The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-05-10
Plans To Be Made.

Plans will be approved at that meet
ing for admission of new states, for
converting Of the assembly for consti-
tuition of permanent armaments COM
mission, and registration of all new
treaties between members of the league.
Other questions will be taken up such
as Central European relief and the
budget of the league but it is signifi-
cant that all member nations will be
required to register at this meeting
any treaties or agreements they may
have with each other.
This is the first step in the era OF
publicity or open diplomacy on the mat
ter of treaties. Indeed. provisions of
the league already apply to the rs ma
tons which are members. These in
Italy, Belgium. Bolivia, Brazil, Czecho-
Slovakia, Poland, Peru, Panama, Siam,
Uruguay, Liberia and Guatemala--all of
whom were in the war or signed the
treatyof Versailles-and the states which
were neutral but have joined the league
Denmark. Netherlands Norway, Vene-
Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
The meaning Of the foregoing mem
bership list can best be understood
when it is considered that every one
stance Japan, is absolutely pledged not
to make war without first allowing
nine months for investigation or arbitra-
ton or the consideration Of their dis
putes by the council or assembly of the
league of nations. None of these ma
tions can now go to war with each
other or with other powers on the spur
of the moment without invoking the
possible ill-will or even military force
of all the other powers The making of
war is not prohibited after the nine
months period has elapsed nor would
ttf1NsN
ing that period if both parties agreed
to submit their case TO inquiry or ar
bitration. But for all practical pur-
poses the hands of % nations have been
tied for a nine month cooling off period
Only II states have signed the treaty
of Versailles, but have not ratified it
and so are not members of the league.
These include the United States, Cuba,
Ecuador, Greece, Haiti Honduras, Mica
raugua. Portugal, Rumania, Hedjez and
the new Jugo-S lav state.
China To Get In.
China abstained from signing Che
treaty Of Versailles but will join the
league by ratifying the Austrian treaty
which contains the covenant of the
league. Four other states-San Marine,
Luxembourg, Georgia and Iceland, were
not mentioned in the original covenant
but have asked to be admitted to the
league. Mexico has never been asked
to join.
Concretely, the different meetings OF
the council have accomplished these
things:
January 15-Organized the council and
appointed the Saar basin frontier COM
mission.
February 11-Admitted Switzerland
adopted rules Of procedure for the Coun-
Gil appointed the Saar basin governing
commission. accepted the obligation of
fered in the Polish treaty for the pro-
lection of minorities, approved plans for
the organization of the permanent court
of international justice, for the free
dom of communication and transit, and
for the international health office and
summoned the international financial
conference.
March 13-Approved plans for send
ing league commission Of inquiry to
Russia and took first steps for the
prevention of typhus in Poland
April 9-Answered request of supreme
council that the league take a mandate
in Armenia with the statement that it
would assure general oversight for the
time being.
The next meeting at Rome will fol-
low the program already set forth. The
budget will be apportioned among the
2S members. The total cost of the
league thus far is about $500 900 and
the sum Of S2,500,000 is required for
the next fiscal year. When divided by
2S this is an insignificant sum, as gov
eminent expenses go, and a relatively
small sum to pay in an effort to keep
the world at neace.
Copyright 1920 bv David Lawrence)