The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-11-26
League of Nations
Prepare for Move
Assembly by Unanimous Vote Decid'
es to Help Armenia-Appeal to
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Geneva, Nov. % (By the Associat-
ed Press) 1.-The assembly of the
league of nations decided without
dissenting vote today to appeal to
the powers in the hope Of finding
government willing to undertake me-
diation between the Turkish nation
alists under Mustapha Kennel Pasha
and the Armenians.
An earnest debate preceded the
vote on the resolution which was
presented by M. Viviani, former
premier Of France, inviting the coun-
Gil of the league to take the action
indicated. It threatened at times,
however, to justify the predictions of
the leagues opponents that the work
of the assembly would founder on
the rule requiring a unanimous
vote.
Lord Robert Cecil, A. J. Balfour,
Rene Viviani, DR.. Fridtjof Nansen,
C. ]. Dougherty (Canada) and M.
Stalaiovich (Jugo-Slavia) partici-
pated but the real contest was be-
tween NJ. Viviani and Mr.. Balfour.
|. Mr.. Balfour explained the failure
Of the league council to find a man
datory for Armenia. He referred to
the refusal of the United States to
accept such mandate and hoped
that the committee of the assembly
might do better,
The former French premier plead
ed warmly for prompt action, pro-
voking the first enthusiastic demon
stration of the assembly. He de-
clafed that if the assembly~was un-
able to do better than name another
committee it wotld proclaim it's own
Importance.
It was remarked tha: Lord Robert
Cecil applauded vigorously from the
South african bench while the Eng
lish delegates, Mr.. Balfour and Il. A.
L. Fisher, remained stolidly indiffer-
ent. Itseemed evident that Mr.. Bal
four was fighting against an eventual
military expedition more than against
mediation as proposed by M. Viviani.
Although DR.. Nansen was the only
one to speak boldly in favor Of an
expeditionary force to deal with the
Turkish nationalist leader, Mustapha
Kemal Pasha, all the others with the
exception of Mr.. Balfour, approach
ed as closely as they could to this
eventuality without actually saying
so.
The general impression after the
debate was that the assembly favor
ed fighting Kemal Pasha if no other
way was found to end the conflict in
Armenia.
There was moment of supreme
tension when the vote was reached,
as the attitude of Mr.. Balfour seem
ed to indicate that he would prevent
a unanimous vote. NJ. Viviani, Lord
Robert Cecil, Gastona Da Cunha, M.
La Fontaine (Belgium) Hjalmar
Branting and DR.. Nansen conferred
and decided to combine on the prop
osition as advocated by the French
and South African delegates.
To the great relief and surprise of
the assembly Mr.. Balfour was one of
the first to rise and vote in favor Of
the resolution. The council Of the
league met this evening, but took no
action relative to the resolution.
Mr.. Balfour, on leaving the assem-
bly, room, was asked what action had
been taken. He shrugged his shoul-
ders and merely described the pro-
ceedings as "The curious meeting
this morning.
DR.. Da Cunha of Brazil in reply
ing to a question as to what action
had been taken, said: "Unfortunate-
lv no action has been taken"