New-York tribune., 1921-09-05
Strong Bid for Membership
of u. S. Will Be Made
by Propose d Changes
in Objectionable Clauses
Ill Judges To Be Elected
Organization of World Court
Among Principal Mat
ters To Be Disposed OF
BY Wilbur Forrest
Special Gable to The Tribune

" ~SiSSae'ohs Vi varying numbers
Geneva to-day is like polyglot capi-
tai Of the world, with everything
ready for the opening tomorrow OF
the General Assembly of the League OF
Nations.
The United States again is conspic-
uous by its 1SSnce except for OBJ.
| servers, who hareen to deny any off-
cial connection with the Washington
government. Argentina also is with
out representation a. a result of the
leagues refusal last year to vote on q
suggestion of unrestricted member
ship for all nations. Otherwise the
Assembly is augmented rather than d.
minished by the attendance of six new
members.
The various committees are working
feverishly on their reports on de-
batable issues of regional and world
interest which will be launched on
the floor of the "world's house of
representatives, where the greatest
as we'll as the smallest nations will
sit with an equal voice.
Seek Entry of America
The sessions are certain to reflect
the Worldwide regret at America s
non-adherence to the league, with a
strong section of the nations making
great effort to revamp the covenant
to hit in with the desires of America
IN hope that the league can be made
acceptable. This manifestation will
come in the debates on the proposed
amendments of Articles X and XXI,
which are closely connected with the
Senate's original objections to the
Big Four's Paris covenant creation.
The absolute elimination of Article X,
as suggested by Canada, is likely to
fail, as it already has encountered
difficulty in the committee on amend
ments, where the report for the Assem-
to Article XXI, wherein it is propos ed
that international disputes may be
settled only by the nations vitality con-
cerned, will furnish material for an in
teresting fight on the floor of the
Assembly
The propos tion to establish regional
groups of nations doubtless will be
objected to. China is opposed to the
proposed Asiatic group, fearing
Japanese domination. 1t is hoped that
compromise may be reached wherein
the decentralization of the league
Will not be quite so accentuated. There
is still strong opposition to "wide
open" diplomacy and debate will show
AAVAi StdCIiy WudC quarters INc great
est objections come.
May Admit New Members
Several new nations are to seek
membership in the League at this
meeting. A demand by Czecho-Slovakia
that Charles of Hapsburg first for
mally renounce all claim to the ruler
ship of his one-time realm before Hun
gary is admitted to the League, prom
ises to be the feature of the discus
sion of the Hungarian application. DR..
Benes, the Czecho-S -Slovakian Foreign
Minister, will lead the fight against
Hungary on the ground that its con-
stltutional status is not yet settled.
He will argue that Charles must dis
appear as menace to Hungarian
peace. before that country will be
eligible.
Other nations seeking membership
this year are Latvia, Esthonia and
Lithuania. 1t is expected that their
applications will be approved without
great debate.
A checking up of the delegations as
they arrive here shows that San Sal
vador, as we'll as Argentina, is absent.
The San Salvador government sent
word to the league headquarters that
1T didn't have the funds to send dele
gates to Geneva.
The possibility looms up that the
hermit nation, Siam, will WELD some
power on the League Council this year.
This body at present is made up of
Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan,
Belgium, China, Brazil and Spain. The
last four are non-permanent and are
to be either reelected or displaced by
Czecho-Slovakia is striving for place
and may crowd out Belgium because
there can be only five European mem
bers.
On account of a set RUE, there must
be two Oriental memberships and, con-
sequently, DR.. Wellington Koo, the
Chinese representative, must retain
China's place, unless the membership
goes to Siam, the only Oriental nation
which is not now represented on the
Council. The popularity of Count Qu:-
nones de Leon, of Spain, foreshadows
Spain's reelection. There is a contest
between Chile and Brazil for the
American place.
The Importance of this body was con-
slderably augmented by the recent ac-
tion of the Supreme Council in Paris in
submitting the Upper Silesian contro-
ceeds in untangling this knot it will
find far greater future before it than
has yet promised.
Slams membership probably will be
heavily opposed by Japan, which has
reasons for wanting to prevent this
hermit neighbor from playing too i'm
portant part in world affairs.
The election of the members of the
permanent international Court of JUS
tice is attracting much interest
The news. that Elihu Root had de-
clined TO be candidate created gen
eral disappointment, as his election to
the presidency was almost certainty
The eleven judges will be elected
| Jointly by the Council and Assembly
the candidates gaining a majority in
both bodies to be named.
Eleven Judges To Be Elected
The United States may participate
| in the court without taking cognizance
of the league. Mr.. Roots withdrawal
makes almost certain the election of
either John Bassett Moore or DR.. James
Brown Smith, though neither is likely
to become president of the court. Il
| is forecast here that the eleven Judges
will be selected from the five great
powers-the United States, Great Bri-
tain, France, Italy and Japan, and pos
slbly Chile, Brazil, Norway, Sweden
Holland and Switzerland.
The court, which might be called
the international Supreme Court, is
expected to. convene at The Hague
shortly after the adjournment OF the
Assembly. 1t was announced TODAY
that twenty mine nations now have
signed the ratified protocol of the
statute establishing the court and ff
teen have signed the clause giving the