Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-10-25

Inc lOur temporary members of tho
council could be oustcd and the ma
jority vote of the assembly cnfoloycd
TO elect successors, every ono of
whom would be iuimical to the
United States
when the controversy between
the United states and Great Britain
came before the council we would
find ourselves and Great Britain en-.
cluded because of interest, but Great
Britain would hold in the hollow of
nor hand the seven votes of tho
council and could secure the unani-
nous decision required. 4 refusal
on our part to obey the result would
result in bringing upon us the unitod
power of all the nations Of tile world
solicited and bound together.
Dangerous Power to Britain.
Are we to sit down and indulge
i'll the ecstasy of an international
dream in which Great Britain ap-
pears in the character of Il fool with
cap and bells, demanding six votes
that count for nothing? Then, too,
the power of final decision reserved
to the assembly gives 10 tho British
Empire Il dangerous, if not Il domi-
mating control Of the league. and
will enable it, in case the council
should over be prepared to ronder
decision against it, to nullify the
action of the council
Assume that the United States
has Il dispute with the British EN-
pire. The Empire refuses TO arbi-
tratc and the case goes to the coun-
Gil. Great Britain learns that all of
the members Of the council not par
ties to the dispute arc of the unani-
nous opinion that the contention OF
the United States is just. Thero-
upon Great Britain gives notice, as
would be her right, and the case is
transferred to the assembly.
"Thc seven members of tho assem-
bly, who are members OF the council
also-Francc, Italy, Japan, Belgium,
Greece, Spain and Brazil---all vote
in favor of tho United States. This
leaves twycnty-thrcc members OF the
assembly who are not members of
the council. Unless 4 majority of
these -twelvc-votcs to
concur with the members Of the
council, then tho decision stands eX-
actly as decision of the council
would stand which lacked unIni-
! nous support; that is to say. no
| binding force whatever.
! Great Britain can escape the
effect of II unanimous lewiston in the
council provided twelve of the non
council members of the assembly
vote with her. She starts with five
of the necessary votes in her pocket,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
South Africa and India. Htdjaz,
whose king is in her pay, would
provide her with an additional vote.
1t is certain that the vote of Siam
would be similarly controlled. Per-
STA is virtually n part Of the British
Empire and whom Persia joins, Great
Britain would have that vote.
Where Colonies Help Britain:
"Starting, Therefore, with seven or
eight of tho necessary twelve, sho
can create others at any time by en-
ploying her votes and influence
to elect othor British colonies and
subject states as members of the
league. The thing to keep in mind
is that Canada, Australia, New Zea-
land, South Africa and India arc re-
ccivod into the league as independ-
cnt States, entitled to all Of the
rights of independent States, and as
such would have the right TO vote in
matters which affected England or
Great Britain. This is absolutely
proved by the following letter (which
Premier Borden Of Canada re-
qucsted and received from the un-
dcrsigncd:
Tho question having been raised
as to the meaning Of Article ~. Of
the League of Nations covenant, we
have been requested by Sir Robert
Borden to state whether we concur
in his view that upon the true con-
struction of the first and second
paragraphs of that article represent
tatives of the self-govcrning do
minions of the British Empire may
DO selected or named as members
Of the council. We have no hesita-
ton in expressing our entire con-
currcncc in this view. IF there were
any doubt it would be entirely re-
moved by tho fact that the articles
are not subject to a narrow or tech
meal construction.
G. CLEMENCEAU
WOODROW WILSON,
d. LLOYD GEORGE.
"a debating society! On the sixth
day Of May this letter was written.
On the nineteenth day of September
this body had SO transformed itself
that it had become a mere debating
society in which votes arc Of no con-
sequence, whether they are six or
whether they are one. O memory,
memory! How quick your foot
prints fade, and on tho sands Of time
how futile it is to write the record
of the years.
Shantrmg Settlement Scored.
Senator Reed denounced the
Shantung settlement on every
ground and made this unusually in
teresting suggestion: of we ratify
this treaty and agree to protect tho
frontiers Of every member of the
league, China shall attack Japan to
,1r 1, no No