Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-11-18
MUST HAVE UNITED STATES.
Delegates to L. Of N. Meeting Anx-
fous to Change Covenant TO
Please the u. 8,

| Geneva, Nov. 15.-"The league is
dead. Long live the league!" was
the resounding slogan at the OPEN
ing of the meeting of the league of
nations conference.
| After Belgium was selected for
an especial tribute by the election of
Paul Hymans as president of the
league, groups of delegates formed
little dots throughout the hall, Gag
erly discussing the pros and cons of
proposed amendments to the cove
nant. Expected amendments are
now said to be certain of introduc-
ton either by Scandinavian or a
South American nation.
One fact is certain: The original
society OF nations has no more
chance to live than a rowboat in a
tempest, but out of the ashes of the
old Wilsoninn chimera IS expected to
emerge new organization by which
the interests of individual nations
will be respected and a worldwide
peace assured.
| At the same time II is realized
! that portions of the original league
structure must remain intact, as for
instance, the mandate clauses, since
| if the league were abolished entire
ly it would simply mean free-for-
all fight for Mesopotamia and Pal
| estine on the part of Great Britain
and for Syria on the part of France.
| Without the league not even the
smallest check would be possible up
on the mandate governments. There
fore the overwhelming sentiment
among the delegates, despite the
speech OF President Hymans, Is to
mark time, delaying all definite de-
cisions until a formula of new
league which shall be acceptable to
| America can be created.
The ensuing months will no doubt
see dextrous display of hedging,
lcamouflaging and generalizing on
| the part of the great powers, the
plain fact being that no decision can
be internationally valid without the
signature of the United States.
Nevertheless, strenuous efforts
are being made by the militant Brit
ish delegation to obtain control OF
the conference, hoping thereby TO
succeed in creating gigantic pro-
British collaboration, confronted by
which, il is fondly hoped, the United
States will "knuckle down." AS a
result Geneva resembles the city of
a presidential convention in the
limited States, with lobbyists every
where trying to get votes for this
and that, with the British and jap
anese delegates we'll to the fore.
How yer, such efforts to establish
a supergovernment to be ruled from
Downing st. and Toxic are bound to
be failure, in the opinion OF skill
ed experts, cince the balance of pow
er is held by small nations, all of
whom look toward the United States
as the sole star in the armament
likely to furnish light to lead the
world from its pit of chaos to genu-
inc peace.
Meanwhile, the attitude of the
French delegates is evoking much
comment. The fact that M. Vivani
was chosen spokesman instead OF
Leon Bourgeois is considered proof
the French government will refuse
to submit TO the creation OF a league
dictatorship The French policy now
desires the friendship of America al
any cost in order to gain the sigma
ture of the United States to a
Franco-British-A defensive
pact, which Signature France fears
will be withheld should her league
policy d,splease President-elect
| Harding,