The Washington herald., 1920-06-07
European Intrigue Renewed
Give Brussels Peace
Palace.
GROUNDS PURCHASED
American Suffrage Leaders
See Site Picked for
Building.
BY CONSTANCE DRExEL.
(Yashington Herald-Public Ledger
Service, Special Cable DfspafchO

BY CONSTANCE DRExEL.
Service. Special Cable Dfspafeh.)
Geneva, June 6.-That the world
Is very different place today from
what was hoped for less than a year
ago was forcibly illustrated this af-
ternoon by motor trip to the site
chosen for the home of the Society
of Nations.
Paul Trechsel, director Of the
leagues interests in Geneva, took a
party to the beautiful grounds on
Lake Geneva, facing a magnificent
view of Mont Blanc. sixty miles
away. across the French border.
Guillaume Fatio, who has been in
close touch with the plans of the
Organization of a society of nations
here in Geneva, explained along the
way what had been hoped for and
what was now possible. In the party
were Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait,
founder and president of the Inter-
national womsn's Suffrage Alliance;
Marjorie Shuler, of New York, and
myself. Every moment We heard
words to the effect that it was not
possible to do this or that because
America had not Joined the league.
Swiss Disappointed.
The possibility that Geneva will
be sidetracked for the time being at
least is proving a keen disappoint-
ment here. as the Swiss people on
May II, voted to enter the league
in the belief the organization would
be Immediately transferred here.
Geneva, as the capital of the So
ciety of Nations, was conforming to
the American point of view" we
were told. I'm fact the Americans
wanted the Peace Conference here
so as to get away from intrigues
in war-ridden Paris. but French III
sistence prevailed. The same ele-
ments wanted Paris London as
the capital of the league, but Presi-
dc mt Wilson and Col. House worked
hard in favor of Geneva, supported
by Lord Robert Cecil, and finally
won; but, now that America is pow
erless, the other factors again in
sist on Brussels"
Appeal to Americans.
Both NJ. Fatio and William Mar
tin say that Brussels would be a
of the combination of
the London Paris domination.
1T was the American point of view
that the league should be universal.
ami that is why Geneva was chosen"
said NJ. Martin. He was the editor
of the Journal de Geneve, who Wis
tied America with five other Swiss
editors as guests of George CreePs
Publicity Information Bureau in
1918. Last autumn he Joined the
of the league of nations
in London. He is en- route to the
second international labor confer
ence. which is to meet in Genoa.
We visited the grounds about five
miles from Geneva, where last sum-
mer it was expected that by now
thousands of workmen would be
busy constructing the most power
full wireless station in the world to
radiate news, laying out landing
places for aeroplanes and building
legations for the various nations.
Golf Links Selected.
The Swiss government had pro-
cured an option on several private
estates, some of them containing a
mile on the lake front and exteno-
ing half a mile back, with many
beautiful trees and fields. NJ. Fatio
told us what the British commits
sion which had come to look things
over last summer had said-that.
of course, they must have golf
links. while the Americans had an
swered for a good baseball dia-
mond.
You can see the site would have
been big enough for both," NJ
Fatio said.
He told US all these plans had
been dropped. America had been
counted upon to take the lead" he
said. Now only small beginning
is planned. but everything Is ready
for that beginning"
In the city. near the Grand Hotel
de la Paix, headquarters of the
delegations of suffragists,
we were shown the buildings in
as offices for the
league, and the Hotel des Bergues.
Just made anew. which will house
many of the officials.
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