The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-15
Attitude of Powers Toward
Lesser Nations Causes Row.
Council Cannot Get Big Nations
to Accept Mandates.
CALL new MORAL CONGRESS-
Committee of Assembly Misses
Advice From q. S.
wants Information From Ger
many as Well as America.

Geneva, Dec. 15.-Austria was
elected member of the League Of
Nations by the assembly of the league
today.
The election of Austria was without
opposition. Thirty five votes were cast
in favor OF her admission Two mem
bcrs were absent and four abstained
from voting.
Belgium. Brazil. Spain and China
were chosen as the four elective mem
bers Of the council of the League of
Nations by the assembly of the league
today. The first three nations named
had held places in the council by ap-
pointment under the original cove
nant. China takes the place of
GREECE, the fourth member originally
named.
on ballot for the fourth member,
China received twenty-one votes
which elected her. Sweden received
I've votes, Rumania six. Czecho-Sl
valSia two and Portugal, Switzerland
Serbia and Greece one each.
Proposal that the League of Nations
assume the duties VIII ch heretofore
h~.e devolved upon Holland under the
intcfnat onal opium convention reg
uu ing traffic in the drug was taken
up by the assembly at this mornings
session.
The committee which had been in
vesiisatinE the subject recommended
that the secretariat of the league col
lcct information from the interested
countries and that the subject be fur
ther investigated by any advisory com
riistee, including representatives from
tha countries especially concerned
Eolland Great Britain, France. India,
Japan. China, siam and Portugal
Miss United states.
The committee report mentioned the
difficulty resulting from the absence
uf the United states and Germany
from the league and suggested that If
these governments could not forward
might communicate with Holland on
th~ subject.
The committees suggestions were
adopted b. the assembly and the sub
toct of the white slave" traffic was
taken up. The propositions regard
ing this traffic are that the countries
which adhered to the international
convention of 1904 be invited to send
delegates to another international
conference to be held before the next
assembly; also that the council ap-
point n committee to investigate the
deportation of women and children to
As Minor.
When the white slave" resolutions
CO mo TO a vote they were unanimously
adopted by the assembly.
Mandates Cause Storm.
Discussion of the question of man
dates on the floor of the assembly Of
tine League of Nations seemed today to
be probable and it was expected there
would be animated debate before
the subject was disposed of.
N,ncn actual debate might begin was
not indicated. but statements of dele
~.
view that before the end of the present
meeting the whole question would be
fully considered.
\ subcommittee which has been
considering the question of mandates
held stormy sessions Yesterday and
Monday. some of the members, includ-
ing c. J. Doherty of Canada, and Doc
tor Nanzen of Norway, pushing for
action, while others appeared indif-
ferent.
Powers Not Satisfied.
It appears the council of the league
has encountered difficulty in securing
satisfactory replies from the supreme
allied council and from the mandatory
powers concerning the terms of man
dates and the boundaries of terri
tories placed under the supervision of
various nations.
In addition, the council of the
league is said to hove delayed the Civ
ing of information requested in rela-
ton to other matters. There is a
strong current of opinion in the assem-
bly, that the mandates under which the
powers fix their own terms are not
properly mandates, and there are in
dications the question may be thrown
back upon the supreme allied council
If sufficient information has not been
secured before Thursday night. The
committee in charge of the matter
holds that 1t must have this informa-
ton before it can make an intelligent
report.
CORPSE IS WEDDING GUEST