, 1920-12-23

AhNt IL AtahN lol NV - DhA'N
ing, and the board recommends that
three more be built for delivery by
1927. One more battle cruiser, 30
cruisers, Is submarines and four air
plane-carrying ships are asked. and
a one-year program of naval airplane
construction is recommended. In n
sentence, what the board advises Is o
combatant navy equal to the most
powerful maintained by any other ma
ton. supporting and protecting a great
merchant fleet.
To return to the League of Nations:
Several important things were ac-
complished last week by the assem-
bly,. First of these was the adoption
of n statute for a permanent interna-
tional court of justice. The plan now
goes to the member states for ratifi-
cation. If 1t is approved by %, or n
majority, before the mex meeting of
the assembly, the judges will be
chosen and the court will come into
existence in September, 1921. In the
debate on the project there was a
hot contest between Europe on one
side and Latin-America on the other
over the question whether the juris-
diction of the court should be obliga-
tory or voluntary. Europe won out,
and the statute as adopted does not
make obligatory the appearance of
both parties to a dispute. and pro-
vides no penalty for noncompliance
with the courts decisions. The Euro
pean delegates defended the scheme
as the best beginning that can be
made, but the Latin-Americans were
very skeptical as to the value Of op-
tional jurisdiction.
Austria, first of the former enemy
states to be admitted to the league.
was voted In Wednesday without OPP
position, four members refraining from
voting. Next day Bulgaria vas admit
ted, France and Australia not voting.
The action on Austria brought on "A
lively passage between Motta of
Switzerland and Viviani of France.
The former took occasion TO say that
his country had always regretted the
rejection of Germany's application for
admission, whereupon Viviani leaped
to the tribune and In n fiery speech
defended the French position in op-
posing Germany's admission. Most Of
the assembly was with him and he
was enthusiastically applauded. Lux
emburg, Finland and Costa Rlca also
were admitted TO the league.
Spain. Brazil, Belgium and China
were chosen as the four elective mem
bers of the council. China takes the
place OF Greece, and her victory was
said to be due mainly to the personal
strength and popularity of d.. Wei
llngton Koo among the delegates.
Armenia, together with Georgia and
the Baltic states. was refused admls-
sion to the league, but n resolution
was adopted expressing the hope that
President Wilson's efforts would re-
suit I'm the saving Of Armenia and the
establishment of a stable government
so that she could be taken into the
fold. Mr.. Wilson has named Henry
Morgenthau as his representative In
the mediation, but Just what he can
do is puzzling many observers. Al
rendy Armenia has yielded to the he
hests of the Red Russians and es-
tablished n soviet government Mt Erl-
van. and the Turkish n%atlonnlists,
called or by Lenlne, have signed Il
peace treaty with the Armenlans by
which the latter hand back to Turkey
most Of her former territory I'm hat
region. II this suits the majority Of
the Armenlans, what are the powers
going to do about III And what is
Mr.. M%orgenthau going to try 10
mediator