The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-25
PLAN REVISIONS
OF LEAGUE PACT
Geneva Meeting May Strike
Out Article Y. Without
Waiting on Z. s.
TO LIMIT ROOTS COURT
International Judiciary Will
Be Whitfield Down by Coun-
Gil at Brussels.
TO LIMIT ROOTS COURT
BY LAURENCE HILLS.

Copyright, 1890, sD THE NEW YonK IEALD.
BRUSSELS, Oct. 24-Members of the
Secretariat of the League of Nations
here persist in maintaining that the
attitude of the United States will be
one OF the leading subjects to be dis
cussed at the meeting of the league in
Geneva, beginning November Is. 1t
seems almost certain that one or more
nations are about to propose radical
changes in the covenant along the
lines talked of in the Republican po-
liticai campaign in the United States
without waiting for any definite
formulation Of changes by the new
Amer lean Administration.
Information reaching the league
Secretariat is to the effect that COM
plete elimination of Article X. from
the covenant will be suggested at the
Geneva meeting.
Small Nations satisfied.
The plans for the meeting are slowly
shaping and show that It will be one of
tho greatest OF international talkfests
The movement for changes in the COW
enant is coming chiefly from neutrals
and smaller States which never have
got over their displcasure at being left
out Of the conferences at the Paris
peace conference which shaped the
covenant Some OF these States already
have shown here that they want more
or less complete revision OF tho covenant
and are already making certain blocs in
order to effect this.
Premier Lloyd George, according 10
talk here, Is ready TO throw his influence
on the side of many of these changes
without waiting for n new American
Administration 10 act. On the other
hand. Lo-d Robert Cecil and his party.
who are Wilsoning Wilson In stand
ing by the covenant as Il exists to-day.
are threatening TO make a fight IN Par
lament If Lloyd George supports any
"emasculation" OF their sacrosanct docu-
ment at Geneva.
Arthur Balfour and Mr. Barnes al
ready have been named delegates to
Geneva. and IT is Lloyd Georges plan to
go before the initial stages OF the con-
ference. II the British internal political
situation permits.
Delay Germany's Entrance.
Members Of tho league Secretariat say
GerInany's admission to the league Is TO
be moved by a member state, whereas
Austria is to make her own application.
II IS now the intention OF the French
Government 10 point to the fact that
Germany is called upon by the treaty TO
fulfil certain obligations before May OF
next year, and co ask that the question
OF Germany's admission TO the league be
held up until after that date, In order
that another meeting OF the Assembly.
to be called possibly next summer. may
discuss TIE question of admission. II is
generally believed among the league peo-
pie that this course will be the one finally
adopted
Japan has given no notice to the Sec
retariat that she intends to bring up the
racial equality question. but IL is signlf-
cant that in British circles the feeling
is expressed that probably she win do no.
The council is still working upon tho
International court plan. II IL certain
TO be changed. and the competency Of
the court restricted with the stipulation.
probably, that its authority shall be
such as Is described in Articles XII. 20
XIV of the covenant.
Council Changes court Plan.
The Council takes the view that. as
trustees OF the covenant, It cannot take
the initiative IN proposing any changes
in the covenant such as IL says would
he required II the plan OF the JuristJ
were approved as submitted. The 5lan
therefore. will bo charged and whitfield
down to conform TO tho covenant and
then submitted TO the league assembly
in Geneva. If any nation then wishes
TO propose necessary amendments 10
the covenant. giving the court the
rights accorded 20 II by the jurists. g
Will be NJ liberty to do 80 in Geneva.
Leon Bourgeois. president Of the
League Council. admitting that the
Council had decided to change the
court plan. told the correspondent of
TIE NEW yoRK HERALD:
we have found serious discrepancies
between the project Of the iurigts and
the covenant. particularly on the point
OF the obligatory competence OF the In
ternational court. We could not so be
fore the Assembly with project con-
hictlng with. the covenant The work
OF the jurists is very admirable In many
ways, but we are not n body of super
jurists. wc are merely the trustees OF
the covenant. Therefore. we must alter
the project OF the jurists 90 conform
20 the covenant. The covenant says the
nations shall have the right TO choose
between tho court and the council, and
we must see that fhia right IL preserved
The question OF obligatory competency
also must be discarded
NJ Bourgeois said that when the
project was submitted 10 the nations.
very few made any answer To- the pro-
posai lie said he and his colleagues
hoped the court would be IN operation
next year. there neug no opposition
20 The Hague as its seat Asked about
the possibility OF amenoments being pro.
posed to the covenant az Geneva. no
said tho Council "is not considering any
amendments for reasons / have stated
-
Continued on Third PdOe