The New York herald., 1920-12-03
WILL DRAW TEETH
FROM ARTICLE X


correspondent that no such construction
was warranted.
"The resolution simply states what
the commission must do. but there Is no
restrictions regarding what 1t may con-
sidcr." Mr.. Balfour, said. This can
and will. think. include the United
states proposals.
NJ. Hanotaiw of the French delegation
said: Most certainly the commission
will take up ;he American proposals,
that being one OF the chief objects. l
cannot conceive of any objection being
raised to direct negotiations. IL any
objection was offered l think France
would be glad to submit the proposals
of the United States herself"
1t Is well known that certain French
authorities are hopeful of getting the
Republican views. even before the COM
mission begins Its work. in order that
the two nations If possible may work
together for Q common purpose. the
idea still is that this commission, while
nominally named by the council, really
will be named By the heads Of the Gov
efnments, because there ia recognized
the Importance of the prospective nego-
tiations with the United States
To-days session was given over to
amendments, and II was proposed and
emphasized that revision, II in whole or
part desired virtually by all the States.
should not wal. entirely upon the Amer
lean suggestions, and secondly 1t was
shown that many States for which
Switzerland spoke to-day intend to de-
mand that the revision plan be not hin
dered because President Wilson insisted
on tying up the covenant to the treaty.
but that it be considered for the pur-
pose as separate document This
point came up to-day when Mr. Balfour
cited this as one reason why the amend
nients should not be considered at this
session, desiring not to make any modf-
fications In the peace treaty. 1t also
was indicated that a majority of the
States. II they lose the fight here for
compulsory Jurisdiction for the interna-
tional court. will press this demand be-
fore the proposed amendments come up.
President Motta's insstence on this
power for the court brought loud ap-
plause to-day.
Argentina objects, but Loses.
The Scandinavian States submitted in
graceful speeches to the decision to de-
fer action regarding their amendments,
Mr.. Balfour giving as the reason for
their postponement the present preoccu-
patton of the important heads of States.
the desire not to modify the peace treaty
and the necessity for giving all the pro-
posals for changes careful study.
1t was evident that an agreement had
been made in advance to allow the reso-
lutionN to pass, except by Honorario
Pueyrredon the Argentine's Foreign
Minister and head of her delegation,
who furnished sensation by saying
that he voted against the resolution,
thus upsetting the unaninty rule. I'M
mediately, however, President Hymans
upheld the stand of Rene Viviani of
France that it was question of proce-
dure and did not require unanimity.
Denmark. Sweden, Holland, Portugal
and Switzerland all to-day stressed their
intention of changing the covenant, while
DIR. Alfonso da Costa of Portugal was
the first to insist that the covenant was
not the Versailles treaty, but was merely
placed at the head of the treaty to show
the new orientation in the lives OF
peoples and that changes could be made
therein Independently of the peace treaty
NJ Motta. in insisting that the court
have compulsory power, said: 1--WE de-
sire not only to create such a court, but
to demand that its functions be living
ones, and we will devote all our efforts
toward securing this
Tie OF Covenant Exterior.
Replying to Mr.. Balfour he said he
could not admit the British delegates q
arguments were based on the fact that
the covenant was ted to the peace
treaty, whose revision was not In ques-
tion. ''The pact Is tied to the treaty,
but by strings which ] would call
uniquely exterior" NJ. Motta declared.
His argument was that It was for the
nations which fousht the war to revise
the treaty itself If they want to, but