OCR Text |
Show NEED FOR HASTE. i ; It is said to bo the general expectation that congress will be called in extra session ses-sion some time during the month of May or by the first of June at tlio very latest. Sonator Lodge, Republican leader, has a6ked his colleagues who have left Washington Wash-ington to inform him where they can be reached on May 15. In the opinion of many people congress will, be in session at an earlier date. Much progress has been made by the representatives at Versailles since the arrival of President Wilson. Premier Lloyd George has postponed post-poned his departuro for Londou and matters mat-ters of tho utmost importance are being decided. The league of nations plan and tho peace treaty will be submitted together, it now being claimed that there never has been any disagreement botwecn tho British and American delegates dele-gates on this subject, and that the JYench views have been distorted and exaggerated. At any rate, there seems to be plain sailing at the present time ' bo far as this question is concerned. Tho latest developments indicate that the league of nations covenant will be amended ; without being radically changed. "Among other recent prcliml-' prcliml-' nliry agreements is one promising tho ultimate solution of a dispute between the United States and Great - Britain over the question of , tho future ownership owner-ship of the. Gentian cables to'Ameriea, which the. 'British delegates have consented con-sented to refer to the supremo council. All the parties in interest are preparing briefs, and one Bource of friction has been removed. The supreme council has decided that the Kiel canal shall bo internationalized and made available to the ships of all nations on equal terms. The council has decreed also that the fortifications on the island of Helgoland, Germany's formidable base in the North, sea, shall be dismantled. ' These decisions indicate indi-cate that the peace treaty will soon be ready for presentation to the German delegates, and the ceremony is likely to occur before the end of the present month. According to tho view of the American peace delegates tho disposition disposi-tion of the German warships is not likely like-ly to be included in the treaty, although al-though Germany will be required to surrender sur-render title to the ships. The ultimate ownership is to be determined later. ' The necessity for haste upon the part of the delegates is apparent. The soldiers sol-diers in all the armies are anxious to return to civil life as quickly as possible possi-ble now that there is no more fighting to be done, while the folks at home are impatiently awaiting the return of their heroes. Another thing to be taken into consideration is the fact that the newly cj-eated nations will not be able to establish estab-lish stable governments and take care of their own interests until their boundaries boun-daries are definitely fixed and peace is, proclaimed. Still another bad feature fea-ture of the present situation, and one that requires immediate treatment, is the constant turmoil in Germany, which cannot right its ship of state until its hands aro free. In addition, the work of reconstruction is being retarded while tbe discussions are proceeding in Paris, because the various nations are not free to act in accordance with what they believe to be their best interests. The trade of the Entire world is affected for tho same reason. This is a matter of vital importance here in the United States as well as elsewhere, and the financial and manufacturing interests are becoming restless. jConclitions in this country could not truthfully be called bad, but they are susceptible of improvement. An early reassembling of congress and prompt passage of some of the measures killed by the senate filibuster will mend matters mat-ters to a great extent. So, if the special spe-cial session is not to bo called until after the return of tho president, he un-dpubtcdly un-dpubtcdly realizes the importance of haste at Versailles. There is considerable consid-erable turmoil in England and pressing home problems-leaiand the immediate attention of Premier Lloyd George, who is1 being accused of neglecting British intereMs' in order to devote his time to problems, in which tho whole world is interested. in-terested. The same, accusation is being made against President Wilson. As these two men are supposed to bo tho dominating influence at the conference, it is easy to arrive at the conclusion that there will be no waste of time while -the work in baud is given the finishing' touches. ' 'Ar'tcr-it 'js ever wr-- '.j;:-.:! probably prob-ably iR&sover.tlt, instead of being dila tory, the peace conference delegates have shown great expedition. So many stories have been set afloat concerning the proposed league of nations that it will be a positive relief to go over its provisions in complete form and figure out its strong and weak features for ourselves without partisan heat or bias. |