The sun., 1919-10-06
WILSON TOCALL
LEAGUE WHEN 8
RATIFY TREATY
Meeting in Washington if
U. s. Signs Before Japan =.
and Italy.
SENATE DECIDING FACTOR
Scheme Revealed to Induce
Rome and Toxic to De-
lay Action.
SENATE DECIDING FACTO,
by LAURENCE HILLS.
Stof Correspondent of TIE SuN.

St0f Correspondent of TIE SuN.
Copyright. 1919. all rights reserred
PARIS, Oct. 5.-Conferences which
have followed the letter OF Premier
Clemenceau asking President Wilson
to call a meeting of the League of
Nations by November, which, although
written to Col. E. NJ. House on Sep
tember 4, was made public only yes
terday, have established the following
points:
First-That President Wilson
now intends to issue the call for
the first meeting of the league
and by this is meant not only the
Council but the Assembly, imme-
diately upon the ratification of the
Versailles treaty by a third allied
Power.
Second-If the third ratifying
power is the United States the
meeting, according to the under
standing reached here, will be held
in Washington, as the plan pro-
Vided originally, but if that power
should be Italy or Japan, the United
States not being a member of the
league when the call is issued, Pres
ident Wilson in all probability will
designate needing place in
Europe, probably Paris.
Third-In order to make It pos
sible for the meeting of the league
to be held in Washington through
ratification by the United States as
the third power efforts are being
made by Americans who say they
are close to the President to pre-
vent Italy from ratifying the treaty
by royal decree and to encourage
the japanese to delay action.
senatee Deciding Factor.
This plan, which clearly is instigated
by Americans here. but upon which evil
IDENTIFY an understanding has been
reached with Premier Clemenceau and
Capt. Andre Tardieu, makes the Senate
Of the United States the determining
factor in deciding if the United States
is to have the honor of n place in the
first meeting of the league.
Naturally there is strong suspicion
that the recent manPuvres here were
designed largely TO influence the action
of the Senate. In the whole situation
there are signs of the hand of Colonel
House. who, although apparently out OF
touch recently with his chief, still is
using every effort to obtain for his work
and for the league the unqualified ap.
proval of the American Senate, and in
the last few weeks has been trying tc
get the French to help him.
That the Clemenceau letter was writ
ten with this design Is not doubted here
but back of II also is the desire of the
French, with so many interests at stake
to demonstrate as speedily as possible
whether the league scheme is workable
or not. This they think can be donc only
by having a meeting of the league i'm
mediately, at which they will press their
plan for an international military force
the apportionment of the war debts and
other French ideas.
Premier Clemenceau since his letter
was written has received positive as.
surance from President Wilson that he
would call a meeting under the power
given TO him in the covenant of the
league the moment the third allied
Power ratified the treaty. The meeting
will be held month after the date OF
the call, which seems to assure a meet
ing certainly IN november.
Should Italy raufy by royal decree
however, or should Japan act in the next
week or so. the President. according to
his close friends here. would not consider
II proper to name Washington as the
meeting place, for the reason that partl-
cipation by tn United States still would
be in doubt.
Italy Can Upset Plans.
Italy could easily upset the plans OF
the Presidents friends. The Government
of Premier Nitti wants to ratify the
peace treaty Immediately in order to put
the country on n peace basis before the
elections, but n large element is contest
ing the legality of ratification by a de-
cree of the King and to raise the cues
tion OF the royal power would be danger
Gus at this time.
Americans here seem 10 be exerting
pressure now on the Nitti element 10
give up the idea so as to allow the
United States more time, hoping that
the Senate will take final action in the
next few weeks. That the Senate may
adopt the treaty with certain reserva
tions is not overlooked, but the idea OF
the Presidents followers here seems 10
be that the reservations will be only OF
an interpretatlve character, which will
not require submission to the Peace
but could be presented at
the meeting OF the League of Nations.
French opinion has accepted the vote
on the Fall amendment as indica atine
that the Senate will not actually change
the text OF the treaty. At the same
time many publicists interpret the vote
to mean that the Senate is likely to
make reservations an dthey urge the
French to be ready 10 meet this issue by
reservations of their own
The disarmament and financial soli-
Continued on Fun Page.
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