The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-02-14
SMALL NATIONS
AND LEAGUE PLAN
Little Powers Insist Upon
Equal Representation
SIGNS OF A DEADLOCK
Situation Similar To Hague Confer
ence-Prcamble And Two Articles
OF Peace Society
Agreed Upon.

Paris-Although the five great al
lied and associated powers which are
directing the Peace Conference have
turned over much of the work to COM
missions, the society of nations Ques-
ton, especially with reference to the
smaller nations, is becoming knotty
problem.
The smaller nations, it is declared,
want full equality in Society OF Ma
lions and also greater powers than the
plans already outlined give to them.
The great powers, on the other hand.
are faced with a situation that if each
State Is given one member on SUI
preme court of nations, they might
find themselves in the minority, al
though their interests might be much
greater and probably would be.
It is not believed that the great
powers would consent to an arrange
ment of this sort, and situation sim
liar to that at the second Hague
Peace Conference appears to be in
the making. The experts on the So
ciety Of Nations question are hopeful
of finding a way to get the smaller
States to agree to the plan so that it
will not fail as Elihu Roots scheme
for supreme court of nations failed
of approval at the second conference
at The Hague.
The preamble and two articles of
the constitution of the Society of Ma
tons were Professionally agreed upon
by the commission of the Peace Con-
ference appointed to deal with that
subject, it was officially announced
Satisfactory progress was made with
other parts of the task. The question
of adding representatives of other
powers to the commission, it was add
ed, is being discussed The text of
the official announcement reads
''The commission on the league of
nations met at the Hotel de Crillon
and commenced its detailed discus
sions. A preamble and two articles
were discussed and their texts were
Professionally agreed upon. Satisfac-
tory progress was made in regard to
other parts of the draft. The ques-
ton Of adding representatives of 9th
er powers to the commission also was
discussed.
Among the subjects which the Su-
preme Council has turned over to
committees is that of the conflicting
claims of the smaller nations of the
Entente to territory which is likely
to be taken from enemy countries. 1t
is the design of the Supreme Council
that such questions as these be adj
justed ultimately in harmony with
the principles of the society of ma
tons, it is explained, but pending the
completion of the organization of that
society it has been found expedient
to arrange for full hearing of all
these claims.
1t is expected that the same course
will be followed with the claims of
Italy to territory beyond the italian
Irredenta proper, including the Dali
matian coast, which are to be heard
next by the Supreme Council.
This method of work gives the mem
bers of the Society of Nations Com
mittee a better opportunity to hasten
their work. Indications are that this
system will make it possible to get
the Society of Nations plan out of
committee and before the plenary con-
ference within the 10 days remaining
of President Wilson's stay in France.