New-York tribune., 1920-12-11
League Adopts
Blockade. but
Binds No Nation
Any Member May Refuse to
Take Part i'm Move if It
Considers No Breach of
Covenant Has Occurred
Case to Come Up
Court of Justice Endorses
Plan for Certain Form of
Compulsory Arbitration
By Ralph Courtney
specto! Cable to Tho Tribune

Copyright. 1920. New York Tribune Inc
GENEVA, Dec. 10.--The League Of
Nations to-day adopted the report OF
the Commission on Blockade. which
outlined the economic measures to be
used by the league against nations
which seek to start war. Several fea-
lures Of the plan as proposed by the
commission were modified in the As
sembly, and pending further action on
1T by the next session of the Assem-
bly, an international blockade commits
sion will superintend the use of the
leagues economic weapons. The life
Of the commission is limited. It will
report at the September meeting and
then, II its operation is to be contin-
ued, the commissions life must be re-
newed.
Ihe report as adopted means that
the League Assembly favors the use
OF economic weapons to prevent future
wars, but it leaves each nation free to
decide whether a breach of the cove
nant, requiring the laying of a block
ade, has occurred. Any state recog-
nizing such a breach as having oc-
CURED has no option, under the plan,
but to do all that the League requires
and to bring economic pressure to Var
on the offending nation.
Want Small Nations Protected
During the debate representatives of
the Scandinavian countries proposed
that the blockade commission should
decide under what conditions small
countries situated next to powerful ma
tlons nigh. be aosolved rom carrying
ov,r ~,
They argued that v might be dangerous
in some cases for small nation to full
I'LL its obligations, particularly if the
nelghborlng nation showed a DISPOSE
tion to use military force as reprisal
for the economic blockade.
Senator Henri La Fontainc of Bel
giurn argued that his country had set
an example in the war Of how small
nation should net in the face of at
tack by a belligerent neighbor He
disagreed with the contentious Of the
Scandinavians and insisted that every
nation ought to do its duty to civiliza-
tion regardless of the cost. -~-
1t was finally decided to leave this
The wording Of the resolution passed
on this subject was changed SO as not
to indicate that the Assembly had
formulated an opinion on it. AS
originally drafted, however, the Scan
dinavian view was favored.
The Assembly also adopted report
on an international hygiene organiza-
ton.
Officials Of the league now apparently
accept the idea that the constitution
cS the Council must be revolutionized
oooner or later. Tomorrow the Assem-
bly, will discuss the system of electing
temperament members Of the Council
China is proposed for one of the four
rotating memberships. Three are to be
allowed to Europe and America and one
to Asia and the rest of the world. Dur
ing next week the Assembly will meet
twice a day in an effort to finish it's
work by December 18.
DR.. Wellington Koo, of the Chinese
delegation, announced to-day that the
disposition Of Shantung would be
brought up for discussion in the AS
sembly. He explained that it had been
understood at the peace conference
that this subject was within the juris-
diction of the league.
When questioned regarding the state
ment by Baron Hayashi, Of the Japan
ese delegation, that Japan would hand
over Kiao-chau il China would consent
to open negotiations, Dr. Koo said:
China prefers deeds to words. We
cannot understand the obstacles which
Japan appears to find in the way OF
handing this territory to u.s."