that the
price she is paying for American in
PREVENTION in European affairs is too
high, and promises ultimate, sperhap
speedy ruin.
No one can be in Paris and not
feel this tremendous revolution of
feeling. The numbers of people who
actually believe in the league of ma
tions was always small. By contrast,
millions of people entertained hope
which this proposal seemed to ex-
press. Hence the vast enthusiasm at
the outset.
But enthusiasm has waned as
Frenchmen, Poles, Italians, Ruma-
mans discovered American opposi-
ton in the pathway of those demands
which each nationality believed just.
The result is simple, but it is un-
Unstable. Every continental nation
still finds itself for financial reasons
obliged to continue to show respect
and even Difference to American de-
mands, but belief in American pro-
posals for the league of nations has
diminished day by day for many
weeks.
Little by little, despite its financial
burdens, Europe is beginning to re-
assert itself. The reaction against
American domination and American
ideas is the single striking circum-
stance at the present moment. If Eu-
rope still does lip service to the
league of nations it is because it still
has regard for American financial
resources and food supplies.