New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-29
Ex-Leaders Call
League for Small
Nations Pro-Teuton
They Withdraw Consents
to Speak at Convention
Opening To-day

OPcHiIIS io-ooJ
Tho League Of Small and Subject
Nationalities, consisting Of self-ap-
pointed representatives of score or
more Of pillaged and prosecuted prov
inces and dependencies, will convene
at the Hotel McAlpin to-day for
three-day conference. The meetings
purpose, according to Frederic I.
Howe, Commissioner Of immigration
and the leagues chairman, is to es-
tsblish a permanent congress OF small,
oppressed nationalities, and 20 ASSERT
their right to separate representation
at international peace conferences
after the war.
That the leagues sessions "can serve
no purpose other than that Of the Ger
man government" is charged by eight
we'll known representatives Of small
nationalties in a letter TO The Tribune.
These men, all of whom had agreed to
participate in the discussions OF the
league, yesterday withdrew their con
sent to speak at the meetings.
I'VE make no wholesale accusations
aoainst the personnel of the gathering
or the speakers at the conference.
their letter stated. "It was apparently
originally initiated b. honest, but
naive and easily deluded persons, and
syeral prominent Americans have con-
scented 70 speak. A few genuine rep
resentatives Of oppressed nationslities,
in no way tainted with pro-Germanism.
gave the organization their temporary
support.
"But is il now evident that partly
through the simplicity OF the original
organizers and partly through the ac-
tivity of the element in the organiZs-
ton that has never disguised or hidden
its pro-Germanism. the movement, as a
whole, has taken on more than sus-
picious character"
Signers of Letter
The signers Of the letter are Or. 5.
6. George. editor of "Thc Arabic Maya
zine";Dr. VI. VI. Housepian, an Amer
can writer and lecturer; ". A. Mokar-
eel. a representative of the protector
ate CT Mount Lebanon in the Holy
Land; Charles Pergler, vice-president
of the Bohemian National Alliance;
VI. NJ. Petrsk. representing the Croats;
v. R. Savitch, Of Serbia; Miriam Seyasly,
president OF the Armenian National
Union, and DR.. D. Callimahos, editor OF
"The Greek National Herald
THE very constitution OF the league
is unsound," the letter continues. "A
congress of subject races is coinprehen-
sible, though subject races under Rus
STA are now free. But why inciude
small nations which, either snrough
economic or military terror or pro Ger
manism, have refused TO lift iinger
in behalf of the oppressed nationalities
and have even aided Germany with sup
plies? What right have th&e indepen-
dent nations in a congress o. oppressed
nationalties? The only practical func-
ton Of delegates from Sweden, Swltzer-
land and Denmark is 20 add to the votes
Of the faction friendly to Germany.
And why were none of the pro-Ally
small nations Of South America repre-
sented? Spain and Holland also have
strong pro-Ally groups, but they have
no delegates. For these reasons We
have either refused the invitation to
join the council Of the league or to
speak at the conference"
Object to Mrs. Skefiington
The speakers on the leagues pro
gramme to address the conference also
met with the disspproval Of the eight
dissenters. Mrs. Sheehy Skefiington is
held to represent only "the pro German
wing of the Sim Fem" and Nine. Aino
Malmberg is declared to hold "the ex-
IRENE pacifist view" and to Improperly
represent the spirit OF Finland, from
which she comes. The only speaker for
Greece will be Adamantios Polyzoidis
"a partisan of King Constantine" &C
cording to the dissenting eight.
The accused delegates, gathered at =
reception in the Civic Club. II East
Ihirty-iirst Street, yesterday afternoon
repudiated the charge of pro-German
ism. 81 am going to be extremely dis
Greet in my talks before the league,
said Mrs Skcffington. But | am going
to express very strongly Ireland's claim
for independence, which must be ad
vanced at the peace conference. shall
LOU sptdh rs u AcpicStuldkiNc VI lut
Sim Fem, but as a representative Of the
Irish Independence party, which hold.
that Ireland is not for Germany and
rot for Great Britain, but for Ireland
That il very wicked, ! know, but W,
have an idea that Ireland is a small
nation as much as Belgium. and we be
lieve what your President has sale
about the rights of small nations, anS
we have more confidence in your Presi
dent than We have in the British gov
eminent"
"Mr. Polyzoidis will talk about IN,
rights and aspirations OF the 5000 90
Greeks in Turkey" said George Cara
nicholas, who explained that he wa
able TO speak for DIR. Polyzoidis in III,
latter's absence.
Lajput Raj said he would not attacl
the British government, but that h.
would insist upon midas right 10 self
government.
"l'm Boer." said General joachim
d. Wiser, recently from johannesburg
South Africa. "Tm not pro-Germsn; In
Boer. And like all the Beers / wan
my country back. I'm here TO see wha
can be done about it,"
Mr.. Howe, president of the league
was not in the city last night, bu
Vincent +. Jankovski and Miss Mario
A. Smith, corresponding secretaries o
the organization, denied that it pos
sessed any TeutOn faint.
e