New-York tribune., 1919-02-17
Comment Reflects Faint
Praise and Intimates That
Proposal Is Inadequate
New Hague Court Hinted
Draft Hastily Prepared to
Permit Wilson to Carry
1t to U. S., Is Suggested
Neav York Tribune

Special Gable Service
Copyright. 1919, New York Tribune IncN
PARIS, Feb. 16.-It is not a chorus
OF praise for the league of nations in
the French press this morning. A little
cloud, no bigger than a mans hand.
seen above the peace conference yester
day. is now in full moisture and drops
are falling. Only the cleverest meteor
ologist could divine whether there is a
storm or sunshine ahead. The official
Socialists, for whom Allah is Mr.. Will
son, do not conceal their disenchant-
ment.
Marcel Cachin, writing in the Social
lst "Humanite," says:
1T Is proposed to admit to the league
only certain nations chosen by the En-
tente On the questions of the reduc-
tion OF armamcnts and private NUM-
tions production we have nothing but
generalltles. In the permanent execu-
tive council, which undertakes the
settlement of disputes, there is no uues-
tlon OF the representation of the pe0-
pies themselves, for the delepates Of
Ihe respective states are to be chosen
b,y the governments only. Instead of
Ine great organism, new, complete and
daring. which the war-worn peoples
awaited, we are offered a new edition
OF the Hague Conference The first act
or the conference must be promptly re-
vised if we are to avoid results amonp
the peoples of bitterest disappoint-
ment." r = 0--'''
Hasty Action Suggested
Differing spiritually and POLITICALLY
from the "Humanit6" the echo de
Paris" leader among the conserva-
tive press, finds "the covenant bears
visible marks of the haste with which
IL mas been drawn up. 1t was neces-
sary to have the goods ready to go
aboard the George Washington on
certain day, and from the conflicting
material at hand the most valuable
has been taken"
Inc newspaper continues:
he plan originates from two con-
cepts; that of the superstate above
the nations, absorbing part Of their
sovereignty, and that of great alli-
aence in which the various states shall
nave equal rights and, while main
tanning their independence associate
their strength for common defence
We have facade, displaying the ap-
paratus Of ar executive council,
body of delegates, secretariat and
court of international justice i'm
iiiiNoNSu iICiIl llc I1u&uo conference.
Behind are hidden the two concepts
we have indicated, and Mr.. Wilson and
his collabOrators are unable frankly
to choose one or the other. As we
read the articles we seem to see them
struggling for predominance The
struggle is not ended, and if the whole
is to have any cohesion choice must
be made"
French Bulwark Inadequate
The Echo de Paris" discusses what
the league cffers to France and finds
it insufficient, adding, we must either
have a supcrstatc or "each individual
state must keep full liberty to make
military alliances" The journal adds
the prevailing opinion seems to indi-
cate that the French government pre-
fers the latter, because one is never
as we'll guarded rs by oneself.
The "Figaro" finds that the idea of
league "has been stripped by contact
with world reality of what has been
held as too abstract and inapplicable" "
1t regards the covenant as "a close
alliance between the United States.
England, France, Italy and Japan" re-
marking that perhaps the Old World
alliance is not the right word. new
and fertile concept has been super