The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-02-17
Take Balkans Out Of politics.

kans out of European politics." de-
clared Stephen PanaretOff, Bulgarian
minister, in discussing the leagues
constitution with The United Press to-
day.
THE Balkans have been the pawns
of the European powers. They hays
been willing tools The league OF ma
tons must make them really independ,
ent This will remove the direct cause
Of the great war and the source Of the
worlds Ills for nearly century past"
Bulgaria eagerly awaits admission
to the league after her liability as all
associate Of the central powers in the
war has been Justly weighed. the en-
yoy stated.
Endorsed by TAFT.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IT, Elk
President Taft's endorsement Of the
league of nations constitution was
regarded here today as likely to have
considerable weight with republican
senators. The main point of differ
ence here We're as to whether the
covenant will cause surrender of
some of Americas sovereignty.
While some contended that the
league constitution tends to infringe
upon the national constitution, there
was little disposition to criticize
openly.
The presidents appeal to curb dis
cussion until he arrives and confides
the inwardness of the document to
foreign committee members served
to stop much Of the talk. While
there was no positive assurance that
discussion of the league would be
4-.l s,,te
tration members were disposed to
heed the presidents request while
the republicans showed tendency
to get the nations verdict rather
thoroughly before venturing on either
approval or condemnation.
Bringing Pressure.
PARIS, Feb. 17.-Renewed pres
supreme war council today for an i'm
mediate intervention in Russia, it
was learned from an authoritative
source.
The French were said to have
urged again that military action be
taken against the bolsheviki on a
large scale, while War Minister
Churchilrs proposal-which has not
been made public-was understood
today to contemplate proclamation of
a state of war if necessary.
The American position in opposi-
ton to a military policy remains un-
changed.
Taft, on League Of Nations.
PORTLAND. Ore, Feb. 17-"Presi-
dent Wilson is to be warmly con-
graduated on having the league of
nations take the substantial form 1t
does declared ex-President William
II. Taft. who arrived here last night
to attend the northwestern congress
for a league of nations.
"Borah and Poindexter and the
others are using all their ingenuity
to bring all possible hypothesis
against the league. You can destroy
the constitution of the United States
by impossible hypothesis he said.
Il have already expressed myself
as being in favor of the league,
though there are two or three points
on which l would like to see it go
further.
II would have been glad had there
been clause in the league making
1t obligatory on the powers to furnish
troops and military force.
LAS it is, such military forces are
only voluntary. General Smutz' plan
for league would use boys for the
league to force the powers to obey
its decisions, but / would like to sec
military force back of its decisions"
France viii Abide by Decision.
by William Philip Simms, United
Press Staff Correspondent
PARIS. Feb. 1T.-France will abide
by the decision of the peace. confer
'ence regarding the league of nations
whether that decision is for or
against the league, it was learned on
high authority today.
The United Press is in a position
to set aside completely rumors that
the French insist on inserting GER
tain clauses in the league constitu-
ton before they accept it. The
French already had approved the cove
before the general peace congress
Friday.
The point made by Senator Bour-
geois is that France is the most men
aced nation in the world and that
the Germans are. figuratively, still
at the door of the French capital
As result Of this, France, with a
small population, is forced to MAIN
tain larger army than her less
threatened associates. Therefore, he
contends, the league ought to make
some provision TO even up this eco
nomfc strain. Bourgeois does not
favor al International army sta
toned permanently in France, but
he does want proportionate navy
forces scattered over the world.
among the member nations, ready