Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-12-15
LEAGUE MAY TAKE



which hns been considering the question
of mandates, held stormy sessions yester-
day and Monday some OF the members,
including G. J. Doherty Of Canada and
DIR. Nanscn Of Norway, pushing Tor ac-
ton, while others appeared indifferent
On the program was the task OF elect'ng
new members To the league, choosing OF
four new elective members VI the council
and the disposng Of questions regarding
the white slave" traffic and the opium
trade
Geneva, Doc. 15-The first step for
disarmament OF the nations must be eau.
tious and deliberate. the ASSEMBLY. oil
the League OF Nations decided yesterday,
notwithstanding sharp criticisms by Geo.
Nicoll Barnes, the British labor lender,
and Christian LANCE, Of Norway. Mr.
Barnes said there was "too much quibbie
and not enough pluck" in the decisions To
20 slowly
The policy OF the United States ON
this question WAS by more or les veiled
allusion invoked Az one roason why
general disarmament cannot be boldly
grnppled with at this time Mr.. Barnes
said H. A. l.. Fisher, Of the British
delegation, referred To nations with
powerful Arms and munitions-mnking ia
cilities that still are outside the league
The absence from the league OF former
enemy countries also was referred To
by Mr.. Fisher This brought from Mr..
Barnes the retort:
They are now practically disarmed
and cannot constitute a menace Ion years
TO come"
A curious manifestation al the session
WIS the general applause Of the dele
NJ
Barnes and LANCE for An immediate
effort. while at tho same time accepting
tho conclusions of the disarmament
committee. These are, briefly, an effort
to prevent the future increase OF arrnA-
ments and propaganda in favor Of de-
crease as steady means of bringing
about eventual but remote, general dis
armament
France and Belgium accepted the com
mittee's conclusions upon limitations of
armament expenditures during the next
two wears on the basis Of appropriations
for last year. They added, however, that
thew could not consider the restoration
of ornaments destroyed during the war
M increased expenditure. but pointed
out that measures were being taken 10
reduce the period Of military service,
NJ Poullet of Belgium, said
Belgium has received no rsparntions
She cannot spike her guns while the
League of Nations still is IN process OF
formation.
The committee in ITS report pointed out
that a convention for the control Of the
traffic in arms and ammunition was signed
bv Great Britain, the United States,
France, Japan, Belgium, Bolivia, Cuba,
China, Ecuador, Greece and Italy at
ST German, when the Austrian peace
treaty was signed, but that this conven-
ton had not yet been ratified And that
no steps had been taken 10 make IT effec-
tive. The report proposes that the Coun-
Gil urge the signatories TO ratify the treaty
without delay.
The convention in question prohibits
exports Of arms and munitions except
under special licenses for deliveries TO
the governments themselves. Ii was
especially intended 10 prevent the guam
titles Of arms remaining on hand At the
end Of the war formulating into the hands
of the less civilized people. Il provides
for an international office 10 control the
trade in arms. The committee proposes
that this body be used in q more general
wav 70 exercise control over the private
manufacture of aims.
Washington, Dec. 10 Mediation IN
Armenia by President Wilson still IS de-
pendent upon information from the
League OF Nations, State Department
officials said yesterday, explaining that
the Presidents request TO Paul HyInans
President of the League Assembly remain
ed unanswered.
Geneva, Dec l5-The council and
assembly of the league have been asked
70 invade the realm of domesticIty and
try 10 solve the complicated matter OF
international marriages. The Women
International League for Peace and Free
dom has presented request that an
international commission on marriage laws
be appointed by the assembly to consider
the complexities Of marriages between
persons of different nationalitles and make
a report at the next assembly.
The members of the secretanat hled
the request, the feeling being suggested
that such an investigation would add to
the leagues difficulties rather than III
crease its prestige.
Nuremberg, Bavaria, Dec. 15.-Ru-
dolph Oeser Prussian Minister of Public
Works, addressing the Democratic party
convention, asserted that the United
States had obligated itself by Secretary
Lansings note OF November 5, 1918, as
e,iarantor that Germany would have fair
play in the peace treaty and contended
that as President Wilson had failed to
carry out this obligation the American
people in order to keep faith should IN
sist that his successor fulfill this contract
He declared that ''e,ther the treaty
must fall or large part of the population
of Europe will die of hunger. We have
twenty millions undernourished, and 1t
is a question what will become Of them
Who would save Europe must set aside
the Versailles treaty
Warsaw, Dec l5.-Sovlet Russia
objections 10 sending an international
army 10 Wilma to supervise the plebi-
settle there have been filed with the Polish
Government in note received here, which
declares the assembling Of the Leagues
forces would endanger Russian frontiers.
II is also commended that Gen. Zell-
gouski's army in Wilma is part of the
military forces Of Poland and that Poland
is thereby afforded certain advantages
over the Soviet in the peace negotiations.
Paris, Dec. 15-(Jewish Geographic
Agency. Jewish representatives at Gene
va have obtained the assurance OF leading
men at the League Assembly that If
Finland is admitted into the League she
will have to guarantee the acceptance and
Incorporation Of minority clauses IN Its