Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-30
Japan DROPS RACE
|. EQUALITY DEMAND
No Action to Be Asked at Pres
ent Session Of League
Assembly
CRITICAL PERIOD REACHED

Geneva, Nov. 30.-(By A. P.l-Ine
japanese delegation vii, not make any
proposal for racial equality at this ses,
sion of the assembly of the League OF
Nations. II was announced by Viscount
Ishii at this mornings session OF the
assembly.
"Janan will patiently bide her time
said Viscount Ishii, until an .oppor-
tune moment shall present itself.
The japanese delegation, ne added
also has decided to withdraw Its pro-
test against annual meetings Of the as
sembly, although It requires five
months time for a delegation from
Japan to make the long journey and
return. He recommended that meet,
ings once In two years.. with special
meetings in emergency, but said nc
would not press the point.
The Japanese delegate made these
declarations in speaking on the report
Of the committee on rules, which was
read TO the full assembly at the opening
of the session by Delegate Ferrari, OF
Italy. The committee based its report
on the principle that the. assembly Is
the sovereign organism Of the league,
but intermittent, and that the execu-
tive council is the permanent power,
with the secretariat as the continuous
medium for the execution Of the deci.
sions of both the assembly and the
council.
Peace Delegates Position Cited
yiscount Ishii referred to the posi-
ton taken by the japanese delegation
| at the Peace Conference.
at was to the poignant regret Of the
japanese Government and people, he
said, that the trainers Of the cove
nant were unable to accept the Japanese
proposal that equality before the law
Should be assured to all men, irrespec-
tive Of their nationality, race or re-
ligion. The Japanese delegates de-
clared they would continue their In .
sistence for the adoption Of their just
demand by the league. In view, how
ever, of present circumstances, Japan
| Is strongly persuaded that the leagul
| Is as yet In a stage when the consolida
tion Of its organization should be &C
corded greater attention than questions
that might involve revision of the cove
| nant."
Viscount Ishii referred to the great
size Of the japanese delegation and
said this should be taken as evidence
of the real interest OF his country In
| the league.
Delegate Ferraris, of Italy, proposed
an amendment to the rules making II
obligatory for the assembly to meet ir
| Geneva. This was adopted with the
modification that the regular session,
Of the assembly must be held at Geneva
| Mt regular intervals, but that extraor
dinary sessions might be held elsewhere
If the assembly, majority of the coun
ell or q majority Of the members of the
League 70 decided. The assembly then
adjourned to Thursday morning.
Russo. Polish Debate Postponed
The expected debate on the failure Of
| the council to intervene for prevention
| OF the war between Poland and Soviet
Russia has been put over to Friday 8
session.
The report Of the committee on
amendments to the covenant was ex :
pected to contain recommendation
that a commission be appointed to which
all amendments proposed should be re-
ferred for study and reported upon Il
the next Assembly, which 1t now /,
considered will certainly be held during
the summer or early fall.
! Such a committee would have sufi
cient latitude to consider any PROPOSE
tions emanating from the United
sidered the advisability of giving the
committee the express authority to
enter into negotiations with Washing
ton at a favorable moment.
Critical Period Reached
| Many delegates to the meeting of the
assembly Of the League of Nations re
gard the present week as the most crit
| ical period in the history of the organi-