The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-02-15
SIGNING OF
PEACE TREATY
Continued from page ID

questions purely for information and
who feel that preliminary discussion
now will he helpful when the league ls
before tho senate for formal approval.
OF the first question some senators
feel the constitution is somewhat
vague. They wish to know whether the
executive council will designate the
nation TO have command OF any punt.
tive force which it may be necessary
to call out. Some provision should De
made, 1T is argued for unity or COM
r,and and the assumption in the minds
OF most senators is that such was the
intention of the trainers Of the coh-
stitution.
ON the second point, may senators
are critical and more are skeptical OIL
It's acceptance by the American peo-
pie and those Of other countries. The
sizo OF Americas army and navy
should be left to the American people,
these senators say but they, in COM
mon with all others. are Withholding fl
nal judgement on this point until 1t
has been explained little more fully.
Both the first and second points are
closely related, senators said. to the
third, which they regard as most I'M
.portant Senators Lewis and Hitchcock
(democrats) ardent friends OF rne
league, declared today its success,
from Americas point OF view, at least,
depends largely upon Interpretation
of the various articles in the leagues
constitution and their administration.
In the hands Of European statesmen.
welded to traditional old world meth
DDS the same provisions might become
dangerous, 1t was pointed out But the
y ~ Sh<k 10 n
tile first meeting end actually get the
league under way, and the probability
that for some years he will have an
active part in its work, were held to
insure the operation along democratic
American lines.
Senator Hitchcock, chairman OF the
foreign relations committee, devoted
yesterday to careful study of the con-
stitution and was prepared today to
meet inquiries, should they be put
Senator Lewis, who has kept in
close touch with President Wilson's
ideas on the league. also was prepared
to enlighten the senate either on the
three points mentioned or on the
many others expected to be raised.
One Article Eliminated
PARIS, Feb. 15.-One of the most
important articles of the league Of
nations constitution was understood
today to have been eliminated at the
last moment before its presentation
to the general peace congress. This
provided that the life of the league,
in it's present form, should be ten
years.
The reason for the reported with
drawal Of this provision could not be
ascertained. 1t was believed, how
ever, that inasmuch as the present
is only tentative and may
be amended greatly before it is form
ally adopted by the member nations.
that there was no essential reason
for placing a time limit on continue
ton OF the organization as now con-
stituted
The provision regarding admission
Of new members is so framed that
Germany and Austria can not be IN
GUIDED In the league until they give
absolute assurance that they will live
lp to the peace terms imposed upon
them. The other great candidate for
Russia. must also furn-
ish guarantees. This particular ar
ticle is believed to have been aimed
particularly at these three nations,
as all other countries Of inheritance
will be signatories at the outset.
Draft fs Not Final.
MANCHESTER, England Feb. 15-
'The league draft is necessarily not
final and we hope that in some re-
spects it will be amended" the
Guardian said today.
There is a good chance for the
league to be ruined, not by peoples,
but by officials. We trust this can be
Constitution Endorsed.
LONDON, Feb. 15.-The constitu-
ton of tie league of nations received
of the London morning
today.
The draft goes deeper into the
causes OF war and will dc more for
their removal than any one expect
ed" declared the Times. at is the
most important international docu-
ment ever published"
ut is the greatest scheme ever
forged for the maintenance of peace"
In the opinion Of the News.
1--WE hope the draft means the
opening of new era of political
life" said the Mail. "It is a noble
effort to achieve a great ideal"
1--WE are hopeful that the constitu-
ton is a satisfactory rendering of
the conclusions to which the allies
are coming" the Chronicle said.
"If the league does not give an
effectual means for preventing war.
It at least gives what we hope and
trust will be a solid alliance of the
Eve great powers. which is no mean
achievement in the cause of peace"
said the Post.
''It is pregnant with good for the