The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-03-24
AMENDMENT TO
/ LEAGUE 0 NATIONS
Would Prevent Any Power Ac-
quiring Territory in
Americas by Con-
quest.
BY PURCHASE OR TREATY
President Wilson Expected to Strong
~ Advocate Adoption as
Part of League
Covenant.
BY PURCHASE OR TREATY
[By Carl D. Groat, United Press Staff
Correspondent

III
Correspondent
! PARIS, March 24.-An amendment
to the league of nations covenant
covering the Monroe doctrine advo-
Gated by President Wilson and
Colonel House is expected to be pre-
sented at tonight's session Of the
league commission.
The proposed amendment would
prevent any power from acquiring
territory in the western hemis-
phere by conquest, purchase. treaty
or otherwise, unless the Americas
consented.
This article was reported today to
the meeting with opposition from
within the commission, especially by
the British and French, who have ex-
|! tensive interests in the Americas. 1t
could not be learned whether the
president will attempt to force
through the amendment despite the
opposition, but it was believed he
will strongly advocate its adoption,
| inasmucb as 1t would remove much
| OF tho ground for opposition in the
| United States. The Monroe doctrine
proposal is held by some to mark a
considerable recession from Wilson's
original position, that the covenant
would not be altered, except in a
minor way.
The proposal for changes in the
covenant submitted by Senator King,
Of Utah, have not yet been officially
commented on.
Japan's recommendation for an
amendment providing racial equality
was not presented at Saturdays
meeting
"a press association dispatch Sat
urday said 1t was up for considera-
+, ton. The United Press said It's
presentation had been postponed.j
1t may be reserved until the con-
stitution is debated by the plenary
session. Many Of the delegates are
understood to favor equality of
nations, but not of nationalities.
Agreement With Seamen.
! BERLIN, March 22.-The German
government has reached an agree
ment with the seamen regarding
manning ships to be turned over to
! the allies, it was announced today.
| The German sailors, 1t was said,
compromised their factional differ
| ences and decided to take the ships
out. -Four sailed from Hamburg to-
| day.
In State Of Chaos.
| [By Lowell Mellett, United Press
| Staff Correspondent
| PARIS, March 24.-The peace Con-
ference today began what was sup
| posed to be the last week Of it's work
on the preliminary peace treaty with
everything apparently in state Of
chaos. ut seemed as though the dele
| gates had nothing to show for their
many weeks Of hard work except an
increased accumulation of unsolved
| problems.
If the situation is half as bad as
| its surface indications, it seems Ger
tain the conference will not wind up
! it's work on the treaty this week or
| for several weeks. But members of
! the American delegation pointed out
that the situation is similar to that
Of the closing days of congress a
| state legislature or a national con-
vention, when it appears impossible
| that the work will be completed, yet
it is always finished.
| There is tendency to feel, too,
| that hereafter the British and Amer
| leans will cut the Gordian knots in
! the peace settlement by the direct
method of laying down a program
| for solution and enforcing it by their
| economic, financial and political
I domination.
! For instance, the Rhine question
appeared insoluble today. The French
! were still holding out for territorial
security on the left bank. Various
compromises have been suggested,
! rejected and renewed The most
buffer state by establishing indie
pendence of the Rheinish provinces.
! If no schame consistent with the
principle of self-determination and
no annexations is achieved, the prob
lem Is expected to be terminated by
flat American and British declara-
ton somewhat to this effect:
"You have tried and we have
helped you to work out plan OF
territorial guarantees which will not
violate the principles underlying the