The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-02-16
MAGMA CHARTA Of
MANKIND, LEAGUE
DRAFT IS CALLED
LONDON STAR SO CHARAC-
TERIZES 1T AND AS COVE
NANT OF HUMANITY"
BRITISH PRESS PLEASED
Paris Papers Somewhat Sarcastic
Over Document-One Writer
Says the 26 Articles Bring France
no Security-Far From Wilson'S
First Proposals.

no Security-Far From Wilson'S
First Proposals
London, Feb l5.-The London
newspapers generally praise the
draft OF the League OF Nations.
Many hail it as the most important
and most memorable document in
history and congratulate the fram-
erS, especially President Wilson.
'Thc morning newspapers express
satisfaction over the sound start
made. though several point out that
considerable work has vet to be
done before the ideals OF the league
can be fully realized
4 few provisions are crlucised,
namely, the omission OF a provis-
ion for a general conference" as
included in the League OF Nations
plan OF General SHUTS. In de-
ploring the absence OF this feature
the Manchester Guardian, long a
champion Of the league, says:
I'VE stand a good chance OF get
ting the league OF nations run, not
BY the peoples, but by officials.
The defect is one which cannot be
overlooked and when President
Wilson comes back from America,
we trust that the constitution Of
the league may be subjected to a
somewhat searching revision
But apart from this the Guardian
inds that the document CORES
ponds with all the hopes that have
been founded on it." 1t says that
the draft covers not only the ques
ton OF boundaries but.also OF re-
ligious liberties and local auton-
omes and declares that the care
OF backward nations is a matter
which cannot be neglected, "and
it comes naturally within the pro-
yinccs OF the league
The majority OF the evening pa
pcrs also ioin in praisino the docu-
ment. The Evening News calls
it the great charter which will put
an end to war" The Star says:
I'VE rejoice exceedingly for here
at last we have the Magma Charta
OF mankind. the covenant OF hu-
manity"
The Liverpool Post. after an
alyzing the draft. complains that
1T looks a triile official and says
that. although this is not the mo-
mcnt ior unsystematic criticism.
for the league "to obtain the full
moral authority that should be
'one to it. it will sooner or later
have to derive its direct inspira-
ton from a genuine parliament oI
man.
Paris Press Dubious
Paris. Feb. l5.-Comment in
representative French newspapers
on the constitution OF the League
oi Nations as presented at yeSter-
dav', pIenary session OF the peace
conference reveals little enthuSi-
asm over the shape the project has
taken. The Figaro says;
The commission. on the initia-
rive OF its illustrious chairman.
President Wilson, wisely decided
not to ravish tomorrow from the
eternal and confined itself to max
ING safe the present, The mystic
society OF nations has, then, he
come league OF the five great
powers which beat Germany and
which. having conquered, mean to
consolidate both victory and
.ncacc. \ close alliance will result
b%ctwccn the United States. Eng
land, France, Italy and Japan"
Tie writer, Alfred Campus, edit.
or OF the Figaro, says in addition
that the future is opened to bet
ter settlement, but that naturally il
as vague and nebulouS,'
The Journal, one of the mos
widely circulated newspapers here
says: "While all are speaking o
decentralization and eternal peace
the French people cannot LOSE
sight OF reality and reality in thu
vicinity OF 70000,000 humiliateC
Germans shuddering under merit
ed punishment 1t is half of Eu
rope in chaos. When we are
evoked. amidst such perceptives
the seductive idea OF disarmament
il is our duty to ask plainly where
are the guarantees and what is th'
force which will shelter us iron
the reaction OF tragic surprise. II
these questions a careful rcadm!
of the statutes OF the society o
nations and the eloquent spceche
made at the conference bring bu
one answer: Moral force
"Pertinax." in the Echo de Paris
ends long article by saying
1--WE are forced to conclude tha
n the % articles bring us no secur
( ity. Until they are changed, W
can sacrifice nothing OF our mean
OF defense to them.
~ The socialist newspaper Human
Fte is even less pleased than Tt
Continued on page 3