The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-26

ceeding the great storm Of the war are SUBJ
siding and the nations appear to be facing
tn. future in spirit Of confidence that au-
ours well for the period of reconstruction
that is at hand
Most of the year has been taken up with
proceedings looking to the formation of the
League of Nations under the Treaty of Ver-
sailles. The President of the United States by
the terms of the treaty was requested to call
the first meeting of the council. This he did
by cable on January 10. summoning it to meet
in Paris on Friday, January t. At this
meeting NJ. Leon Bourgeois was chosen
president
The second meeting of the council was
held in London on February IL and in
trusted to Mr.. Balfour the framing of plan
for a permanent court of international JUS
tice. At the third meeting, on February 10,
twelve international jurists were nominated
as a commission to consider the establish
ment of the permanent court, one of the
nominees being Elihu Root.
The peace conference closed its sessions
on January 81 and the activities of the SUI
prerne council were transferred to council
of Ambassadors and council of Premiers,
the former dealing with the execution of
the peace treaty and the latter with issues
of international policy. Before it was dis
solved the supreme council on January 16
raised the allied blockade of Russia
Persia had joined the league January
% and Holland on March g. The Scandina-
Wan countries also voted to join, Denmark.
Sweden and Norway entering in March. BY
April all Latin America had Joined sthe
league except Argentina, which entered in
July; Ecuador Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa
RIGA and Mexico.
The British French and italian Premiers
met at San Reno, Italy, on April Is to clear
up MISUNDERSTANDING regarding the attitude
Of each toward Germany The result was a
joint note to Germany, accusing her of bad
faith and assuring her that the treaty would
be enforced, if necessary by military opera
tions. Disarmament was demanded and it
was agreed that a fixed sum should be named
as the amount of the German indemnity.
Germany was invited to meet the Allies in
a conference at Spa to discuss her resources
available for compliance with the treaty.
On May Is the German diplomats for the
first time in six years met the Allies face to
face on equal terms. The discussions lasted
until July 16 and ended in Germany agree
ing to reduce her army to 100000 men by
January, to continue the trials of war crimi-
nails and to make regular deliveries of two
million tons of coal month to the Allies.
If they keep their promise for a year, the
Allies agreed to give them credit of $780,
000, 1000.
The league council held it's sittings in
Rome, Paris, London and Brussels. The
Hotel National in Geneva purchased for
the league headquarters for 5,500,0 900 Swiss
francs and at the end of October the entire
clerical force moved there from London in
preparation for the first meeting of the as
sembly, which was called by President Will
son to convene on November / 5.
This gathering, attended by 241 represent
atives Of forty nations at once displayed
the weakness of the league in face of the
enormous difficulties to be encountered
South Africa surprised everybody by sending
as head of its delegation Lord Robert Cecil
an Englishman. Paul Hymans of Belgium
was elected permanent president. There was
not sign Of a military or naval uniform in
the whole assembly. IL was decided to refer
to six committees the principal questions
discussed
One of the most important actions taken
by the league was the decision to send an in
ternational force to Wilma to settle the dis
pute between Lithuanians and Poles for pos
session Of the city, to be decided by plebis-
cite. France, Great Britain, SPAIN Belgium
Denmark, Holland. Norway and Sweden
were asked to contribute troops, while Spain
and Norway were asked to furnish vessels
to transport them to Danzig, all to be under
orders of the league council.
On November % the assembly unani-
mously adopted a resolution requesting the
council to ask some Power to act as interme-
diary between Mustapha Renal and the Ar
menians in order to save the latter from an
Inhalation. The invitation was sent to the
United States and was accepted by President
Wilson in his personal capacity as we'll as
by the Governments Of Spain and Brazil
President Wilson on December Is named
Henry Morgenthau formerly American Am
hassador to Turkey, to represent him in The
negotiations.
The appointment of a permanent mandate
committee was adopted on November &C. II
is to consist of nine members. five of whom
are to be from non-mandatory States
From the very beginning of the year the
British Government, in addition 10 foreign
complications, has been disturbed by troubles
al home, of which the Sim Fein revolt in
Ireland and the railway and coal disagree
ments in England were the most serious.
Nevertheless Lloyd George continued to
weather the storm better than the head of
any other Of the principal allied Govern
ments.
He early lost the support OF British labor.
george Nicoll Barnes, the only remaining
Laborite In the British Cabinet resigning
on January 81 Wage increases for railway
workers, fixed by the Government under its
war powers, were rejected on January as
inadequate. resolution looking toward
nationalization of the coal mines was also re-
Jected' This was one Of the chief demands
OF the miners union, and on March TO- in
retaliation. they voted for a general strike
and appealed for support to the Trade Union
Conference which met the next day The
latter voted against direct action but advo-
Gated constitutional political action
The miners renewed their threats in the
summer and on August 81 voted to strike.