The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-15
MANDATE PLAN
Is FIRST CLOUD
BEFORE GENEVA
Great Britain Objects to
Alignment of Powers on
Commission.
MAY BE LEADING ISSUE
Post Is Left Open for Z. S.
Oh Financial Body Named
Yesterday.
LORD CECIL OPTIMISTIC
Delegates Watching for Likely
Attitude of New Z. s.
Administrations
LORD CECIL OPTIMISTIC
BY LAURENCE HILLS.


the eve OF the meeting tomorrow OF
the assembly of the League of Nations
Great Britain rather ruff'ed the pro-
ceedings in the council meeting to-
day by lodging vigorous objections
against the councils mandate commits
sion plan. not wanting the majority
to be composed of non-mandatory
Powers.
The committee appointed would
have had eight mandatory against
seven mandatory Powers. Great Brit
ain wants this reversed The council
Is compelled to hold another meeting
on Thursday on the mandate question.
which threatens to be the burning is
sue in the assembly, no Power yet
having lived up to the idea.
Interest In Hnrding's stand.
The attitude of the Republican Ad-
rriinistrat,on of Senator Harding toward
the League of Nations remains the
domnqnt subject of interest among the
Assembly delegates mere. However,
Lord Robert Cecil tod the correspc nd
ent Of THE NEW YORK HERALD to-day
that he d rot intend to bring up the
American question and would oppose
any discussion of Americas absence
from the meeting.
Lord Robert Cecil IS an interesting
figure at this meeting, since his close
friends even admit that his appointment
by Gen Jan SHUTS as a DELEGATE of the
Union of South Africa was opposed to the
wishes of the British Government. Lord
Robert himself contends that this is
natural selection as he and Gen. SHUTS
worked together in framing the covenant
with Pi resident Wilson, and it would be
ridiculous to restrict the choice of repre-
sentatives to nationals.
1t is clear already that Lord Robert
hopes to boss this show, but this is ex-
pected TO bring Premier Lloyd George
here as the British delegation appears
badly sp it regarding America and other
questions.
The views of Lord Robert and his
party were thus summarized to-day by
one of the leaders:
First-F orty one nations having rati-
fled the treaty and entered the league,
while America has not ratified, this as
sembly or any other assembly would
stultlfy itself in making advances to
America or even discussing the ques-
ton.
Second-Much as her membership is
desired, particularly because of what
che could cont ibute by her detached
viewpoint, the league can If necessary
do without her.
Thrd-Ths meeting can virtually
complete an international court plan and
by other progr, IS can win back Amer
ic1n support and her consent TO make
changes In the covenant from the inside
rather than the outside.
Fourth--There must be a firm refusal
by members of the League to consent
to any abandonment o. the present or
Eanization should the Republicans in
o.,
for a new association of nations on the
ground Of the impossibility of getting all
the nations of the world ever again to
gree Upon new league.
Lord Robert and his friends of the
British League Union are here doing
missionary work among all the dele
gates pressing these views home and
trying TO repair in the eyes OF other ma
tons the damage done by the American
election Thus Cecil in this Sv ISIS city
swirling with delegates and diplomats OF
al kinds is trying to fill Wilson's va
Gated niche.
BnIfour Not I'm Geneva Yet.
Arthur J. Balfour has not arrived with
the other delegates to set going the Ilan
OF himself and Lloyd George to thwart
Cecil. So in the end it seems to get
down TO a question OF British politics
The British is the largest delega-
tlon next to the japanese and the
Chinese are next. All the nations seem
cycling one another. not so much to sup
mort the league as to see how far Il will
80 into their own affairs. The Chinese
admit they are watching the Japanese.
Just as the French are watching te
British All seem afraid that some dis
cussion will be started in the open as
l.It fts.er 4.
Belgian convention. which has not been
in publ C. or colon al nanGates which
would be embarrassing to their respec-
tive home governments.
The 'de Of a per-state. as en-
bodied In the council OF the league is
dead II the league Is not. This is gem
orally admitted even by members OF the
secretarat Its Justification as de-
rgti~g society depends on whether II
starts anmosites instead of healing
them. according TO open minded dele
gates who have come here merely in
strrctcd to watch the experiment OF a
v orld parliament.
Lord Robert said TO the CORE
Fnondent Of THE NEw York HERALD:
This FIRST meeting means the turning
point Of the league. From parers
have seen and talks | have had with
the delegates, ind that the repre-
tenlhtlNtS OF forty zone nations nave
come to Geneva with an honest desire
10 est bllsh the league uron a firm
foundation. ] do not believe there is
single exception among the delegates.
and | am confident that we are going
20 make real progress here"
Lord ROBERT "a so believes that GER
tainly the finishing touches viii be pit
90 the international court plan. but he
admits that not so much can be expected
20 be uone regarding disarmament. in
which the abstention OF the United
states and her military ana naval pro-
rramme, according to some Of the dele
gates. are quite embarrassing. lie ex-
f-cts that the admission Of Germany
10 the leag"e may be discussed.
The delegates all seem to be inter-
,sted in the size or the Chinese and Jap
anese delegations. which are the largest
here. Japan has sgnined no intention
TO move any racial amendment. but she
can bring up the question In the discuss
sion Of mandates in demar ding that her
nationals have the same rights as others
IN the Pacific Islands given TO Austria