The New York herald., 1920-12-04
Assembly Forced to Com.
promise on It's Decision Re-
garding Amendments.
SUBJECT Is REOPENED
Barnes Insists Oh Declara-
ton of Course in Respect
to Bolshevism.
POLAND ALSO PROTESTS
Objects to Councils Delimita-
tiOn Of Plebiscite Area
Of Wilma.
POLAND ALSO PROTESTS
ny LAURENCE HILLS.


SpeciaI Cab& To THE NEW YORK lIEaArr.
Copyright, 1921. by THE NEW YORK HERALD
GENEVA, Dec 3.-Three other South
American States have joined Argen-
tina in protesting against the treat
ment accorded amendments yesterday,
when by a vote in which Argentina
alone recorded a negative. the assem-
bly, decided that no amendments to
the covenant be definitely acted upon
at this session, but that hearings only
on proposed amendments be held. AS
a result of to-day's protest the steer
ing committee was obliged TO COM
promise tonight through fear OF Ar
eentina withdrawing from the assem-
bly,. President Paul Hymens has in
formed the assembly that the whole
subject of amendments would be re-
opened on Monday. and it is probable
the entire question of amendments
will come before the present session.
Argentina's position is that this as
semblv was convoked for the purpose
OF amending the pact, meanwhile IN
sisting upon consideration OF her
amendments changing the composition
of the council Of the league.
The failure of the league TO deal WIN
Europe's paramount questionable men
ace of Bolshevisn--comes up Tor dis
cussion in to-morrow's assembly as a
result of George Nicoll Barness motion
demanding that the council state whv
AZ DDIf hi
and what 1t intends to do to prevent
recurrence of hostilities. The stormy
J petrol of this conference. Mr. Barnes
representing British labor. refused 10
Yield to the opportunities OF his french
and British colleagues to-day to reirain
from bringing up the Soviet question
hero insisting that British labor and
socialists throughout the world were
demanding to know what the league
was really worth. The possible elimina-
ton of Article X. continues to be agitated
by many delegates.
Repercussion Probable.
That the league council finds itself
In ticxlish position in this whole mat
ter was emphasized to-day by two de-
yelopments which are likely to have g
repercussion in to-morrows assembly
meeting. which will be devoted not only
TO the Soviet question but TO the issue
dividing this meeting of the nations
namely, the relative powers OF the
council and the assembly.
These developments We're the Polish
Governments note protesting against
the councils delimitation of the plebi-
scite area of wilma. contending that the
area was too small to get correct ex-
preston OF the will of the inhabitants,
and the instructions issued by the coun-
ell that the international armys DUTY
was merely to preserve order in the
plebiscite area and II threatened with
actual hostilities by the Bolshcviki it
was to be Withdrawn.
The council seems to be finding Itself
In a muddle regarding Its powers, due TO
The admitted vagueness of the covenant.
This is the basis of the dispute here, the
real settlement of which depends largely
upon the attitude the Harding Admins
ration takes toward the league and Its
ui esent organization: "ls the council.
as IS a European Ministry. responsible
to the assembly, or is il sovereign CO.
ordinate body with the assembly,"
The big Powers represented on the
council) support the latter view. but
nobody here seems to know just what
was in President Wilson's mind and In
the minds OF those who drew up this
remarkable document in regard to this
point. The result is that the committee,
OF which Rene viviani OF France Is the
chairman, will present report at to-
morrow's meeting In no wise ITO formu-
late i'm explicit language the precise func-
lions the council and the assembly re-
spectively are expected to perform" but
TO provide a working basis for the
present.
rouucti and Assembly Powers
In conclusion the committee makes
the following recommendation
"'rhc council and the assembly are
each invested with particular powers
and duties Neither has jurisdiction to
render a decision in a matter expressly
committed to the other organ of the
league. The assembly cannot reverse or
modify "A decision falling within the ex-
elusive competence of the council, and
the same attitude must be shown by the
council In respect to the assemblys $ de-
cisions. Representatives sitting in the
council and in the assembly render de-
cisions as the representatives or their
respective States. and In rendering de-
cisions have no other standing except
as such representatives"
The committee also finds It lmpossi-
BILE TO consider the assembly AZ a cham
hcr OF deputies and the council as an
upper chamber. as In certain matters the
council and the assembly will have iden-
tical rights. while In others each body
has special rights. Nor can the council
he considered as invested with executive
and the assembly with legislative power,
since the assembly also possesses execu-
tive prerogatives.
This dispute goes TO the heart OF the
revision movement. which contends that
the covenant Is no sanorosanat docu-
fnent.