Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-08
EVENTS OF A WEEK

EVENl y UF "A WEN
The supreme cou. ill of the peace conference has de-
voted much of its attention during the week to the
consideration OF plans for the proposed league OF nations.
1t seems now to be definitely decided that such a league
will be formed, and that the plans for it will be fairly
complete before the other important work of the confer
ence is undertaken. There have been some objections
especially in. this country, to the consideration Of the
league of nations before the actual conclusion Of peace
the plan proposed by the directors being to proceed with
the peace negotiations and conclude them, taking up the
league of nations as new and separate matter when other
things were disposed of. The attitude Of President Wilson
has been that the creation of a league of nations is a
necessary part of the work of this conference, and tnat
the conclusion of peace without at the same time making
provision through the creation of an international league
against the repetition of this war would be useless and
foolish. Either Of their own motion or as a result of the
arguments of MI. Wilson the other delegates of the major
powers have agreed that the consideration of this subject
shall be taken up in advance of the discussion. of the &C
tual terms of peace.
Interest swings again to the domestic affairs Of Ger
many because Of the opening there on Thursday Of the
constituent assembly at Weimar. This is. the great ma
tional gathering to which delegates were chosen at the
recent election, and it will be the business of the as
sembly forthwith to prepare a constitution for Germany
ill lieu of that which has served as a constitution since
the creation Of the empire nearly fifty years ago. While
no party in the assembly has a majority, and while the
various parties are known by names which have little
meaning to us, it appears that the element certain to
dominate the gathering is that representing the more
progressive of the conservative elements of the country,
as distinguished by the rabid and radical elements such
as that which was headed by the late Karl Liebknecht.
The prospect, therefore, is for the framing of a constitu-
ton republic in form, and really democratic in principle.
While the groundwork for peace is being laid at Paris,
and while preparations are under way for the formation Of
a German republic, the Germans need to be reminded
from time to time that it is only on suferance that they
are now living free from armed molestation. Expressions
ananating from representative Germans are frequently
heard complaining of the harshness of the terms of the
armistice, and in a number of details these terms have
aot been carried out. This is notably true in the case
Of the delivery Of vessels, as the merchant ships which
we're to have been turned over to the Allies have not yet
been delivered. The time is approaching for a third re-
aewal of the armistice. and in this connection the prompt
iulfllment Of the terms already agreed to will be in
sisted on.
The new revenue bill, on which congress has been at
work for months, has been passed at last. The divergent
plans of the two houses were harmonized by the confer
ence committee whose report was accepted by both house
and senate, and the bill now lacks only the presidential
signature to become a law. This is the bill under which,
prior to the armistice, it was proposed to raise eight bill
lion dollars in taxes during the current year. The new
conditions lessened the need Of funds, and the bill in it's
final form provides for the raising Of six billions this year
and four billions in 1920. There was a good deal of OPP
position to the latter provision on the ground that it was
impossible at this time to know what would be the needs
for next year, but the sponsors of the plan held that the
people had a right to know what taxes were being pro-
posed for them a year hence. The 1920 provision, Of
course. is only tentative, and 1t may be changed at will
by the new congress.
The spirit Of unrest seems to pervade the whole fled
Of labor, and many disturbances are noted. During the
week serious strikes have taken place in England, the city
of London being the center of the most serious. AS a
result Of these strikes city transportation by the usual
methods practically ceased, and the walking out OF cleo
tricians and members of allied trades practically stopped
the supply Of electricity to all the great city. The ordi-
nary imagination is scarcely equal to the task of pictur-
Fl ing the conditions in such a city as London with such
Interruptions in the supply of what have come to be the
nccessaries Of life in such a community.
While these labor disturbances are in progress across
tho water, American cities are having their own expert