The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-02-04
ALL QUESTIONS
HINGE ONLEACUE|
Unhoped-for Conference As
sumed in Light of World
Society of Nations.
PUBLICITY NEED E D
Recent Irritation and Annoy
ance Gould Have Been
Avoided.

Avoided.
(I.ondon Times Phil. Ledger Cop. Cablel
Paris, Feb. 3.--The more the main
problems of the peace conference are
scrutinized, the more clearly does 1t
appear that the adoption by the con-
ference of a league of nations as It's
first principle more than outweigh It's
slowness in reaching Its decisions In
other directions. The questions ap-
preached in the light Of a league are
assuming unhoped for conference. by
calling on principles OF a league, the
conference is doing more than pro-
ducing what is to be hoped will be
tolerable settlement of their owner
ship. 1t Is laying down valuable
precedent in regard to territorial
questions. If by next week formula
has been found for the league, and
If the colonial question can be really
settled in principle, together with the
problem of reparation by Germany.
there will be good ground for expec-
tation that the committees upon
which the work will more and more
devolve will be able to make speedy
progress in preparing the ground for
the advent of the German delegates
and for the return of President Will
son to Europe some time in the
spring.
It is to be hoped that last weeks
outburst by the small countries over
the way in which the league was
railroaded into the program without
their being consulted, and the pres
ent controversy with some OF the
British dominions, and to a certain
extent with Japan over the former
German overseas possession, VIII
have It's effect and that henceforth a
real effort will be made so that none
OF their colleagues Is left unden1o-
cratically in the cold. II that is done
there is no real reason why, with a
league of nations as the key piece.
the peace puzzle should not in the
next few weeks fall into place more
quickly than the volume of criticism
against the management of the con-
ference to which Paris has been
treated would allow one to hope.
Public Will Be Surprised.
1t Is true that the public, looking
at the concrete results, is not yet and
is not likely to be satisfied with what
it could find. 1t may soon realize
that within a short space of time all
the preparatory work begun will bear
fruit. and instead of having each day
an item of news, 1t will find whole
mess of important results presented
for it's digestion in one morning.
The discussion on the German colo
nies Is likely to continue some little
time. 1t Is known that Mr.. Wilson
has adopted very firm attitude and
the many arguments he brought for
ward made n great impression upon
the British delegation and have been
accepted by the French. The French
are just as much concerned over the
future of their great colonial empire
in Africa as the British, but there
does does not exist the same relation
ship between their colonies, which
are more in the nature of crown colo
MES, and the mother country as ex-
lists between the British imperial
government and the dominions.
Britain Aoquiescent.
The attitude of the British imperial
government seems to have been one
OF ready acquiescence to the applica-
ton of a mandatory system for the
British crown colonies and a keen ex-
animation of such a method when ap-
piled to territories interesting the do
minions. The dominions naturally
have a sentiment of amour propre"
Ch thNoS Hty dIG
in regarding themselves as somewhat
isolated outposts of the empire, hav-
ing special dangers to guard against
and special problems to consider. 1t
cannot be said the tendency of the
British war cabinet to agree to a
mandatory system, If the proper for
mula of a mandate can be devised,
has the wholehearted approval of the
empires delegates, but it is neverthe-
less felt that there is exaggerated talk
about the British empire being in
danger.
The difficult problems of the con-
ference must be envisaged on two
sides, that of the problems in them
selves and that of their relation to
the general settlement.
The assignment of particular COL
onies to this or to that trustee is
matter of fact much more important
than even the precise terms of the
trust. There is a large field for the
exercise of a prominent central au-
thority without there being any real
interference with the details of its
general administration and with the
control established by the trustees
upon whom the mandate is conferred.
Broader Application.
1t Is a world settlement the peace
conference is asked to decide and the
fate of the German colonies is of the
greatest Importance, since by its set
tlement it will lay>down a principle
which will find application on a much
broader scale, not only in dealing
with territorial difficulties in Europe,
but in considering the freedom of the
seas. in which the dominion govern
ments are no less interested than is
the British imperial government The
mere fact of Great Britain and her
dominions becoming the manufactures
OF league of nations and assuming
the responsibilities of administering
further great territories must give
additional weight to the imperial and
dominion voices in the sea settlement.
1t Is felt by many here that the
irritation and the annoyance which
are undoubtedly reported from the
dominions might have been avoided
had it been possible to open the poke
of the league of nations and allow
them to see what sort of a pig il is
the world is called upon to buy, for
II ever there was a question which
ought to be discussed in the full light
of publicity, IL is that of the league
of nations.
Sergt. Carey Evans Foster. lnman,
S. C., Company F, 11Sth infantry.
who attacked a machine gun nest
with hand grenades and pistol un-
aided, killing several and capturing
eighteen.
Corpl. John c. Villapigue, Camden.
s. C., Company VI, 11Sth infantry:
who continued without aid on a
scouting trip 500 yards in advance Of
his platoon after his three comrades
had been killed OF wounded. He
killed four of the enemy with hand
grenades and later rushed a machine
gun nest and killed four and cap
tured six Of the crew and two light
machine guns, although severely
wounded in the arm