South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-28
MAKING OF PEACE


ization Of the peace congress were
taken on Jan Il. when the supreme
war council, members Of which were
Pres't Wilson and Sec'y Lansing OF
the United States, and the premiers
and foreign ministers of Great Sri
tain, France and Italy. together with
Marshal Foch and military repre-
sentatives OF the several powers, be-
gan actual consideration OF the
terms of peace TO be imposed upon
the central powers. The peace con-
gress itself. without delegates from
the defeated powers or Russia, met
in the ministry Of foreign affairs at
Paris on Jan. Is. Pres't Wilson
proposed Premier Clemenceau for
permanent chairman Of the confer
enCe and the delegates elected him
by unanimous vote It was deter
mined at the beginning that only
the five great belligeront powers, the
United states, Great Britain, France.
Italy and Japan, should take part IL
all meetings OF the conference and
commissions 10 be appointed; that
other belligerent and associated
powers should participate only in
meetings at which questions con-
corning them were TO be discussed
Question of Russia
Il was generally agreed that none
Of the defeated nations should be
invited 10 send representatives TO the
peace conference but there was
some difference OF opinion as TO
whether the representatives of exist
ing Russian governments should be
asked TO participate. France re-
fused 10 approve the proposal made
by Great Britain that the various
Russian governments be asked TO
send representatives to the confer
ence in the interest OF world har-
mOny but on Jan. % the supreme
council OF the peace conference an
nounced that II had approved the
proposal OF Pres't Wilson that each
organized group in Russia should
send representatives 20 confer with
delegates from the peace conference
at Princes Islands, Sea of Marmora,
with the understanding that in the
meantime hostilities between the
Russian factions should be discon-
tinued. The bolshevist government
CT Russia, however declined TO meet
the conditions imposed by the peace
conference and the proposed con-
ference at Princes Islands did not
materialize. As a result the Rus
sian problem remained unsolved
when the peace conference COM
pleted its work.
Europe I'm Turmoil.
As the Representatives Of the many
helligerent nations entered upon the
task of bringing peace to the world.
Europe was still in turmoil. The
old empire Of Austria Hungary had
been broken up into a number OF
new states the boundaries of which
were still unsettled. Poland was be-
| ing reconstructed and the fixing of
her boundaries gave rise 10 many
controversies between the Poles and
surrounding peoples. At the time
the peace conference met il seemed
that war for Europe had not been
ended when the armistice between
the central powers and the allies
was signed on Nov. II. 1918. The
situation was so serious that on Jan.
"a the peace delegates at Paris is
sued a solemn warning against the
use of armed forces in an attempt
70 gain possession Of territory be-
fore the claims involved should
come before the conference
| THE LEAGUE
OF NATIONS.
The question Of whether a League
OF Nations should be created as a
means Of preventing future wars
was one Of the first 70 be taken up
/ by the peace conference. On Jan.
25 the conference formally declared
/ in favor Of the establishment OF a
League OF Nations. and a commits
sion. OF which Pres't Wilson was
chairman, was appointed to prepare
a definite plan. The League Of Ma
tions commission held its first meet
| ing on Feb. 3 and on Feb. i Pres
| Wilson read and explained 70 the
peace conference a draft OF the con-
| stitution for the League Of Nations
! that had been prepared by the COM
! mission. The plan. as presented 20
! the conference. provided for an
executive council, 10 be composed Of
/ representatives Of nine nations and
/ for an international secretarfat. II
was provided that decisions Of the
| executive council should be enforced,
f necessary. BY the prevention OF
al financial. commercial or person
al intercourse" between the nation
! failing 20 abide by the decision and
4 all other member states or the
/ League Of Nations.
sails For Home.
/ on the same day that he present
ed this plan TO the peace conference
Pres't Wilson sailed for the United
states 10 attend the closing sessions
4 # congress at washington. Oppo-
sition 10 the incorporation OF the
League Of Nations covenant in the
/ peace treaty already had developed
In this country and Prest Wilson
upon his return. delivered an ad-
dress q Boston. in which he eTnpha-
sized the necessity OF the United
States taking a leading part in the
orra nization OF the League O. Ma
tons.
IN the meantime the peace con-