The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-30

ton in Geneva to Kill the attempt to
amend the covenant during the present
session of the Assembly.
While Mr.. Balfour is recognized as
distinguished British statesman. and I'M
doubtedly is in close touch with senti-
ment controlling any action by the Brit
ish Cabinet, he Is not formally a men,
Der OF the Government in his capacity as
British representative in Geneva. In
other words he would not fall with the
Government should it so down to defeat
in a general election. Thus the Lloyd
George Ministry can take advantage OF
any good work he does in Geneva, but at
the same time it could disavow before the
House OF Commons and before the coun-
try anything he might do in Geneva.
That perhaps. best typifies the official
attitude toward the league here.
The attitude of the House of Commons
was illustrated when a member asked
A. Bonar Law to explain the Govern
ment's position regarding the admission
of Germany to the League. in view OF
George Nicoll Barness declaration in
favor of this. He replied:
THE attitude OF Great Britain will be
determined after hearing the advice OF
representatives at Geneva who will con-
suit with the French and other allies.
certain latitude must be allowed the
delegates to the League of Nations to
express their Individual opinions. but the
vote of Great Britain will be cast by the
principal delegate"
Again asked whether Mr.. Barnes had
instructions from the Government, Mr..
Law replied: mo, he has not The
delegates to the League of Nations must.
I think, have certain amount of lati-
Of I no
an official report of the right honorable
gentleman's speech. What he said was
that he desired that Germany be adj
mitted to the league as soon as possible.
There can be only one vote for the Brit
ish delegation. however. and that given
by the chief delegate"
Further pressed as to whether Mr..
Balfour had been instructed by the Gov
eminent. Mr.. Law replied: II have al
ready said that the decision of the British
delegate will be given after the Govern
ment has consulted with him."
So far as public opinion regarding the
league goes, 1t can best be judged by
the reluctance OF Englishmen to see
Great Britain bound by any new COM
mitments in connection with costly man.
dates or salvation expeditions" as a re-
suit of her membership in the league,
and this opinion also may be judged by
the cry of opposition which Is frequently
voiced to the present policy in this con-
nection and the demand that the Govern
ment should abandon Adventures" like
that in Mesopotamia, which have already
been embarked upon or which might have
been imposed on Great Britain.
In nth Hna al
the British are beginning to see the
League of Nations in the same light in
which the Republicans in the United
States Senate saw 1t for purely patriotic
reasons last year. Indeed, Britons do
not want TO see the imperial destiny
submitted to a supersovereign League
OF Nations.
Foreign wars are more familiar on
this side of the Atlantic than they are
In America, and there IS no such re-
pugnance to sending British soldiers to
the end of the earth for this or that
reason as there Is to sending American
to this or that desert. But
here taxation is becoming nationally. as
well as personally. critical. and despite
the fact that it is held here that the
League Of Nations won't wash" this
tax situation Is responsible for a general
desire to see some kind OF an interna-
tional organization which will prevent
wars through compulsory conference or
judicial arbitrament of disputes. and IN
this sense such Indications of Presi-
dent-elect Harding's policy as have been
received here have been welcomed.
The British, official and unofficial, are
eager TO hear more OF IL. And until
they hear more; until Great Britain's
own destiny becomes n little clearer
both OF which will happen before next
spring-John Bull is from Missouri
when IL comes TO the League of Nations