The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-19
DenunciatiOn of Covenant as
Hampering Marks End of
Geneva Session.
RESULTS HELD NEGATIVE
Latin Americans Interest
Lags in Schemes to Aid
European Desires.
by LAURENCE HILLS.

Special Gable to THE NEW York HERALD.
Copyright, 1890, dy THE New YORK HERALD.
GENEVA. Dec. 1S.-The Assembly Of
the League of Nations ending tonight
has provided little encouragement save
in the value it has afforded in the idea
of periodical meetings to bring the ma
tons together in the cause of world
peace.
That was the private comment by
many delegates, who in the same
breath denounced the covenant for
having hampered the assembly from
doing anything of practical value here
save possibly the Endorsement given
to the world court project.
Otherwise Its results are conceded to
be negative, except that 1t has proved,
in the opinion of many. that meetings Of
this character can be kept together IL
arranged under plan which would not
strip the nations of all initiative and
power. as does the present covenant.
Interest on the part of the South
American countries has noticeably
waned in the last few weeks. That was
explained by the head of one delega-
ton TO be due to the steadily growing
realiza ton by the South American dele
gates that their interests lie apart from
those of Europe and that they, no
more than the United States, can afford
to be tied up to all kinds of schemes
managed largely by Europeans and pro-
NOTED in the interests of that continent
That feeling of the South American
countries was emphasized yesterday
when Chile served notice that she did
not regard the league council as COM
petent to interfere in Chile's dispute
with Bolivia.
Radical Change Imperative.
Promoters of this league know per-
fectly we'll that unless radical changes
are made Ia the present plan of interna-
tional cooperation II is dou 1tful whether
South American countries could be In
duced to send delegates to another meet
ing here. as they. mors thaa the small
European countries. are now -esentful
of the complete domination OF the coun-
ell and. In turn, of the assembly by
the major Powers.
Not only are many OF the smaller ma
tions looking 20 the United States to
suggest new plan tor cooperation, but
from remarks made IN the assembly by
men like Rene Viviani OF France and
II. A. L. Fisher of the British delesa-
ticn, Il has been made very plain re-
Gently that the large Powers now re-
alize fully the futlltv OF continuing a
plan which In the end can cause only
divisions among the natlons
France May support Harding.
Following NJ. viviani's significant
speech last Wednesday. n statement was
made to THE NEW YORK HERALD corre-
spondent by an important French Off
cial that France would be, found to be
in perfect accord with the United States
II the Harding negotiators wer~ to offer
a plan which merely retained the two
cardinal features, the assembly and
court Justice as a basis. That. of course,
would nrean the scrapplng OF three
fourths Of the covenant including the
obligatory articles. and. If not entirely
eliminating. would change It's council
feature so that 1t would become a mere
emergency committee. But even that is
seen by France TO be preferable to
league without the United States and
South American countries as members.
NJ Viviani's speech II Is now learned
was deliberately inspired by the French
Government to show discreetly how far
Il was prepared TO go to meet the views
Of the Harding Administration. British
delegates seem TO be holding little more
tenaclously TO some OF the features OF
the present plan than are the French,
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