New-York tribune., 1920-11-27
Canadian, Backed by Vivi-
ami, Wants All Govern
ments to Give Delegates
Full Right of Action
Six Amendments TO
Covenant Sought
British Lose Fight to Keep
Non-Mandatory Powers
From Control of Board
By Ralph Courtney


GENEVA. Nov. 26.-In Commission
No. 1 of the League of Nations Assem-
bly,, which deals with the internal ma
chinery of the organization, Canada,
supported by France. day made pro-
posals which, if adopted, will entirely
change the complexion of the league.
Newton W. Rowell, one of the Cana
dian delegates, presented six PROPOSE
tions, of which the most important was
that all members of both the council
and the league Assembly be cons dered
repres of their governments
and that the decisions of the league
shall be binding on the home govern
ments.
Although Commission No. has al
ready ruled that no amendments to
the league covenant shall be admitted
at this session, Rowell contends that
his proposals are merely interpreta-
tions of the covenant and have a right
to stand.
Rene Viviani, Of France, who is on
the commission, supported Rowell,
arguing that he, too, believed that the
delegates sent to the league should
/ be representative Of the different gov
ernments.
The commission was unable to come
to any decision on the proposals, but
it appointed Rowell and Viviani as 8
committee to formulate a scheme.
1t is reported that despite Viviani's
attitude Rowell's idea is not looked on
with much favor by Leon Bourgeois,
the other French delegate on the COM
mission, but it is believed that in an
open debate on the subject Viviani
could carry the Assembly with him.
Other members of the commission are
said to be somewhat doubtful Of
Rowell's proposal.
Rowell's Argument
Rowell's argument is that his plan
much Of the work that is being done
now by the Supreme Council and by
the Council of Ambassadors in Paris.
Rowell contends that his interprcta-
ton is undoubtedly what the men who
drew up the covenant intended. He
pointed out that as the covenant says
that the leagues decisions shall be
binding on all members, all govern
ments ought to be represented There
would be no point in requiring a unan-
lmous vote in both the Council and the
Assembly unless it was understood
that all governments would bow TO
the league s decisions
The Canadian delegates say that they
4 {.o At, ,1o Y j
out of the covenant and would have in
troduced a proposal to eliminate it had
not the commission DISCOURAGED the in
PRODUCTION Of changes in the covenant at
the present stage of the leagues devel-
opment. They assert that the Canadian
government has gone very carefully
into Article X and has decided that,
as Canada interprets it, no harm can
come from it. The Canadians insist
that they feel that their independence
is fully safeguarded by the clause
the Council and in the Assembly.
Rowell said to-day that the com
ments of General Jan c. Smuts and
! Lord Robert Cecil on the covenant
since its creation had given Canada to
understand that before any steps could
be taken which would affect her, such
as the summoning of an armed force
for any purpose, the Canadian delegates
to the league would have an opportu-
nifty to vote on the subject, and if they
voted against any proposal affecting
Canada, unanimity in the Council or
the Assembly would be impossible, and
the proposal under consideration would
have to be abandoned.
Cecrs Idea on Representation
Lord Robert Cecil, discussing with
the Tribune spondent tonight
his conception of what the relations of
the Assembly and Council ought to be-
said:
Il was surprised the other day to
hear prominent member of one com
mission say that he did not consider
himself representative of his gov
ernment. Certainly our idea in Paris
was that the members Of the league
Council should represent their govern
ments The Assembly, on the other
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