New-York tribune., 1920-09-21
Lithuaarliia and
Poland Submit
Fight to League
Nations Agree to Suspend
ALI Hostilities Pending
am Inquiry and Decision
of the Issues at Stake
Council Ordered Action
Finland Accepts Report Call.
ing for Investigation of
Aland islands Question

| PARIS, Sept. 20.-Poland and Lithu-
ania have agreed to suspend all hostil-
ties pending an inquiry and decision
OF the issues at stake by the Council
Of the League Of Nations, it was an
nounced here this morning
Ihe Polish-Lithuanian accord came
after the council had passed a resolu-
ton calling on the countries to cease
hostilities Immediately. The resolu-
visional line of the frontier fixed by
the Supreme Council in December last
and withdraw her troops from the ter
rltory to the west of the line; while Po-
| land was asked, during it's war with
Soviet Russia, to respect the neutrality
OF the territory occupied by Lithuania
east of the line of demarcation fixed
by the Supreme Council
Acceptance Of the leagues arbitra-
ton came in a most dramatic manner
at o public meeting Of the council. The
delegates and spectators seemed pessi-
mistic as to the probability Of agree
ment, when Ignace Jan Paderewski,
Polish delegate to the League of Ma
tions, arose and made a stirring speech.
in which he said Poland desired to be
in complete peace with Lithuania and
had full confidence that Lithuania also
desired peace.
Leagues First Mediation Accepted
The Lithuanian delegates. headed by
Foreign Minister Woldemar, walked
over to the Polish delegates and
warmly shook hands with tnem amid
cheering by the spectators and dele
gates, marking che first instance in
which the Leagues mediation has been
accepted by countries virtually in a
state of war. M. Woldemar said he,
had full confidence in the spirit of
fairness Of the Council Of the League
and would abide by its decision.
Count Quinones de Leon, Spanish
Ambassador to France, and Baron
Keishlr- Matsui, the Japanese Vice
Foreign Minister, were appointed to
represent the league in the settlement
OF the Polish-Lithuanian questions. 1t
is expected that at least a tentative
decision will be ready for the approval
Of the league council at it's October
session.
Finland also ironed out her Difficult
ties with the council by accepting,
with certain reservations, the report
of the council on the Aland Islands
question, which calls for an investiga-
tion by three commissioners.
Finland reserved the right to con-
tinue to maintain the viewpoint that
Finnish interests are so interviewer
with sovereignty over the Aland Is?
lands that Finland alone has the right
to decide whether there shall be
plebiscite. Sweden is urging a plebis-
cite.
Morally Bound to Accept Decision
League officials explained that al
though neither Finland nor Sweden
was legally bound to accept the
leagues decision, they were morally
bound to accept it. 1t was further
pointed out that settlement, "if
backed by public opinion, would viz
tually compel acceptance"
Leon Bourgeois, the French repre-
sentative in the council, speaking at
the opening Of the session, asserted
that submission of the Lithuanian
Polish and Aland Islands disputes to
the council was the best augury which
had developed for the future of the
League of Nations.
The council to-day approved the pur-
chase of the Hotel National in Geneva
as the future home of the League.
Definite transfer, of the districts of
Eupen and Malmedy to the sovereignty
of Belgium was recognized, following
an investigation Of the protests filed
by Germans against the plebiscites.