The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-02-03
AMERICAS PACIFIC
INTERESTS PROTECTED
FROM JAP MENACE, IF
WILSON GAINS POINT
In Peace Discussion-Presi-
dent Shows Himself Apt
Master of<Anecdote.

Uondon Times Phil. Ledger Cop. Cable,)
Paris, Feb 3.-President Wilson is
urging withSgreat tenacity the view
that the whole OF the Pacific Islands,
those north and those south of the
equator, should be intrusted to AUS
stra1a&4E al the mandatory Of the
|1eaGaaA sti4dhss aLascsiients iisers,'
If Ne gains the point, will establish
precedent for the settlement of
other and more difficult matters in
volving territorial interests, and
America, incidentally, will also gain
materially by thus rendering impos-
sible any menace there might be to
the Philippines and PAN America by
reason of Japanese occupation of the
Marshall and Caroline islands.
Whether it will be possible to find
a formula for a trusteeship which
will be satisfactory to Australia and
the other dominions and the Euro
pean colonizing powers remains to be
seen. 1t is clear from the French
press that any arrangement based on
this principle will have to be applied
impartially to colonies in every part
Of the world and already surprise Is
being expressed at q report that Ger
man Southwest Africa is to be un-
conditionally joined to the Union Of
South Africa.
Seek Elastic Formula.
The powers are seeking to find
formula sufficiently elastic as to be
capable of being in accordance with
local conditions while generally gov
erning the settlement of the whole
world question. Point of Mr.. Will
sons peace proposals would seem, at
first sight, sufficiently broad in con-
ception to permit an agreement be-
ing reached.
All five Of the big powers and of
the small nations, Belgium and Por-
tugal, are interested in the debate
which is going on. Although 1t
would appear insignificant as COM
pared with the great territorial prob
lens which await solution in Europe,
nevertheless for the first time 1t
raises the real work of the confer
ence-that of the creation of a new
world based upon the main principles
of the league Of nations.
Some Returns on Capital.
In some sections of the French
press the view is urged that under
the American scheme applied in these
regions-the Cameroons and Togo
1and-wherein France Is particularly
interested. France, as a mandatory of
the league of nations. would be pay
ing for the administration OF coun-
tries which would, in a short time,
be exploited by German trade in de-
triment to their own. There is also
the fact that those who would un-
dertake the mandate must be en-
titled to some return upon their CAPT
tai. The question is also raised as
to what might happen in the event of
mandatory country incurring heavy
losses in endeavoring to develop
country entrusted to them. Some
critics have argued that since the
mandates will be given by the league
of nations they may also be taken
away by that body. They point out
that within a short time there will
be included in the league number
of countries who have not been ailied
in the war and then raise questions
of security in the tenure of the league
mandates.
A great many Of these criticisms
have been heard in the course of a
few days discussion, a discussion in
which the greatest firmness has been
exerted in behalf of both points of
view and in which Mr.. Wilson has
again shown himself ar apt master
of anecdote.
Many Varied Arguments.
Many varied arguments have been
set up against them.
If an agreement were less easy
than it is. the associated powers
would be drawn together by the Ger
man claims which have been hardly
modified by defeat. Leaving out the
question of such a large scheme as
the formation of a German empire
stretching from the sea across Africa
providing a vast supply of potential
black soldiers. IL is not forgotten
there was laid little stress on the
possessions of colonies as homes for
surplus population it was preferred
Germans should infiltrate the posses
sions of other nations rather than