The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-18
WARNS LEAGUE
OF COLLAPSE
Lord Robert Cecil Bitter at
Arbitrary Domination Of
Council.
SECRECY AS TO MANDATES
Open Consideration Refused
South African Representa-
tive Foresees Failure.

Geneva. Dec. 1S--Solemn warning
that the league OF nations may breal,
up II the league council continues ar
bitrary domination was sounded today
by Lord Robert Cecil, representative OF
south Africa at the assembly meeting
and one OF the chief founders OF the
league.
Lord Robert Cecil delivered a bitter
attack against the council for refusing
10 deliver secret mandate drafts TO the
assembly for open consideration. He
charged that the assembly had been
stripped of It's power over THE impor-
,ant mandate question by the action OF
The league OF nations Is entering a
Uritoal stage, said Lord Robert Cecil
u the council Is not careful IL will
plunge the league into disastrous fail
Woman on Commission.
LORD Robert Cecil, In presenting the
report, suggested that M least one
woman SHOULD be appointed a member
ot the mandate commission. since that
BODY yin have much to do regarding
women and children In mandate terri-
tory, Lord Robert took the council
sharply to task first for its lack OF
energy and clear sightedness In dealing
data. uVna tnul iau peeh gwen man
ptactlced by the council regarding the
terms OF the mandates they had re.
ce'Ved, The committees report called
the attention OF the assembly TO the
eounGlfs refusal TO communicate these
mahustes 70 the assembly, and suR-
kested tile situation should receive at
tenllon from the committee appointed
70 study amendments to the covenant
ot The league with view TO clarity.
ing the relations between the council
ana the assembly.
New Members Seated.
The ngenda for today promises Ia be
very heavy, including the question OF
responsibilities OF the league for man.
uatos over former enemy territories.
an euort WAS made TO dispose OF that
question this morning and Il was
lopeu thdt the report from the Amer
lcah committee might also be acted
upon. This program, II carried out.
would leave the afternoon session for
cleaning up miscellaneous unfinished
business and the ceremony of closing
inc session Of tho assembly.
hepltsentatives of Austria, Bulgaria,
Luxembourg. Albania, Costa Ricn and
FINLAND, which have been made mem.
nors OF the league, had seats In today's
meeting, but did not participate In The
proceedings. II was Impossible TO SO.
cure tha proper credentials In the
snoIt spuee OF time which has inter-
Vencd since theae nations were nc.
corded membership. The formal sign.
ing OF tho protocol by the represen.
taUVes OF a number Of nations accent.
my Jurisdiction Of the international
court was planned to be held al head
quarters OF tho league Hoerstarlat this
|. ,,,s, WeFid .Clsappo,nsed. .R4
!, The world viii DO disappointed over
mo assembly's failure ON tho mandate
question. sald Charles j. Doherty. of
ne Canadian delegation. A. j. ilaul- |
our, OF the British delegation took IL. |
'ue with the critics Of tho councils |
handling OF the mandates.
The British View IA that the coun.
~ alone lis responsible for the former |
ierman colonies" saId Mr.. Rnulfour |
The assembly may adopt a mandate |
or the colonies, but n 10 Great Britain |
WI announce reservations"