The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-03
AMERICANS OFFER |. THEIR GOOD OFFICES
Are in Position to Mediate in
 Balkans
MAY CHANGE LAWS
Divorce Law of England May Be Changed if Recommendation of Commission Is Carried Out.
 To Explore Frontier

London, November 2.-The American League of Peace has offered its services British foreign office through Dr. William Osborne McDowell. He is now In England in the interests of the great inter-parliament meeting. which will be held in the United States and Canada in 1915.
 pr. McDowell believes that the League of Peace, operating with its American of ficers, would be In such an impartial po- sition that they could represent all the parties concerned. He has interviewed a humber of prominent men of both parties and he Is hopeful that something may come of his suggestion, which has been conveyed to Sir Edward Grey, secretary of state for foreign affairs in a formal manner.
 Dr. Mcdowell Is securing from members of parliament the same signed promise that he secured from members of Con- gress, to the effect that they will sup port any movement which seeks to get together the legislature of the civilized nations in an effort to establish universal peace by international legislation. In preparation for this great parliamentary gathering, a meeting will be held at The Hague in 1913 and the plans for the lat ter convention are practically complete.
 For the meeting which is to follow In 1915 it is expected that 25000 authorized members of national legislatures will be present. New York has offered to build a structure to accommodate this gigantic parliament but if the present plans are followed 1t Is likely that the sessions will be held in an open-air amphitheatre in California.
 May Change DRorce Law
 The law of divorce will undergo a far reaching change in the British Isles if the recommendations of the majority of the royal commission on the subject are en- acted into law. They will in all proba- bility propose the repeal of the present clause which favors the man by forcing the wronged wife to prove both infidelity and cruelty, while a man need prove only infidelity under the English code, but this also is likely to be changed.
 l The long delayed and much antici pated report has been definitely prom ised for the first week in November when it will be submitted to the King | through the home secretary.
 1 The report and the commission have suffered many vicssitudes. As far bacl as last December the first draft Wal | circulated for the signatures of tn, | commissioners, but at that time Lort Gorel the chairman, fell ill and noth. l ing more was done until october, thii | year.
 The commission was appointed bl | King Edward in October 1902. Fron l February to December of the following year 1t was engaged in nearing the storl of how the present divorce laws worl and the arguments both for and agains reforms from judges, lawyers, ministers actors, dramatists and journalists. Since the first public sitting one member, Sii George White, has died, and two, Sil Rufus Isaacs and Lord Derby, have re. signed.
 The report will undoubtedly be di vided into majority and minority re ports. The latter will probably bear thu l signatures of the archbishop of oYrk l Sir William Anson and Sir Lewis bib din. These men represent the Established church of England. which opposes an, alteration of the present divorce laws
 To Explore Along Frontier
 The almost unknown mo mans land lying between the frontiers of India China and Tibet is tne objective of 6 | DllliSH tAPChilAOh WliiNh 10 tC DD 1A9- i patched from Calcutta shortly. This region, which has never been accurately mapped, may be the theatre of impor. tant international disputes if the pro ] test lodged by Great Britain against the Chinese encroachment of Tibet causes l friction.
 A year ago this frontier was invaded | by British military force which, start ing from Sadiya in eastern Assam marched through the deadly Jungle and across dangerous rivers to The Aboi regions, where they avenged the mur- der by the Abor tribesmen of a British officer and several members of his party The region was roughly mapped and this map will serve as check on the possible encroachments of China.
 To Continue Map Work
 The new expedition is expected to con tinue the map work of the Abor puni- tive force In the region of the friendly Mishmi tribe, 75o men will be set to work building roads, and other members of the party will seek to discover how far the l Chinese influence has spread toward i Rima, a place which trustworthy maps 1 give as being in southeastern Tibet
 Taken in connection with England's note to China reminding her to respect her | treaty obligations concerning Tibetan neutrality, the dispatch of the expedi- ton is highly significant