The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-12-09
Small Nations Asserting Them
selves in Meeting of the
League Assembly.
HYMAHS ELECTED PRESIDENT
Early Admission of Germany Seems
Likely Soviet Russia. Having
Crushed WrangeI, is in Strong Po-
sition--. Greeks May Restore
Constantine to Throne.
BY EDWARD W. PIckARD.

No sooner had the assembly of the
ness in its first meeting in Geneva
than signs of discord between the
groups of large and small nations APP
peared. Up to date the latter have
the better of the argument, and the
fears of persons who thought the do
ings of the league would be dominated
by Great Britain, France, Italy and
perhaps Japan are somewhat allayed.
Indeed, the representatives of those
four nations were by no means in &C
cord on all points. The Italians placed
themselves in opposition to French
propositions, and the various British
dominions did not agree with the
mother country.
A most interesting development of
the week was the announcement that
Spain would join with Great Brit
ain, France and Belgium in policing
the Wilma zone during the plebiscite.
This was looked on as possibly the
beginning of the organization of a
league army.
The first day, after, the election of
Paul Hymans Of Belgium as president
saw the opening scrap over the mat
ter Of admitting Germany to member
ship i'm the league The French had
objected that this subject did not APP
pear on the agenda, but Tittoni OF
Italy declared the whole world de-
manded the admission of the enemy
states and would not accept the ex-
cuse that their applications had not
been received in time. Sir Robert
Cecil, who represented South Africa,
appeared to side with Tittoni.
1t was decided that six commissions
should handle the work of the assem-
bly,. The first is to take care of gen.
eral organization the second technical
organization the third the internation-
al court of justice; the fourth finance;
the fifth admission of new members,
and the sixth reduction of ornaments,
blockade and military pressure on
covenant breaking states and man.
dates.
When these commissions were
named, on Wednesday, the supporters
of the immediate admission of Ger
many scored another victory in the
election of Delegate Huneus of Chile
as president of commission number
5; Doctor Blanco of Cuba Vas made
vice president The French were sur
prised and chagrined at not receiving
this presidency for Viviani. but they
had been already put at disadvan-
tage by the naming of Bourgeois as
head of the third commission. 1t rad
been supposed that Great Britain, be-
cause of her naval power, would get
the presidency of the commission deal
ing with disarmament and blockade OF
covenant breaking states and with
mandates, but here again the smaller
nations showed their independence by
giving the place to Delegate Branting
of Sweden. The French, Italian and
English delegations won point Tues
day when it was decided that the COM
missions might, if they wished, sit in
camera and need keep no minutes Of
their sessions. Cecil protested in
vain against this.
Delegate Puyrredon of the Argen-
tine told the assembly that his delega-
ton believed all recognized nations
must belong to the league to make IT
effective and to avoid the danger of
the organization of rival league. He
said that a formula must be found to
permit the United States to come In,
and demanded that the league be made
more democratic by electing all the
members of the council in the assem-
bly,, instead of allowing the big pow
ers to name a majority of them, as at
present.