Omaha daily bee., 1920-08-04
Failure of League of Nations
To Take Action in Numerous
European and AsiatiC Rows
Remains Unexplained.
STAND TAKEN BY AMERICA
is OF GRAVE IMPORTANCE
Whether Membership by U. S.
Would Have Caused Allies to
Act or Not Is Subject Of
Growing Speculation.
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha bee Leased Wire.

~ IAN 49, - N o~nA>o tlCNN4N1s
Chicago Tribune- Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, Aug. 3.-Was it be-
cause OF the inability to call on the
United States for an army that the
league of nations, dominated by the
principal European powers, declined
to invoke the processes of the cove
nant to stop the war between Rus
sia and Poland?
This is a question that is assum-
ing greater importance daily as the
league continues impotent to func-
ton, as promised by its authors,
and as the American people debate
the wisdom of assuming the obliga-
tions to participate in foreign wars
inherent in adhesion to the cove
nant :,
The failure of tie league to take
cognizance of any of the numerous
European and Asiatic wars origi-
mating after the end of the war with
Germany never has been satisfac-
torily explained. Lord Robert Cecil
sought in vain to-induce thej league
council to take steps to stop the
Rrsso-Pelish war. 1t would not
even act under that section of the
covenant providing for the conlitler-
cial boycott and blockade of a ma
tion declining to arbitrate. England
may have opposed course involv-
ing the possible boycott of Russia,
for Lloyd George at that time was
negotiating with the bolsheviki for
reopening of commercial inter-
course.
Speculation Growing.
Nor was the league council will
ing to consider the use of force
against the nation that refused to
accede to pacific settlement of the
dispute. 1t was reported that pop
ular sentiment in England, France
and Italy would not tolerate the
dispatch of troops or warships to
aid the league in stopping the
Russo-Pofish war.
Whether the league would have
been galvanized into action had the
| United States been a member, and
therefore subject to a requisition of
troops and naval forces, is matter
of interesting speculation.
If Earl Curzon, British foreign
minister, did not have this precise
aspect of the question in mind, he
certainly did not hesitate to blame
the United States for the impotence
| of the league in the course oi
speech in parliament recently. The
text of the debate, hiterto unreported
in this country, reached Washington
today. y
Replying to numerous interpella-
tions concerning the failure of the
league to take cognizance of the
Russo-Polish and other wars, Earl
Curzon said it "was useless to deny
the painful disappointment we had
suffered by the detection of the Unit
ed States and it was useless to deny
that the work of the league of ma
tions had been crippled by that de-
fection. 1t never entered into the
| mpd of anybody that the country
which, to large extent, inspired the
league, would be the first to stand
aloof, or that the real sponsor of the
league would be absent from the
christening ceremony"
Refused Officers of League.
| He added that no effort had been
spared to induce the United States
to reverse its attitude. He said the
| CONTINUED on Page Two, Column Three.)