South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-18
SMALL COUNTRIES
APPLY TO LEAGUE
FOR MEMBERSHIP
Council Will Decide on Appli-
cations of Tiniest Ma
tions in World.

NEW YORK. May 17.-Applica-
tions by four OF the smallest coun-
tries in the world-Iceland, The
Republic Of Georgia, san Marine
and Lsuxemburg-for admission to
the League Of Nations. which are
10 come before the council OF the
league when D. convenes shortly in
Rome. italy. have awakened inter
est In these lands and peoples
Iceland. which until 1918 belonged
20 Denmark has population Of APP
proXimately 70 900 and an area or
coo square miles. II was discov-
cred by Norsemen in the 9th cen
turv and continued as a republic
until 1922 when 10 united with Nor
way. In 1889 tx was taken by Den
mark in whose hands it remained
until two years ago when. in full
agreement with the mother coun-
Try. under a principle Of self-de-
termination Iceland proclaimed its
independence. King Christian, OF
Denmark. honored his former col
ouy by sending a warship 20 salute
the Icelandic national flag
Danes Progressive.
The Danish government in 1913
intoxicants and the parliament of
Iceland subsequently enacted pro-
hibition law making the - syssels
or parishes in the COuntry's three
ANTS or provinces forever dry.
IceIandic women have long had the
right 20 vote.
Reykiavik and Akreyri. the prin-
cipaI villages Of Iceland, are ON the
coast which Is belt Of rich pasture
land. The interior is a vast plateau
900 or more feet above sea level
composed largely Of sand and lava
dese.t and practically destitute of
gras or trees excepting a few hardy
beeches There are no roads. For
centuries Iceland was the center Of
volcanic eruptiOns the lava fields
covering an area OF $500 square
miles.
Georgia. formerly ancient Iveria,
a part OF Russian Trans-Caucasia is
populated by people who call
themselves Marti and who are
known by neighbOring Persians as
Curl The seats OF government are
Tihis and Guria. In the third cen
tury they constituted a mighty state
which lasted until 1924 when IL was
divided into three parts In 1900
Georgia was incorporated in the
Russian empire.
Independence Recognized.
The population of Georgia at the
time she declared her independence
Of Russia, on May 26. 1918. was
about 100000. Eighty percent of
the Georgians are farmers. ON
March Il last the independence of
Georgia was recognized by Italy.
Under the Turkish peace treaty
Batum is 20 become q free port.
san Marine or Summarize. is not
only one Of the smallest but one Of
the oldest republics in Europe. 1t
is enclosed by three Italian provinces
and consists Of a Craggy mountain
.42O feet high on which is the
town and some circumjaCent ter
races with four or FIVE villages. The
population prior 10 the war was
about 5000. san Marine furnished
an army 10 the allies The chief in
dustry is agriculture including the
raising OF cattle The legislature Of
the republic is composed of a SEN
ate Of 60 members elected for life
equally from the ranks of peasants.
citizens and mobiles. Two presidents
are chosen by the senate every six
months.
Luxemburg. which lies between
Rhennish Prussia. Belgium and AL
saCe-LOrraine, and which was OCcu-
pied by the Germans during the
war. was made a grand duehy in
1914 by the King of the Neither
lands. In 1867 il was declared neu-
trail territory by the treaty OF Lon
don. IL has belonged, however,
since 1S42 and until the signing of
the Versailles treaty to the Zollver-
Elm or German Customs union.
Speak German.
The population of Luxembourg be
fore the war was approximately
100000 living in an area of about
I 900 square miles. Walloon French
is spoken in a few villages hut the
language OF the people is chiefly a
German dialect.
After the armistice I'm the world
war. the Germans evacuated Luxem-
burg. "A revolution occurred but was
halted by the allies. The American
troops passed through the country
and were well received. The Grand
Duchess Marie whose q odication had
been demanded by a mob. fled from
the country and a republic was pro-
claimed. This new government.
however. existed only a few hours.
The parliament called for n pIeb-
isCite 10 decide the future form of
government and the people voted
for a restoration Of the grand
duchy. electing as grand duchess.
the Princess Charlotte. sister OF
Mario