Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-14

1 NA''' AAAN htCNlNg uo Ia AOhlpL uASN
not enter into any engagement incon-
sistent with the covenant.
III ay member or new member shall
have entered into engagements incOn-
sistent with the covenant, II shall be
the duty Of such power TO secure its
release from such obligations.
Article XVI. the concluding ar
! ticle, provides that amendments to
the covenant shall take effect when
ratified by the States represented in
the executive council and by three.
fourths OF the States whose represent.
atives compose the body Of delegates,
President is TO Speak
After reading the draft OF the league
Of nations covenant at the plenary
session OF the peace conference this
afternoon, President Wilson was to
speak on what had been accomplished
by the conference. He was to be fol.
lowed by Premier Orlando, Premier
Clemenceau and other leading figures
OF the conference.
The plan for the creation of the
league of nations, which President
Wilson will take with him to the
United States. will not be in condition
to permit action by the United States
Senate until the treaty Of peace is
confirmed,
World Army Rejected
The French proposition for an inter-
Allied military force to enforce peace
was defeated by an overwhelming vote
OF the commission on the society of
nations, which adopted the complete
draft yesterday.
The French and CZecho-Slovaks were
the only representatives voting in the
affirmative on the question of world
police force.
The conference will not be asked TO
finally ADOPT the league plan at this
time.
The japanese delegation presented
an amendment providing that racial
discrimination should not be tolerated
in immigration laws.
Several delegates urged that this
would open such large question that
great delay might ensue. and the mat.
ter was dropped without n vote
According to an earlier Havas Agency
announcement yesterday, the United
states, under the society-of-nations plan.
as 1t now has been amended. was 70
maintain an army of not less than 500.-
600 men, which. after authorization OF
such action by the United States Senate,
SStiO NC uScu Wherever necessary,
Captain Andre Tardeu. of the French
peace delegation. in an interview with
the American newspaper correspondents,
said the society of nations would be
formed TO protect only the Powers rep
resented at the Paris Conference now.
Neutral and enemy Powers would be
admitted one by one. he added, as they
conformed TO the rules Of the society
and could be trusted.
French Reservations
Leon Bourgeois in giving Frances
adhesion TO the society of nations TODAY
at the plenary session of the Peace
Conference Will make. IL Is understood
says a Havas report. certain reserva-
tions in the name of the French Gov
ernment, the exact viewpoint of which
he will discuss. 1t is probable, il is re-
ported, that before President Wilson
leaves the Supreme Council will desire
TO elucidate the position France will
adopt in relation TO the Prinkipo confer
ence with the representatives OF gov
ernments in Russia.
The plerary session of the Peace Con-
ference to be held in the famous clock
room of the Foreign Office this after
noon may mark the conclusion of the
first and possibly the most important
I *
est interna tional gathering.
Today's Action Is vital
Subjects of great import are still 10
come before subsequent meetings, but
in the opinion Of qualified students OF
the history OF ether conferences the ad.
tournment of today's session may reveal
that the foundation for the settlemen,
of all questions that will follow has
been laid
The view taken by many delegates
early in the conference was that nearly
every important subject TO be adjusted
depended for satisfactory . settlement
upon the society of nations, which the
conference pledged itself at the outset
TO organize. Thus It became the Gus
tom TO give a patient hearing to every.
body who came to Paris TO present the
claims of oppressed and dissatisfied peo-
pies and then refer the claims for justice
TO the society of nations TO be created,
One prominent delegate explained that
the conference took the position that
to undertake to adjudlcate all conflict
/ ing claims would be equivalent TO Gre
ating a court and endeavoring in the
act creating it to dispose Of every pos
sible case that might come before II
| for decision.
! a
/ of nations is under consideration by the
various governments represented at the
conference. preliminary to the final vote
the conference through its commissions
| is expected to prepare a great mass OF
material relating 10 the many subjects
that will make up the docket OF the
society.
viii Adjourn Sine Die
As soon as the conference has relieved
itself of this burden 1t Is expected to
adjourn sine die. II has been said by a
highly competent authority that the date
OF adjournment would be about June
1. Nothing has been disclosed, officially
as TO the plan for the society, but in tne
opinion of American delegates IL is SAT,
against attack on the ground OF un-
constitutiorality II 1t does involve an
alliance requiring the use OF American
troops, in combination with those OF
other nations against an offender aEains,
the law of nations. as laid down by tbs
conference, 1t is recalled that there II
precedent for such an alliance In a treaty
between the United States and Franc,
more than a century ago. II is also
pointed out by authorities here thai
power is reserved to Congress to carry
out the pledge In its own way through
its control OF appropriations and war
making power. The Senate. especially
has distinctive powers in its right tc
approve or dlsapprove treaties such al
that which is necessary TO give life e
the society Of nations.
Preparations have been completed 70
the homeward voyage Of the presiden
tlai party. which will leave Paris to
night for Brest on a special train an,
sail tomorrow on the liner Georg
Washington. on which It came to France
This time the party will be much re
duced. the large star Of State Depart
ment employees and numerous expert