The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-10-15

could be present to perfect organization
of the conference.
When Secretary Wilson was asked
regarding the Berlin. cable which stated
that German delegates to the confer
ence had decided not to attend because
the letter of invitation sent from Paris
left it doubtful whether they were to
be admitted, Mr. Wilson pointed out
that the treaty itself provided that only
members of the league should send rep
resentatives. Germany is not named
as member of the league in the treaty
of peace
The, letter from Secretary Wilson to
Mr.. Lansing follows:
g In view of the uncertainty as to
just when the peace treaty will become
effective and as to how many nations,
if any, will be members of the league
of-nations by Oct. 20, thes'date set for
he convention of the international la
Dor conference, l beg to announce that
the following policy has been deter
mined upon:
The secretary of labor in accord
ance with the call issued by the Pres
ident will open the conference at the
time specified in the call, and receive
the credentials of the delegates if any
are there presented.
1t at the date of the opening of the
conference the treaty has become eff
fectlve through ratification by the re-
qulslte number of powers and a league
of nations is in existence and properly
authorized representatives of any mem
| bers OF such league are present at the
time OF the opening of the conference
the secretary of labor will proceed to
call such conference to order and to or
game it. 1t will then be within the
province and power of the duly quali-
| fed representatives then and there pres
ent to take such adjournment if any
| that they deem wise so that before pro-
| eeedlng with the agenda, a more COM
| plete membership of the league may be
| secured
| If the treaty has not become eff,
fectlve by Oct. 90, or, if it has no
| quallted representatives of members
| present the government of the United
States will adjourn further steps in
the organization of the conference un-
til date when it may be expected that
sufficient duly qualified representatives
of members can be present so that the
organization of the conference NAV be
perfected
The foregoing policy is based upon
the following considerations:
| There is, no provision in the treaty
under the authority of which any gov.
eminent or any body of representatives
OF any government can postpone the
conference or authorize its convocatiou
other than in the month of October
II the conference is not convened in
October it cannot be convened at al
| without an amendment to the treaty
Under the treaty, the conference
mas complete power to determine its
lWh mode Of procedure. If, therefore
mere are any duly qualified members
the conference present when it is
convened they have unquestionable au
thorlty to provide for such adjourn
nent as they may deem advisable. Tn.
der ordinary parliamentary procedure
ess than a quorum may adjourn 4
meeting from time to time until a
quorum is present
Under the treaty the government
IF the United States is given authority
not only to make arrangements fol
converting, but also for the organiza.
ion of the conference. The conference
has been duly called for date within
I the month of October. The power te
organize the conference implicitly an5
necessarily carries with it the power
to hold the conference open until sucl
later date As it may be possible L
fully organize it. While the power t.
convene ends with the convocation OF
the conference, which must, under tn,
treaty, take place in October, the pow
or to organize is continuing powe,
winch IS not specifically limited in tn,
treaty and necessarily must last on un
III such time as the conference is suf
hcientl y organized with qualified mem
bers TO be able to take over the direc
ton of It's own procedure >,