New-York tribune., 1921-09-01
League May Let
Groups Settle
Own Problems
Amendment Committee Will
Consider Rules Changes
to Confine Disputes to
the Nations Involved
May Revise Article X
Delegates, in Desire to Win
L. S., Inclined to Abolish
Objectionable Features
Special Cable to The Tribune

Copyright, 1921 New York Tribune Inc.
GENEVA, Aug. 31.-When the amend
mcnt committee of the League Of Ma
tions meets here tomorrow one of the
first matters to receive its attention
will be a proposition whereby the va
rious groups Of nations would be al
lowed to settle their own disputes
without interference from other groups
which have no concern, political or
According to this plan the "Pacific
group" would be allowed to handle its
own problems, the American group
would iron out the petty quarrels Of
the Western Hemisphere without inter-
ference from Europe, and the European
group would regulate its own disputes
without obligation to America or other
nations not concerned.
The proposition will be brought up
by M. Zahle, the Danish member of
the Amendment Committee.
Details of Proposed Plan
In discussing the proposed amend
ment to-day it was pointed out that in
the case of the Pacific, fer instance,
Switzerland and other nations, which
had never been called on to consider
but wasting time in discussing such
matters.
Nations outside any regional group
occupied in disputes would have a
right to interest themselves in the is
sue if able to show where they were
concerned. If the regional groups
however, were unable to solve their
own problems, then it would become a
matter for all the nations in the league
to deal with
Several league delegates admitted TO-
day that if the United States had been
member it would certainly have with
drawn from the league Council in the
embarrassing problem of splitting up
Upper Silesa, with its danger of Of
Tending either France or England,
whose ideas clash thereon. Under the
proposed amendment the Upper Sile-
sian problem would be one Of purely
European concern and so.eEy Tor the
European group represented.
BY the same token, q boundary dis
pute between Argentina and Chile or
between the United States und Canada
could not involve the clumsy general
attention of the General Assembly of
the league, wherein China and Japan
would be called en- to vote.
May Kill Article X
A majority of leading delegates had
arrived here to-day to participate in
the committees deliberations prepara-
tory to the forth hcoming General AS
sembly of the league, and among
these one of the chief topics of dis
cussion is the proposed attempt to
the league. One of these steps prob
ably will be to render Article x. which
formerly was the chief objection of
the United States to the league, almost
ineffective. There is an undisguised
desire to win America even to the ex-
tent of wiping out Article x, and it
is understood that this suggestion will
be made by the Canadian delegation.
The amending of Article XXI, how
ever, may be the means used to draw
the teeth out of Article x.
Seek to Please America
Conversations in Geneva convince
one that it is not far fetched also to
see q subtle move in the indirect pro-
posal to kill Article X to prepare the
way for 6 modified league wherein
Americas objections would be so far
removed that any organized outgrowth
of the Washington conference wherein
America is represented could lead to
immediate collaboration WITH the
league and even its amalgamation.
There is deliberate intention among
the delegates here to accept American
dictation regarding the league, in so
far as entanglng alliances sre con
cerned. The proposed amendment to
Article XXI leaves the way clear for
America to dictate whether it desires
to interest itself in any problem con-
corning the proposed European group
ment." If the amendment is adopted
Americas interference in any European
political quarrel becomes entirely an
optional matter.
The proposition thus far is the most
important matter scheduled for the
league meeting. The French delegation
is solidly behind it and others equally
important will support it on the floor
Of the Assembly. In any event it sp-
pears that Article X is scheduled for
slaughter either by this method or some
other.
g.
The best writing papeMs are WHITING
~.