New-York tribune., 1920-02-12
u. S. Is Missed
AS Council of
League Meets
Balfour Expresses Regret
That Only Eight Nations
Instead of Nine Are Rep
resented i'm Proceedings
Sessions To Be Secret
Real Progress Declared to
Have Been Made Toward
Settling Big Problems
By Arthur S. Draper

From The Tribuncs Europoam Bureau
Copyright 1920, New York Tribune Inc :,
LONDON, Feb. 11.-If great things
have small beginnings, then the league
OF nations doubtless will become as
powerful as President Wilson promised
in the days when the whole world was
talking of nothing else. The opening
session of the conference council in the
picture gallery of St. James's Palace
aroused little more interest and in
spired no more enthusiasm than q
gathering Of arch@ologists. but for
that America may be blamed.
Arthur J. Balfour, Foreign Minister
the British representative, and Leon
Bourgeois, the French representative,
expressed at the outset keen regret at
the absence Of an American repre-
sentative on the council. There was
no American to take part in the dis
cussion of such important subject
as the organization of a permanent
court of international justice, and the
name OF no American jurist was pro-
posed for the committee which is to
draw up the courts constitution.
Eight Nations Represented
The first public session was at
tended by M. Hymans, Belgium; DR..
Gastoa Da Cunha, Brazil; Mr.. Balfour,
England; M. Bourgeois, France; M.
Caklamanos, Greece; Signor Ferraris,
Italy; Baron Keishiro Matsui, Japan,
and Count Quinones de Leon, Spain.
"The meeting Of the council was
purely formal, all real work of the con-
ference being done in committee meet
ings Public announcement of deci-
sions of the council will be made Fri
day. In the meanwhile the representa-
tives will confer privately.
Fewer than 100 invited guests were
present, the correspondents outnum-
bering the public guests, who were
composed largely of diplomatic officials
and league of nations organization Off
cials here.
John w. Davis, the American Ambas-
sador, did sot attend the session, but
the absence of an American represent
ative will not be permitted to delay
consummation of the league
Since the Paris conference Sir Eric
Drummond, secretary general, has met
league delegates frequently, and real
advance has been made, so considcra-
Bile progress may be expected toward
a settlement of such questions as the
constitution of the international body
to handle health problems, Switzer-
lands entry into the league, the ap-
pointment of five members of the gov
ernlng commission to control the Saar
Basin and the appointment Of a high
commissioner for Danzig.
Definite Plans Formulated
Az usual Great Britain has definite
plans for all these problems prepared
in advance. The same is true of the
French. Former President Ador of
Switzerland will appear before the
council in private session. Albert
Thomas, the French Socialist, said after
the conference:
II think the league is alive and
growing. We are beginning modestly,,
but there is a unanimity of good feel
ing. | agree in general with most of
what Niscount Grey said in his letter.
Grey's letter showed profound appre-
citation of American psychology.
II agree that we must be willing
to accept limited number of reser-
vatons, but don't think the question
of dominions' votes should be raised It
present"
Viscount Bryce said:
Il have perslstently refused to make
any comment about America, and |
think silence is wisest now"
Mr.. Balfour would add little to his
statement declaring: "To tell you the
truth the situation in America is a
little obscure to us over here"
M. Bourgeois said: eve arc wait
ing for America"