New-York tribune., 1919-02-06
big Five'' Against Full
Representation; Second
Hague Situation Looms
Major Powers Fear
A Loss of Control
Believe Lesser Elements
Would Dictate Policy
of Supreme Tribunal

PARIS, Feb. 5.-AlthougA ehc five
great Allied and associated powers
which are directing the peace confer
encc have turned over much OF the
work to commissions, the society Of
nations question, especially with refer
encc to the smaller nations. is becom-
ing rather a knotty problem.
The smaller nations, it is declared
want fall equality in a society of ma
tlons, and also greater powers than
the plans already outlined give to
them. The great powers, on the other
hand, are faced with situation that
If each state is given one member on a
supreme court of nations, they might
ind themselves in the minority. al
though their interests might be much
greater and probably would be.
Il is not believed that the great pow
ers would consent 10 an arrangement.
of this sort, and situation similar to
that at the second Hague peace CON
ference appears to be in the making.
Hopeful of Solution
The experts on the society of ra-
tons question are hopeful of finding
way to get the smaller states to
agree to the plan so that it will not
fail-as Elihu Roots scheme for a
supreme court of nations failed of
approval at the second conference at
the Hague.
In the category of questions rele-
gated to commissions fall tho con
ficting claims of the smaller nations
of the Entente to territory which is
likely to be taken from enemy coun-
tries. This question takes great deal
Of time to study.
1t is the design of the Supreme
Council, or Big Five" that such
questions as these be ultimately ad-
justed in harmony with the principles
of the society Of nations, it is ex-
planned but, pending the completion Of
the organization of that society, it has
been found expedient to arrange for
full hearing of all these claims.
Experts to Decide Claim
Thus, complex issues raised by tha
claims of Greece, not only to enemy
territory but to sections also claimed
by other friendly states, after being
stated by Premier Venizelos, were re-
ferred to committee of experts for
further examination, leaving the Su-
preme Council free to take up other
matters in the mean time. The report
of this committee probably will not be
acted upon until society of nations
is IN being and the principle estab-
lished on which all such claims will
be decided
1t is expected that the same course
will be followed with the claims of
Italy to territory beyond the Italian n
redenta proper, including the Dalma-
tian coast, which are to be heard next
by the Supreme Council.
This method of work leaves the
members of the society of nations
committee better chance to hasten
their work. The indications are that
this system only will make it possible
TO get the society of nations plan out
of committee and before the plenary
naming of President Wilson's stay in
France.
An Official communication issued this
evening says:
The Allied peace delegates, on
February }, heard NJ kramarz and
NJ. Bencs on the claims OF the
Czecho- Slovak Republic A commits
sion of two members TO be elected
each for France. Great Britain and
the United States Will be appointed
to antansle the technical aspects OF
the question"
Two Articles Agreed Upon
The preamble and two articles of the
constitution of the society of nations
We're professionally agreed upon last
night by the commission of the peace
conference appointed to deal with that
subject, it was officially announced to-
day. Satisfactory progress was made
with other parts Of the ta>S-
The question of adding representa-
tives of other powers to the commits
sion, it was added, is being discussed.
The text of the official announce
nient reads
The commission on the league of
nations met last evening at the Ho-
tel de Crillon, at $3.50 o'clock, and
commenced its detailed discussions.
"a preamble and TWO articles were
discussed and their texts were pro-
vixiopnflv aoraaS ,ror S..:s