Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-30
LEAGUE COUNCILS
OPENING SESSION
UNDER WAY TODAY
Economic Blockade Weapon
Will Maintain Power,
Asserts Balfour.
Ry tho Associated Press.


SAN SEBASTIAN. Spain. July 90
the league of nations began at I
O'Clock this afternoon. The conferees
will take up minor. but practical.
questions. such as making travelling
easier in Europe
The courcil will consider whether.
in view of the heavy expense and
slow work Of The Sarre commissi on,
the total cost should be borne by the
Sarre population. as heretofore.
The feeling has been evidenced tina :
France and Germany are most direct =
~ interested in this work and should
share the expense between them.
The remainder of the sssion. which
VIII be private. probably will be de-
voted to questions referred 10 the
league by the Red Cross.
The first public session of the coun-
Gil will be held Tuesday
Economic blockade Need.
SAN SEBASTIAN. Spain July 90
We must have an economic blockade. -
declared Arthur J. Balfour. British rep
resentative on the league of nations
council, in talk with newspaper CORE
spondents on the program of the coun-
Gil He considered the meeting an i'm
portant one. because. among other
things. the blockade question was in its
agenda.
Ii an economic blockade was applied
TO a nation which deficd the league
Mr.. Balfour said. he could not believe
that nation would be able to res st for
long.
No nation would destroy itself in
these civilized times by inviting such a
penalty" he added. 1T is not likely it
VIII often be used. since II is not prob
able the league will often be defied"
MI BaIfour gave il as his opinion
n
dangers-on the one hand. from those
people who said ii was useless crea-
ton, and. on the other hand from those
who believed that in the league had
been found remedy for ali interna-
tonal difficulties
If all the nations threw all their nrob-
lens on it in these early DAYS. before
Its objects had been ingrained in the
peoples minds. he asserted the league
could not function properly; it must be
given time TO develop.
Instance of Leagues Activity,
turning TO the Aland Islands ques-
tion- over which he said a clash mad
oeen sVerted by Finland and Sweden
re1erring the case TO the league Mr.
Baifour cited il as an instance of
the real effectiveness of the league
Tor peace. But he declared, behind
discussions in such a case there must
oe stronger sanctions and these were
The significance of holding the
council meeting in neutral country
was dwelt upon by the speaker He
expressed satisfaction also that
Count Quinones de Leon, Spanish
ambassador to France. was to pre-
side, because the services rendered
the league by this neutral member
are well known.
Addressing the Spanish press rep
resentatives especially. Mr.. Balfour
stated he was glad the meeting was
being held in Spain. since il empha-
sized the universal character of the
league.
1T would have been a fatal mis-
take had the allies forgotten the uni
versal character of the body" he
continued 1T must have ties equally
important for all countries, SO that
could belong to it. as well as the
allies. Those who fail to realize this
fact miss the Importance OF the whole
movement. II the hopes of the world
are to be realiztd the whole world must
cooperate.
Public Opinion m Weapon.
Mr.. Ralfour said he considered this
port. not only for the foregoing rea-
son. but on account of the agenda
comprising the question of blockade.
to which he attributes great impor-
lance. The league could not expect to
work with rapidity and effectiveness,
he declared, because it's main weapon
must be public opinion. What had al
ready been gained, Mr.. Balfour add
ed, was that the powers were brought
to lay their cases before the council,
which would discuss them as an i'm
partial tribunal.
Mr.. Bafour pointed out that this
made 70. delay, rendering war less
possible.
Sessions of the council of the league
of nations. TO be inaugurated tomor-
row, are expected to continue for
"a bout a week.
Beginning Tuesday the disarma-
ment commission appointed at the
councils mSet'sg lin Rome last May
will convene to prepare its report.
This will be presented to the council
before il adjourns.
Arthur ]. Balfour. British member
of the couGcil; Paul Hymans. repre-
senting Belgium; Count Quinones de
Leon. Spain; Tomasso Ittoni. Italy and
p Scassi, Greece. are now here. Leon
Bourgeois, the French member, will
arrive tomorrow morning.
1t is expected the members of the
council will be received by King AL
fonso at the summer palace during
his sojourn in San Sebastian.