The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-20
Hour for World Disarmament
Not Yet Here.
Belgian Delegate at Geneva
Wants International Army.
ANOTHER SAYS time WASTED
Delegates Unable to Make
Pledges for Nations.
Canadian Disguised With DiIa-
tory Methods Adopted.

Geneva, Nov. 2O.-"The hour for
universal disarmament has not yet ar
rived" NJ. La Fontaine, Belgian dele
gate. declared today in addressing the
assembly of the League of Nations in
public session.
La Fontaine maintained that the
economic situation is the most i'm
pOrtant confronting the world, insist
ing upon the right of the league to
rest upon the strength of the national
armies which are at its disposition,
then it will be at the mercy of no one"
Cannot Even Help Armenia.
AS the situation now stands, La
Fontaine said, the league is now com
posed Of forty-two states with armies
numbering millions, and yet is unable
TO save Armenia. He demanded for
nation of an international general
staff and immediate employment of an
international force. under the league,
in behalf of Armenia thereby demon
strating to the world the effectiveness
OF he league"
"Di armament not being possible
row, the IN mbers' armies and navies
Should be placed at the disposition of
TIE lea cue TO form the basis fof an
int irrational force under the league"
La Fontaine said.
Only Wasting Time.
Delegate Row ell of Canada criticised
the league council, declaring it had
wasted time with secondary prob
lens" He demanded immediate set
tlcmcnt of the territorial dispute be-
tween Poland and Lithuania.
THE council is on trial before the
world" he said. THE typhus reports
is a humiliating confession of failure
If the members of the council cannot
make pledges for their own nations,
they had better resign and give way to
others"
RoweIl concluded with a warning
that unless the council is backed up
by a few well done actions" it will
coasc to hold the respect of the world.
Want United States in Soon.
Hope that without too much de-
lay Z. way will be found for the en-
try of the United States into the
League of Nations is given by the
declarations of President-elect Hard
ing, 1t was declared to the assembly of
the league today by Tomasso Titoni,
former foreign minister of Italy.
He was speaking as a member of
the council of ths league, his remark
being made in closing discussion of
the report of the council to the as
sembly ending the first stage of the
asacmbly's work. The entire agenda
of the assembly now is in the hands
of the committees which have been
dfo e.
An international military force, with
an international staff was proposed to
the assembly of the League of Nations
today by Senator Henri Lafontaine of
the Belgian delegation
The first formal step looking toward
the revision OF the covenant of the
League OF Nations was taken by the
assembly of the league at today's ses-
s'ons. The Dutch minister of foreign
affairs, II. A. Van Karnabeek. intro
duced II resolution for reconsideration
of Article IS, having to do with
the registration of treaties.
Germany Big Problem.
The question of how the League of
Nations wall meet Germany's threat to
disregard that clause of the treaty of
Versailles involving ALLEGATION of her
colonies under various mandates, oc-
cupied the attention of the league as
sembly today.
Altho other matters were to come
before the assembly, it was privately
admitted by many delegates that Ger
many's attitude furnished the one big
problem now confronting the league
and that the assembly must of neces-
sity devote much of its time to finding
a quick solution.
Use Economic Pressure.
Unofficial conversations turned to
what steps the league, entrusted with
enforcement of the treaty. could take
to compel Germany's acknowledge
ment of the binding nature of the en-
tire pact. While none of the dele
gates would consent to be quoted to
that effect, the impression seemed to
be general that under present condi-
tion the league would have to depend
solely upon economic pressure
At the same time. the question has
arisen as to how Germany would pro-
pose to evade the particular clause OF
the treaty to which she takes excep-
ton. The only suggestion that has
been advanced in this connection is
that she would refuse payment of the
indemnities. either by outright de-
fiance or alleged inability to pay