Evening star., 1919-03-17
VARYING VIEWS Of
LEAGUE DISPOSAL
Paris Reports Conflict Re-
garding Inclusion of Cove
nant in Peace Treaty..
FRENCH LEADER DOUBTS

Conflicting reports from Paris con-
cerning the progress of the league of
nations project cause confusion and
perplexity to official Washington, in
Guiding the senators who vet remain
in town
President Wilson last Saturday ca
bled Secretary Tumulty that he was
assured of Incorporation of the leagu
of nations covenant in the treaty of
peace The Presidents communica-
ton fatty refuted previous cable dis
patches from Paris of contrary
character.
Today the cables quote Foreign
Minister Pichon of France as ex-
pressing doubt whether it will be pos
treaty on account of the recognized
necessity of speedily adjusting the
preliminaries of peace, on the one
hand, and the delay inevitable conse-
quent upon amending the covenant,
on the other. 1t is reported to be
guarding the Monroe doctrine will be
proposed and is probably acceptable
to majority of the commission.
Nothing was said about the demand
of Japan for an expression prohlblt-
ing race discrimination, which has
vital bearing upon immigration QueS-
tions in Australia, New Zealand and
the United States.
Minister Pichon's Suggestion.
Foreign Minister Pichon is quoted
as suggesting that the treaty of
peace might appropriately and con-
veniently carry an expression OF ad-
herence to the general idea of a
league of nations. leaving the details
sequent convention. BY such plan
it is assumed that President Wilson
would be safeguarded from seeming
reputation of his insistence upon
recognition of the league of nations
plan and the first step in the direc-
1t is thought here that such a treaty
would be speedily ratified by the
Senate. While several diein- -the-last-
ditch senators have proclaimed their
utter adherence of anything smack
ing of a league of nations agreement.
be that a broad Endorsement of the
league of nations. incorporated in a
peace efecting treaty. would be pret-
ty hard to defeat. Senators with the
exception of the ultra ra-opponents, feel
that there is strong sentiment in
nations to. prevent war and that once
such a plan can be shorn Of details
offensive to. American ideals. policies
and traditions. popular feeling will
approve 1t.
Discussion Is Handicapped.
One result of the uncertainty ex-
listing abroad. or at least indicated
by the press dispatches to exist, will
be. it Is said. to handicap discussion
ana criticism of the league Of ma
tions project. Critics find the grounds
Of their objections shifting from day
to day. disappearing in one place and
appearing tomorrow in another. For
instance. reports of the acceptance
roe doctrine would disarm at once
group of protesting senator's Next
day comes the explicit statement that
the covenant is not to be amended in
any way. whereupon the aforesaid
group grid themselves anew for the
fray-and SO it goes.
Friend and foe of the league plan
alike will be glad when the treaty
comes out and the exact status of the
covenant is made known. Eager ad-
vocates and opponents are ready and
anxious to jump into the battle and
defend or assail. as the case my be.
when they have something definite to
go upon.
Quotes Presidents Speech.
Senator Poindexter OF Washington
has dug up from the records an ex-
preston of President Wilson which,
it is claimed. shows inconsistency be-
tween the Presidents views as pre-
sented not very long ago on the sub.
ject of foreign entanglements and his
attitude now. In an address delivered
upon the occasion of the unveiline of
the statue to Commodore Barry in
this city. May Is. 1914. President VIII
son said:
What does the United States stand
for. then. that our hearts should be
stirred by the memory of the men
who set her Constitution up? John
Barry fought, like every other man in
the revolution. that America might be
terruption or disturbance from any
other quarter. You can sum the whole
thing up in that-that America had n
right to her own self-determined life:
and what are our corrollaries from
that? You do not have to go back to
s..
sues of the revolution Some of the
issues of the revolution were NOT the
cause Of it, but merely the occasion
for it.
"vital Things" Stirring Now.
There are just as vital things
stirring now that concern the ex-
istence of the nation as were stir
ring then. and every man who wor-
thily stands D. this presence should
examine himself and see whether he
has the full conception Of what it
means that America should live her
own life.
washington saw it when he wrote
his farewell address. 1t was not mere
ly because of passing and transient
circumstances that Washington said
we must keep free from entangling
alliances. 1t was because he saw
that no country had yet set her face
in the same direction that America
had set her Face.
1--WE cannot form alliances with those
who are not going our way; and in
our might and majesty and in the
confidence and definiteness of pur-
pose we need not and should not form
alliances with any nation in the
world
TORNADO KILLS NINE.