South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-14

meeting OF the assembly OF the
League OF Nations at Geneva some
tremendous games of world politics
have been played. In the public
view the harmOnies have been pre-
served SO far as possible but in Ihe
recesses where the most skillful OF
new and old world statesmen have
grdppled, titanic struggles have pro-
ceeded-between imperial nations,
between Imperialism and democracy
between big powers and small ones
between radicalism and cOnservat-
ism. We shall have TO wait to get
the truth-and then not get il all
but certain flashes of diplomatic
lightning have already revealed
some very interesting facts.
one OF the evident things is that
America, while technically absent,
was very much present When the
British pressed the matter of dis
armament, intended 10 bring pres
sure on US TO limit our navy France
and others blocked the way. saying
nothing could be done until we were
consulted. When Belgium. Italy and
others brought up the proposal to
Eat the raw materials or the world
under general control. a measure
aimed directly at this country. Can
ada arose 70 warn that We would as
sent 20 no such thing. When the
matter Of an inter-allied force FOR
Wilma was i'm nand an American mi-
litary observer was suddenly on the
spot When amendments TO the
league We're proposed voices were
raised TO insist that nothing be done
until Mr.. Harding should make his
policy known.
America Took Strong Hand.
What has Interested me most,
however, was the fashion i'm which
America. AT one Of the most import
ant and critical moments took n
! strong hand in the proceedings and
( made certain that the imperial ma
tiOns-partiCularly The British
should not gain an unclouded right
/ To absorb into their empires the
vast territories taken from Germany
/ and other enemies in the war This
was the biggest practical question
| which came up i'm Geneva: and the
I settlement reached was a severe de-
| feat for imperialism and victory
/ for world democracy.
The issue arose in this fashion:
At Paris, when the matter Of the
I disposal of the conquered territories
/ was brought up, Mr.. Wilson in
sisted that they must not be regarl-
/ ed as more spOils of war hut as
/ trusts of the world at large To get
round him the imperial nations de-
/ Vised the system of manufactures. un-
/ der which the territories should be
/ handed over TO various powers as
/ trustees of the league. Mr.. Wilson.
! however. forced into the covenant
! a provision that the actions of the
| mandatory powers should he super
vised by "a permanent commission.
/ TO be appointed by the league coun-
/ Gil
Tho imperial nations saw 10 It
] that Ibis commission was given no
! real authority 10 do anything--sinCe
/ il can only report It's conclusions To-
: the council-yet IL was left with a
/ great moral power, In that il has the
! right TO learn just what any manda-
/ tory is doing and TO recommend tn
/ changes i'm government or even the
/ grants of greater liberty 10 peoples
! thus held
/ Wilson Acted Suddenly.
/ At Geneva. Britain sought 10 have
| the council decree that this commits
sion should have a majority OF mem
. 5erz from the mandatory powers.
/ The cool and cynical Mr.. Balfour
must have had some quiet laughs
/ with himself when he put forward
such appropOsal, which of course
/ would enable the empires TO get to-
l gether and run things TO suit them
selves. Here is what happened.
4 %. In the beginning. al
/ though the council was evenly
| divided between the powers hav-
/ ing manufactures and those NOT
having them. France swung the ma
] jority 10 a decision that the pcrma-
/ nent commission SHOULD have ma
! jOrity OF nOn-mandatOry members.
! In this action. the Paris states en-
were pursuing their policy OF close
friendship for America taking their
/ chances that their own mandates
/ would suffer Britain protested the
/ action and forced reconsideration in
( the hope OF winning over "a ma1Ori-
~ of the council to her point OF
! view
CO. While the decision hung in
/ the balance America suddenly
] broke "A long silence and made
! known her attitude on this subject
/ by publishing the Colby note TO
! Great Britain, taking issue with the
I idea that the conquered territories
/ were SpOils Of war and insisting that
\ they should be treated as trusts for
the btntuL OF tIl litQbNN.
CD. Next day the league council
Il ove-ruled the objections Of the Brit
ish and decided that the permanent
commission should be controlled 10y
the non-mandatory powers.
First Glass Diplomatic Coup
It may be added that British
newspapers have shown much con
Germ over the fashion i'm which the
American note was published ana
have not hesitated 10 say that Mr.
Colby violated the general diplo-
matte understanding that such coCu-
mentS shall not be given out with
ont the assent of the other party
concerned They feel his action had
a purpose which did not ut IN with
British interests Certainly apr ear
ances support their idea such
things are not done i'm diplomacy
without reason. especially by the
present administration and I have
no hesitation in believing Mr. col
by. or rather the sick man I'm the
white house. can be credited with 4
diplomatic coup Of the first order
The notable thing about the
American action is that the poLct
thUs taken on the future OF the con
\ Quered lands is based on ground.
that puT Us in position TO insist OF
our views. either outside or inside
fhf Ii anorun TNa.n