AMERICA'S CONSTITUTION

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 38, 15 February 1919, Page 6

AMERICA'S CONSTITUTION

A CHECK ON RAPID DECISION.

PARIS, 13th February. Marshal Foch recently propounded a

scheme to secure France against sudden

German aggression. He desires that the Rhine should become Germany's military frontier. France had no deeire to control the territory lyiiig between the Rhine and the political frontier beyond securing that it should contain no forts, munition -works, or military establishments, and that conscription shall not be applied within the area. France's insistent desire for complete security is also found in her latest endeavour to secure the amendment of the League of Nations' draft. It is this which is believed to have caused delay , in the presentation of the scheme of the plenary Conference. France wants some sort of international organisation with full power to call otit a great international force to check and punish any sudden aggression, but the inelastic constitution ot the United State* caused delay. The Americans could pot giyg an offhand approval, though they were willing to bring the facts immediately before Congress in the event of aggression, and to ask Congress to decide' whether the armed forces of the Republic shoul.q. • be employed. The Drafting Committee is endeavouring to devise a clause covering the French desires and the American reservations.