Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-25
LEAGUE MUST BOW
TOL0NDON WISHES
OR FACE COLLAPSE
French Politicians Worried
and Amused Over Mr..
Wilson's Stand.
BY PERTTNAx.
eHenri Geraud. Editor of Echo de Paris. }
(By cable to The Star Copyright, 1920.

fHenri Geraud. Editor Of Echo de Paris,
(By cable to The Star. Copyright, 19o0l
PARIS. July 14.-French politicians
are divided between worry and
amusement over Fridays heveIop-
ments ef Rfesiaepts wilson's assnra16-
ton ofs aSsaontrol of~the league Of
nations in spite Of the fact that for
months he personaliy ehsa irefiAsnkd
from any decentralization whatsoeser
with his colleagues In its membership
and the circumstance that the SEN
ate of his own country has refused
so far to CONFIRM the membership of
the United States in the international
society.
The general secretary Of the league
OF nations issued to the press ON Fri
day the text of cablegran from Mr..
wilson summoning the league to
meet at Geneva November Is. It
was brief enough and seemed rou-
tine and casual. but az a matter Of
fact it marked the end of 4 long con-
troversy between President Wilson
and the ONCE of the general secre-
tary Of the league in London.
Drummond Was Explicit.
About four weeks ago Sir Eric
Drummond. who is permanent secre-
tary OF the league. in a communica-
ton from the head Office approached
Mr.. Wilson with the suggestion that
in the peculiar circumstances exist
ing he might we'll utilize the powers
| conferred upon him by article S of
the covenant and summon the Assem-.
| bly,, not for Geneva, as stipulated in
article z. but for Brussels.
Drummond founded his request for
what seemed to amount practically to
an amendment Of the covenant, where
| in it is said that the Headquarters OF
the league are established in Geneva,
on the statement of the second para
| graph of article Z, empowering the
executive council to appoint another
meeting place at any time. Drum
mond was mond was explicit in his 81
mond was explicit in his suggestion
| Besides emphasizing the fact tina,
the executive council was unanimous
in its selection Of the Belgian cap
ital for the first meeting of the as
| sembly, he set forth at length al
the reasons which were responsible
for the decision He directed Presi'
dent Wilson's attention to the fact
that II the meeting were called Al
Brussels all tho delegates Of ad'
herent states would be far more
closely in touch than they could bt
anywhere else with London and Paris
which are the seats Of the two gov.
ernments- which, in the present cir
cumstances. are the natural leader,
Of the league and must accept re-
sponsibility for its success or failure
| Would Please France.
Composed of heterogeneous ele,
lments, including two delegates from
each government concerned, and al
more likely to be professional poll
ticians than trained diplomats, tn.
assembly. he declared. would be NOR.
likely to be a coherent body upoI
allied soil than it would if it shoult
meet in neutral territory.
Moreover, he declared that espe
cially in France and Belgium publ,
opinion. which at best is not too fav
orably disposed toward the league O.
nations, would feel less disturbe.
concerning it's activities II they wer'
developed within the range of IT.
own national influence. An additions
largument that the decision of the ex
ecutive council. that the meetini
place should be changed had beel
agreed to by Switzerland and ha.
been communicated to the Brussel
cabiaet. 1t could not be reversed. /
was explained. without the revival o
old controversies and the creation o
a good deal Of iIl-humor.
Ths first reply from Presidfen
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