Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-04
DELEGATES FEAR
LEAGUE WILL DIE
WITHOUT AMERICA
BY A. q. DECKER
Especial Cable to the Chicago Daily News
Foreign Service, by Leased Wire to
The Atlanta JoLrnal)

The Atlanta JoLrnal.)
Copyright, 1920
GENEVA, Dec. 2-That each ma
ton and each group of powers repre-
sented in the assembly sincerely de-
sire that the United States shall en-
ter the league is the belief of close
observers here. Indeed, some Of the
delegates have gone SO far as to tell
me that the league cannot live with
out the United States. The reasons
are many and nearly all f1attering to
the American republic. The Scandi-
navian countries seem to be strong
est in their desire to have the United
States enter because they want an
ideal league based upon broad and
just lines.
The great powers desire the United
States to come in because political RI
valry still is so intense in Europe
that each power fears that greater
war than ever is in preparation. They
wish to preserve the status quo and
reduce ornaments before the finan-
cial disaster becomes greater. This
is exemplified by Italys attitude to-
wards war expenditures and raw ma
terials. England, France, Italy and
Germany are no nearer together than
they were before the war, and terri
torial and economic readjustments
are threatening their peace.
This is illustrated by the Near
East situation. 1t is useless to be-
lieve that the powers think more OF
the suffering Armenians than they do
Of their own welfare. However, the
unsettled conditions promise to main
tain the turmoil until Egypt and all
of India and the Mediterranean coun-
tries are in an uproar. This anarchy
is postponing the revival of trade in
definitely and throwing more and
more men out of work and promoting
unrest. The three big powers would
like to settle the eastern question
alone. but they cannot trust each
other. In the matter Of dominating
the Mediterranean and in controlling
Gibraltar, Constantinople and the
Suez canal they are jealous and
fearful of one another.
Thus the United States Is the
only disinterested power with SUI
ficient moral influence. The small
central European states want the
United States to guarantee their new
ture aggression by the larger ma
lions. The assembly was opened
with the expressed hope that the
United States would see her way
clear to enter. Then the Canadian
delegation pointed out that neither
the United States nor Canada would
consider the pooling of raw stutfs
and the subject never was reopened
The international court of justice
was founded upon an American basis
The Armenian question was placed
in American hands with the support
of Spain and Brazil.
Now the military, naval and air
commission Of the council proposes
to invite American observation of the
outlined without taking the United
States into consideration, the CEN
trail powers holding that financial
congress is meaningless without the
presence of that country. Through
the Red Cross the United States
expeditions such as that to Wilma;
There is an American on the Aaland
committee. The Spanish speaking
countries desire the entrance of the
United States because Spain herself
now has very friendly feeling for
south. American delegates have told
the writer that they are "nephews
of Uncle Sam"
Russia wants the United States to
enter to prevent her own division.
Germany would see in the American
jill " o1ACN lcbCC LIN
burdens Of the treaty of Versailles.
France would see support against
other groups. Many of the delegates
say the United States has taken the
covenant of the league too seriously.
They say the United States is accus-
toned to written constitution
which is to be followed to the let
ter or be changed under great diff
ficulties. The delegates insist that
the covenant should be interpreted
elastically. Arthur Balfour said that
he "saw more danger from those who
expect too much of the league than
from those who think the league
worthless"
Finally, in talking with the dele
gates, this correspondent obtained
the impression that the United States
could demand and obtain any conces-
sion in changing or deleting any ar
ticle and could successfully urge the
correction of certain injustices
which threaten the peace of the
world and the life of the league.
Not a great deal, perhaps, has yet
been accomplished by that body but
statesmen declare that the establish
ment accomplished by that body, but
statesmen declare that the estah-
lishment of a forum for discussion
is in itself sufficient to sanction
it's existence.