Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-02-07
OUTLINE OF PEACE
LEAGUE SUBMITTED
American Idea Largely Rules thu
Favored Plan.
TWO FORMS ARE STUDIED
one Course is Fought by Small Ma
tions--It Would Consist of an Ex-
ecutive, Instead Of Legislative
Body-WiIson Presides.

0Cuy-WltSOH FtS0tN~Ss
Paris, Feb. 5.-Prssident Wilson pre-
sided over the commission of the So
ciety of Nations, which had before ii
the completed project for constituting
the league, discussing it article by
article
While there is no authoritative In
formation on details of the project,
distribution of printed drafts among
the members has disclosed the main
featufes, and these can be summar-
lied as follows:
Two main plans have been pre-
sented, which the members of the
commission regard as embodylng the
American views, though both plans
are composite, containing the best fea-
lures from various sources, American,
British, French and Italian.
First Plan Democratic.
Both plans are being considered to-
gether. In It's original form the first
plan is generally regarded as more
democratic and more acceptable to the
small powers, whereas the revised plan
eliminates them from the executive
branch of the proposed organization
of an international supreme council,
with a fundamental basis of codifled
international law.
The first plan had three main fea-
lures:
First-A legislative branch, on which
the great and sinai! nations were
equally represented, each as a unit,
Second--An executive branch con-
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 executive body
a total membership of nineteen, of
whom ten represented the great pow
ers. and nine represented the small
powers.
Thlrd-Arbitration was provided for
the determination Of international is
sues. In case of dispute between
two nations, each nation named ar
hitrators. and these two selected a
third arbitrator. Three arbitrators
thus chosen constituted a tribunal for
determining the issues.
Favored by Small Nations.
The foregoing, on broad lines, is
the project which meets with most ia
vor among the small nations, as they
would be represented both on the leg
islative and executive branches.
Ie e. 80 10. ,olA
ization would follow somewhat the
lines 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 inn
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 representatives
from each. to which others from the
small powers may be added when in
terests especially affecting them are
at issue.
Court supplants Arbitration.
The third branch Is entirely changed,
to eliminate the plan of arbitrators
and substitute an executive council of
the great powers as a tribunal for
Judging international issues analogous
to the international supreme council.
1t Is the two latter features which
are regarded by the small powers as
tending to concentrate the executive
and judicial branches in the hands OF
the great powers, whereas the small
ipowers prefer the plan giving them a
status on the executive branch and
arbitration as means of judicial de
termination. instead of tribunal OF
the great powers.
Compromise Sought
The question now before the com
mission is one largely between the
great and small powers. Several
small powers are understood to be
preparing amendments to the re
lviSed plan to give them representa-
ltiyes in all branches of the organiza.
ton, and it is said the tendency among
the great powers is to give every rea
tsonthle consideration to these desires
while preserving to the major powers
isuch voice as their larger interests
warrant.
The supreme council agreed the
questior in the statement of Premier
Venizelos concerning Greek territorial
interests should be referred to a com
mission of experts for recommended
lions.