The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-12-07
CHANGES IN COVENANT
DISCUSSED FREELY
j Amendments of Revision of League
Of Nations Brought to Front on
Floor of Assembly.

Geneva, Dec. 2 (By the Associated
Press) Amendments for revision
held the floor of the assembly of the
league of nations today, the debate
bringing out clearly that amendment
of the covenant was in the minds of
nearly all the delegates, some OF
whom were more pressing in their
desire for: perfect instrument than
others, but all thinking of a revision
f! that would remove obstacles to the
entry of the United States.
Article 10 was not mentioned IN
the debate, but has been frequently
discussed in small circles and N. W..
Rowell of Canada, when he insisted
that adoption of resolution by a
committee should be understood as
closing the Noor to presentation be-
; fore the assembly of other amend
ments than those proposed by the
Scandinavians, is said to have had an
mind the article that has been SUBJ
! iected to much contention.
The delegations of the British do
minions have been studying how to
approach the assembly on this ques-
ton. The eventual proposal to elm
mate Article 10 is somewhat COM
promised by the general understand
| ing that consideration of all pro-
posed changes should be postponed
until studied by|a special committee.
This understanding, however, came
largely from the anxiety Of the dele
gates not to precipitate revision until
the attitude of the United States
under the new government is known.
Leon Bourgeois of the French del
egation is perturbed lest the investi-
CATION of the committee should lead
! it to consider alteration involving
revision of the treaty of Versailles
and he demanded today that it be un-
derstood that the committee should
declare itself incompetent to consider
any amendment to the covenant that
involved modification of the treaty.
The close of the debate brought
moment of great suspense when
Senor Purrydon, Argentina, who fail
ed to take part in the debate, voted
alone against the resolution, reject
ing consideration of amendments to
the covenant at this session. The
presiding officer, M. Hymars, hcsitat-
ed as if unable to believe that a sim
gle delegate would prevent unani-
nifty.
NJ. Viviani, France, relieved the
.tension when he remarked that post
ponement of consideration of amend
lnents involved only "qucStion Of
procedure, in which unanimity was
not necessary. Thercupon, the chair
man declared adoption of !hc resolu-
ton which provided that the Scardi-
navian amendment be studied by al
comnrittce-to report to the council
and giving the committee authori-
ty to consider any other amendments
that may be proposed.
Geneva, Dec. Sir Eric Drum
mond, secretary general of the lea
que of "ations, has sent the follow
ing message to President Wilson ex-
pressing the gratitude Of the assem-
bly, at his acceptance of Armenian
arbitration:
"Thc president read to the full as
scmblySthis morning your telegram
and the reply sent by the council to
it. The assembly welcomes your ac-
ceptancc of the offer with enthu-
sjasm and asks me to convey to you
it's unanimous assurance of the COM
pletc moral support of every member
of the league in the great mission
YOU have undertaken, and | beg con-
fidently to declare that the opinion,
not only of the people of the United
States. but of the whole civilized
world, is with you in your endeavor
to secure that the tragedy of Ar