Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-10-01
Council of League of Nations Has
Stopped One War and Headed
Off Another.
ITS FRIENDS ARE ELATED
Opponents of Covenant Also Find an
Argument for a Lodge Reservation
Poles and Russians Talk Peace
While Latter Lose Battles
Guerrilla Warfare in
Ireland.
BY EDWARD w. PICKARD.

Believers in the League of Nations
are much elated by the results of the
ninth session of the league council
which ended in Paris early in the
week. BY diplomatic presentation of
fact and argument, the council in
duced four nations, which were on
the verge of engaging in two wars,
to agree to peaceful settlement Of their
differences. In one of the cases, in
deed, hostilities already had broken
out. This was the case of Poland and
Lithuania. These two nations con-
sented to suspend hostilities immedi-
ately pending a settlement of their
dispute which both sides will accept.
In this settlement the league council
will be represented by Count Quinones
de Leon, Spanish ambassador to
France, and Baron Keishiro Matsui,
Japanese vice foreign minister. When
the council meets in October, it is ex-
pected, at least a tentative decision
viii be ready for its approval.
Phe council had almost given up
hope of arranging this settlement
when, on the last day Of the session,
Ignace Paderewski, head of the Polish
delegation, suddenly arose and in a
dramatic speech declared his country
was eager for peace with Lithuania
and believed the latter nation also
desired peace. NJ. Woldemar and 9th
er Lithuanian delegates arose, strobe.
across the room and warmly shook
hands with the Poles, while the room
rang with cheers. Woldemar declared
his confidence in the fairness of the
council and said he would abide by
its decision.
Sweden's dispute with Finland over
possession of the Aland islands was
the other matter which it was believed
was put in a fair way to be decided
without recourse TO arms. The Firms
offered a reservation which created
some doubt at first, but this, it ap-
peared, was made for technical rea-
sons and would not offer any difficulty
which could not be ~surmounted. Meth
er nation, it al pointed out by league
officials, was legally bound to accept
the decision of the league, but both
are morally obligated to do so. and
If a settlement can be offered that is
backed by public opinion, the govern
ments cannot well refuse to concur. A
commission was appointed to inquire
into the merits of the dispute.
Opponents of the league found in
this Aland islands ease fresh argu-
ment to support their belief that the
league covenant, as 1t stands, gives
the council the chance to do just what
the supporters of the Lodge reserva-
lions feared-to interfere In domestic
questions. They point out that Fin
land contended that the Aland island
dispute is a Finnish domestic, not an
international, question and that the
league had no jurisdiction thereof.
The league council rejected the Fin
nish contention, pronounced the ques-
ton international and appointed the
commission.
There is in the covenant, say the
DIRECTORS, no guarantee that the coun.
Gil would not pronounce the present
controversy between Japan and the
United States over immigration an in.
ternational question subject to its
Jurisdiction; and if Japan should sub.
NIT the dispute to the league, as is
suggested in that country, the United
States would be in an awkward II
not a dangerous position. One of the
Lodge reservations, it will be remem.
bered. specifically declared that Amer.
lean immigration and other domestic