Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-20
DOUBTS SUCCESS
OF MAJORITY RULE
Lord Robert Cecil Expresses His
Views on League of
Nations.
ENTERTAIN CORRESPONDENTS
Not Much Interested in Fan
tastic Proposals and
Schemes.
ENTERTAIN CORRESPONDENTS

LONDON. October 19.-Lord Robert
Cecil Assistant Foreign Secretary of
inc British empire, has tea and sees
American correspondents on FRIDAYS
at 5 O'Clock.
Imagine 4 fellow as lean as n rail
about six feet two inches tall. slightly
stopped and with partially bald head
scarcely noticeable because you have
TO look up at him--lnd you've n thumb
nail sketch of Lord Robert He's iovial
doesn't take himself too seriously. al
est diplomats in Europe. and he seems
TO get as much enjoyment out of his
conferences with the American news
paDermen as they get news and views
OF international affairs.
one OF Lord Roberts enthusiasms is
league Of nations. He's probably
zone more thinking about the league
ihIt or w; ). bryan. But Lord Robert
Is not much Interested in fantastic pro-
posa Pos. ard schemes for such "a league.
lies down 70 bed rock on the propo-
s!tlon and he wants to further some
sort OF plan which will work. He
nations wd An i an 1rnamentai League Of
the, bus mess II Is intended for i'm
media;ely peace is established
when the correspondents and Lord
e es9nert ma md general news is uninter,
,ands' of the mLch-talked about but
understood idea TO make war
more d!fncult after the present horror
ends. ~
After shaking hands all around Lord
Robert settled back in his red leather
upholstered chair with n downhill seat,
50 mat II was only a few seconds be-
!9re the secretary was sitting OH about
the middle section of his backbone
sipping tea, one leg drapcd over the
btther. answering questions or giving
MS private opinions freely.
I'm doubtful If you ever IAN have
z league or nations which will work
by maJorities," said Lord Robert
mat the United st ties should alter its
policy as regards Mexico. DO YOU
d detGk 1t wGuid o ABIDE by The leagues
Eardns Ireland. Do you suppose
Great Britain would abide by the
Ieag cues DECISION on the Irish question?
decisions Of a LEAGUE Of nations
must be unanimous. That means YOU
wont be able AT first to have an effec-
I'm not discussing. of course. those
disputes which are justifable-the
smaller disputes which can and ought
10 be settled by arbitration. There
Indication Of such disputes, and these
treaties ought to be extended.
The larger disputes;-the ones which
council of a league of nations and
unanimous decisions made"
Lord Robert placed his cup and sau-
seem SO tail. for the ancient. hiEh
ceil!need chamber unlimited al, things
in comparison.
MAKE TT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR NATIONS TO WAGE WAR
The real advance which could be
made now proceeded Lord Robert.
with one foot resting on a Fireplace
guard, would be % put into operation
Il plan which would make it IMPOSSIBLE
LOT nations TO go to war until there
mas been public discussion of all
matters in controversy"
plan something like Bryans
treaties? suggested correspondent
= S1meihins like that" responded
chair. "but don't know whether a
years discussion, as provided in
Bryan's treaties. would be necessary
Two or three months would be long
And how would you enforce such
discussions?"
Lord Robert feared forward
by eXertinE the whole military and
economic force OF each member Of
the league of nations against the ma
ton which attempted to go to war
without public discussions, as deter
mined upon. No nation, especially i'm
Europe, could long survive an absolute
economic boycott
"Of course there would be great
deal of DOUBT by what we call prac-
teal men for any scheme Of a league
of nations. But ! am quite sure that
feeling exists here. and hope in
America, among the people that some
workable plan be found"
DO you think, Lord Robert, that it
would he a mistake to force dcmoc-
racy upon Germany" a correspondent
asked.
Yes, do. 1t would be wrong to
any one. especially a high spirited ma
ton. For the Anglo-Saxon race. l GER
tainly. do think that democracy is the