Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1919-02-05
COMPLETED
PROJECT Of
LEAGUE IS
DISCUSSED
Delegates Discuss Plan Article
by Article; Program Pro-
vides for Three Branches of
International Governing

PARIS. Feb president Wilson
presided tonight over the commission
on the society OF nations. which had
before il the completed project for
constituting the league. discussing il
article by article While there is no
authoritative information concerning
the details OF the project, the distribu-
tion of printed drafts among the mem
bers has disclosed the main features,
and these can be summarized as fol
lows: Two main plans have been
presented, which the members Of the
commission regard as embodying the
American views, though both plans are
composite, containing the. best fea-
lures from various sources. American.
British, French and Italian
Both plans are being considered to-
gether- In its original form the first
plan IS generally regarded as more
democratic and therefore more accept
able 10 the small powers. where the re-
Tised plan is not so acceptable 10 the
small powers. as IL eliminates them
from the executive branch OF the pro
posed organization and is a long step
toward the creation OF an interna-
tiOnal supreme council. with = funda-
mental basis OF codified international
law.
Three Main Features
The first plan had three main lea
tures-first, a legislative branch, on
which the great and small nations
were equally represented, each as a
unit.
SecOnd-an executive branch cOa-
sisting of two members from each OF
the great powers, United States.
Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan
and nine members chosen from the
small powers This gave the execu-
tive body total membership OF 19, OF
whom ten represented the great pow
ers, and nine represented the small
powers
Third-arbitratiOn was provided To-
the determination OF international is
sues. In case OF a dispute between
two nations. each nation named arbi-
traitors, and these two selected third
arbitrator Three arbitratOrs thus
chosen constituted a tribunal for de-
te-mining the issues
Favored by Small Nations
The foregoing, on broad lines. is the
project which meets with most favor
-amOng the small nations, as they
would be represented both on the leg
islative and executive branches II is
TO be noted that such an organization
would follow somewhat the lines of
that OF the present peace conference,
as the legislative branch is analogous
TO the plenary session OF the confer
ence, while the executive branch is
similar TO the council OF the great
powers now holding daily sessions
The revised plan makes several i'm
pOrtant changes The legislative
branch remains the same, with the
great and small nations represented
The executive branch is modified
however, so as to consist chiefly OF
the great powers. with two represen
tatives from each, TO which Others
from the small powers may be added
when interests especially affecting
them are at issue
Third Branch Changed
The third branch is entirely
changed, so as to eliminate the plan
of arbitrators and substitutes a coun
ell of the great powers as a tribuna
for judging international issues. ana
Iogous to the international supreme
council
II is the two latter features which
are regarded by the small powers a.
tending to concentrate the executive
and judicial branches in the hands o
the great powers, whereas the small
powers prefer the plan giving them
status on the executive branch, ant
arbitration as a means of judicial de
termination, instead OF a tribunal o
the powers.
The question now before the CON
mission is one largely between tn
great and small powers Several O
the small powers are understood TO b
preparing amendments 10 the revise
plan. with a view 70 giving them rel
resentatives in all branches OF the o.
ganization and it is said that the tel
dency against the powers is 10 Civ
every reasonable consideration {
these desires. while preserving TO IN
major powers such voice as their larl
er interests and responsibilities Wa
rant
Official Statement
The official statement on the DIT
ceedings OF the supreme cOunc
reads:
The president OF the United SNte