The Washington herald., 1920-11-22
Condemns Use Of Poison
Gas in Warfare, Secretary
General Reports.
RUSSIAN RECOGNITION
Three Rulings Important to
United States Passed
AT Geneva.
BY CARL w. ACKERMAN.

work of the league of nations coun-
Gil reveals a mass of important facts
about the leagues work during the
last ten months of vital interest to
the United States. The report OF
the secretary general covering fifty
nine printed pages. discloses:
First. That Switzerland was ad-
mitted to membership in the league
with her own reservations.
Second. That the council has OH
cialIy condemned the use of poison
gas in warfare and has decided to
seek effective methods of prevent
ing eventually the manufacture OF
poison gas.
Third. That in the Aland Island
dispute between Sweden and Fin
land. the council noted "the special
interest taken by Russia in the des-
tiny of the Aland Islands" and stated
1t would naturally desire to hear
the views of Russia on the subject
when she had emerged from the ex-
found herself today"
The Importance of these decisions
is only overshadowed by another
fact. very evident in the report as
a whole and that is that during the
last ten months of the leagues ex-
fstence the council. which many
students and advocates Of the league
feared would dominate the league
has in many instances referred
most vital decisions to the assembly
:, Affects U. s. Reservations.
The relation of the three facts
above mentioned to the United
states is obvious. considering first
that il the United States ever be-
comes a member of the league II
will do 50 with reservations of as
great Importance to Americas ma
Ntional interests as Switzerland's
military neutrality and the invio-
liability of her territory; and, sec
ond, that the prohibition of the use
of poisoned gas, in the opinion ol
several delegates with whom have
spoken. is aimed directly at tht
United States, because of the belief
among European powers that th'
gpited States is experimenting on
large scale with war gas; and
third, that the recognition of Rus
sian interests in the Aland Islands
is in line with Mr.. Wilson's polio!
of not consenting to the dismem
berment of Russia until the Russian
people themselves have had an op
portunity to express an opinion
through other than the Bolshevis
government.
In reporting 'the case of Switzer
land" 10 the assembly, Sir Fri
states: The council was requires
10 make an important decision will
regard to Switzerland. We desires
TO have her military neutrality ant
the inyiolability of her territorl
recognized as consistent with he
membership in the league" Tn
council considered the claim o
Switzerland in the light Of articl
435 of the Treaty of Versailles b,
which the members of the league
n signatories of the treaty, recogniz
that the guarantees in favor o
swiss neutrality, contained in tn
treaties of 1915, constitute interna
tionaI obligations for the mainte
nance of peace. The council declare
thar the perpetual neutrality o
Switzerland and the guarantee o
Incorporated in the law of nations
particularly in the treaties and Il
the act of 1915, are justified in tn
interests of general peace, and a
such are compatible with the GOV
snant.
Duty Sacred TO SWISS.
1T was understood, however, tha
Switzerland, while refusing to par
dy,,f
the passage of foreign troop
through her territory, fully recog
nizes the duties she was incurrlnl
as a member of the league, particu
larly the duty under Article XVI o
the covenant. of participating in an
economic action taken by the leagu
against a covenant-breaking state.
"Stress was laid on the fact tha
the position of Switzerland wa
uuite exceptional, and that the ac
> tion of the council was not, there
fore, to be regarded as a precedent.
Despite the fact that the counci
n states the Swiss case is not a prec
edent. 1t would now be difficult.
not impossible. for either the assem-
bly, or the council to exclude tn
United States IL purely America
reservations were added to Amer
ica's acceptance of the league coy
snant.
In submitting the councils atti
tude on poison gas. Sir Eric wrote
The council condemned the use {
poison gas in warfare, and decide
to>propose to the governments tina
they should consider what penaltfe
might be imposed in case of neces
sity upon any nation taking tn
first step to infringe on the rule
Of humanity by making use of 4
II also decided to seek, with the as
sistance of competent scientists. ei
fective methods of preventIn
eventually manufacture of poiso
gas"
The Drummond report reviews tn
leagues work in the Saar Valley, 4
Danzig, and at The Hague, in til
protection of minorities in Turke,
Greece, Bulgaria, Poland and Aus
ria. and at the international finar
.ial conference
fh view of the announcement fror
Washington that the United State
would not be represented, 1eagu
)ficials are asking why reservs
ions have been made in Geneva fo
. zen. Marlborough Churchill a
American military observer. an
#yhy the reservations were made b
Col. Godson. American military at
tcspyrixht. iseoL By Public Ledger Co..