Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-19
LEAGUE ADJOURNs WITH
|. WORLD COURT TO CREDIT
Founding OF International Justice
Tribunal One OF Achieve
Sments.
CECIL HITS MANDATE WORK
Says Delegates Should Have Oppor-
tunity for Examination - Prcsi-
dent Hymans, OF Assembly, Says
Meeting Proved Vital Organism.
CECIL HITS MANDATE WORK
tBy Associated Press.I

= ~ EN- EVA, Dec. 1S.--The NrSt as
sembly of the league OF nations. which
has been in session here since No
rember Is. adjourned it's sessions at
$50 O'Clock this evening.
The closing hours OF tho final scs-
sion were devoted to speeches by Paul
Hymans, president OF the body. and
by President Motta. head OF the Swiss
delegation. Both these speakers de-
clared the fve weeks meeting of the
assembly had proved to the world
that tho league OF nations was n liv-
ing. vital organism.
The founding of the international
court OF justice was pointed to by
the two men as the outstanding
achievement of the assembly. Charges
by A. ]. Ba!four. British member OF
the council OF the league CT nations,
that attempts were being made in as
sembiy circles to coerce the council
on the question Of mandates featured
spirited debate in the assembly OF
the league here this forenoon.
CriticiIcs Council.
The assembly eventually adopted
the report Of its mandate committee.
which declared the council had adopt
ed such a policy regarding mandates
that there was no opportunity to dis
cuss them publicly before they went
into force. The report also declared
against the recruiting OF soldiers by
mandatory nations in territories they
were administering and against the
exploitation CT the natural resources
of such territories for the benefit OF
the mandatory powers.
led by Lord Robert Cecil. who crit
icized the councils refusal to conf
municate to the assembly the text cf|
the various mandates for the admin
Iteration of former German colonies.
Lord Robert was followed BY c. j.
Doherty, of Canada, who expressed
the disappointment felt by the Ca
madam delegates that no opportunity
had been given the assembly to en-
anime the mandates.
There will be no better test OF the
sincerity of the league than the
terms OF the mandates and the man
ner in which they are executed" he
said. Mr.. Dohcrty warned the coun
Gil OF the gravity OF the respons!
bility il had assumed in withholding
the mandates from publicity.
Mr.. Balfour came to the defense
of the council The danger, as the
saw, was not in the terms or manner
of execution of the mandates. but in
the liability of the Assembly to come
into conflict with the council which
alone he held was intended by The
trainers of the covenant to have jur-
isdiction over mandates.
4 Balfour shows Contcmot.
II shall not feel bound. nor will
! tny successor in the council fee,
bound, by anything this Assembly or
any other assembly shall do" ne
cried.
Many of the delegates appeared
. nonplusscd by Mr.. Balfour's defiant
attitude toward the Assembly, par
ticu!arly when he referred to the
jealous spirit shown by some of the
speakers" and when he declared that
the recommendation of the mandates
committee amounted TO cocrcivc
measures as regard the council.
Lord Robert Cecil retorted uat
the Assembly could examine any
question that came within the COM
petence OF the league.
Leon bourgeois, French member OF
the council. supported the viewooint
OF MIR. Baifour. his British colleague
or that body.
Adoption by the Assembly OF ;ho
recomm. ndat!ons t;pt tho. co,nm,ttc.
followed the doi.atS.
Armenia sim Unsettled.
the Armenian committee reported
mat IL had not sufficient time 10
hn!sh its task before the close OF
the assembly. 1t pointed out that
/ 'he measure which seemed TO the
committee most likely to succeed yas
thai the Armenians be organized and
| equipped for their own defense The
committee proposed that the council
appoint another committee To con-
unue examination OF the question.
Certain questions affecting inter
national relations coming within the
! Jurisdiction o. the league Of nations
nave been reserved by China for a
/ more opportuac occasion for bring
ing them to the attention Of the
| council or assembly Of the league.
! DR.. Wellington koo, Chinese delegate
! 10 the assembly. declared at this
| mornings session of the assembly.
The AgenGa for today promised TO
I be very happy including the ques-
tion OF responsibilities OF the league
for mandates over former enemy
territories. An effort was made 10
dispose OF tina; question this morn
ing, and it was hoped that the re-
port from the Armenian committee
might also be acted upon
This program, II carried out, would
leave the afternoon session for clean
ing up miscellaneous Unfinished
business and the ceremony OF clos
ing the session II the assembly
Representatives of Austria, Bull
garia. Luxembourg. Albania, Costa
Rica and Finland which have been
made members Of the league, had
seats In toGay's meeting. but did not
participate In the proceedings Il
was impossible 10 secure the proper
credentials in the short space OF time
which has INTERVIEWED since these ma
lions were accorded membership
President Wilson Is Informed Of the
results OF the inquiry made by the
allied high commission In Turkey
concerning the Armenian situation.
To-, ,,,t.t