The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-06
BRITISH LEAGUE
MEMBERS SEEK
UNITED POLICY
Plan Action at Geneva Re-
garding Attitude of
Harding.
SIX DELEGATES MEET
Caucus Inclined to Agree
That Covenant Is
Extinct.
WON'T WORK WITHOUT us
WON'T WORK WITHOUT US
England Awaits President
Elects Scheme for Interna-
tiOnal Association.

SSscsaI Cable to THE NEW York HEsALp.
CspSwseAt, 1870, By The New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
London. Nov. 3.
On the heels of Mr. Harding's re-
newed declaration that the League Of
Nations is dead. a caucus of the Brit
ish Empires six votes In the Assembly
settle upon common policy to be
adopted at the Geneva meeting. The
caucus Of the delegates for Great Brit
ain and the self-governing' dominions
under the presidency Of Premier Lloyd
George was announced for this pur-
pose, but 1t was crowded into few
minutes before the House Of Commons
met to-day and no definite conclusion
was reached.
Il IL uncertain whether the Premier
thinks the Geneva meeting important
enough to warrant his presence there.
1t is reported in diplomatic circles that
other Premiers are waiting on Lloyd
Georges decision in this respect. and II
he does not attend they will not, with
tho result that the first meeting Of the
Parliament of the World" will be an
amiable gathering of clever diplomatic
delegates, with none Of that domestic
political responsibility which alone could
give the decisions of the assembly high
est authority.
There was more than suspicion In
and around the scene Of the caucus to-
day that Mr.. Harding was right when
he said the league was dead. 1t has
deGenerated into truism here that the
League of Nations will not work with
out America Also II is no secret that
even the best friends of the league In
London would welcome authoritative In
formation regarding just what the new
Washington Administration proposes to
do In the way OF Harding substitute
for the league as a scheme for interna-
tlonal organization.
Meanwhile, whether Premier Lloyd
George goes or does not go to Geneva,
the home and colonial delegates to the
assembly continue to fraternize here,
and 1t is freely predicted that they will
attain q united front on all questions
likely to come before the assembly
Whether or not the assembly amounts
to anything, this empire Is still the
strongest single force giving It's direction
there. 49,
There Is still much uncertainty here
regarding President-elect Harding
tendencies. British statesmen are
closely watching the Cabinet making
news from America. They could well
come the inclusion Of the Root Taft
Hoover element and would deplore any
evidence that the Presdert-elect was
inclining toward the johnson Borah doc
trines. The assertion that the Senate
rial round robin will constitute the basis
OF the Harding foreign policy is not
definite enough to suit the many anxious
watchers here. who point out that much
water has passed over the dam on both
sides of the Atlantic since then
II must be said that there is a general
disposition among even the keenest
friends OF the league with whom THE
NEW YORK HERALD correspondent has
talked. to accept any amendment to the
league that America proposes. What Is
worrying them is whether Mr.. Harding
will demand the scrapping Of the entire
Versailles machinery and the negotiation
OF a new covenant or whether he will
be satisfied with realigning that ma
chinery into different shape.
Despite British anxiety to exert the
influence 1t considers commensurate
with It's own and the Dominions' in
terests on whatever organization Is
formed. there Is no doubt that Premier
Lloyd George and other responsible
men In the Government have not dem
onstrated their confidence in the pres
ent organisation by committing any
serious tasks to II. They have paid
eloquent lip service to It and Britons
abound in important places In the
league machinery. but SO far II has
been strictly waiting game.
II Is asserted that Elihu Root was
made fully aware of this attitude in the
course offinformal meetings with some
Of the most responsible men In England
when he was here 1t was revealed that
all hands were In substantial agreement
that the international court and the ma
the outbreak of hostilities constituted
the real essence of an international or
ganization.
Further. II was agreed that such trim
riings as Article X were not only I'M
essential but were actually opposed TO
the main purpose
The best Indications here are that
Great Brit ain would far prefer reaching
a new understanding through the present
league machinery. An important diplo-
n,atist assured THE NEW YORK HERALD
correspondent to-day that this was alb
suiutely the French desire, a desire not
based on any French fantastic belief In
Ahe sacrosanctity Of the covenant This
Informant insisted the statement that
Premier Clomenceau's tongue was In his
eneek when talking about the League
sof Nations Ia more eloquent o. French
opinion than all OF Leon Bourgeois
glowing periods.
The fact might be mentioned here
that William jennings Bryan has at
tracted more serious attention on this
hide OF the Atlantic than he has received
hincc his alleged chat with DR.. Dern-
burg His suggestion for devolution
Of the Presidential authority TO Mr.
Harding through Mr.. Marshall Is ac-
cepted as such stun as dreams are
made OF. but happy dreams. II is fur
fher realized that even. IL this Bryan
Etopianism could be realized, the
American programme could not be
framed before the Geneva meeting
Hence II is generally accepted here that
Geneva will be another polite walt and
see session. with France and Great
Britain drawing closer 10 the attitude
IN favor of amendments to the covenant
through the present machinery rather
than by pulling down the whole to build
new structure.
PLAN WORLD IDENTITY CARD.