New-York tribune., 1921-09-09
League Urged
To Ignore U. 5.
IN. Oisar ming
tCert 'nusd from rcue ons)

(Cest inued from prge ons)
peliing every nation OF the world to
do serious niury to itself. The ma
tions are doing more than That.
instend 1T is not possible to cxaggcr-
ate the folly nay, the wickedness, Of
this state OF things. Isat it ain ap-
peal which no country and no member
of this assembly can resist that we
ought to devote our real and our whole
energies to doing something to miti-
pntc this state ot things?'
Urges League no Act for Peace
In effect, Lord Robert accused the
league of neglect ng its duty toward
world peace and ur ged action regardless
OF the November harley, 1t has been
known in Geneva for many days that
tho league ia not; prepared to take
action on the ,nanG nte question and al
though q permanent commission on
mandates has been appointed, ;ts use
fulness has beeu .aipped in the bud
because it has no knowledge of the
pecially in view nf the State Depart
ment's protest of iaat February go that
act. on en- mandstes would be frowned
upon If taken without consulting the
Washington goyernlo oent.
Lord Robert called attention in his
speech to the dilatory methods followed
by the league in dealing with the ques-
ton of mandates, but laid the blame on
Washington, as the american govern
ment, he said, had not even answered
tho invitation extended by the league
Council on March to discuss the prob
lem
~
league Lord Robert took the position
that the timidity of the organization,
IL the face of uncertpinty. over the
sentiments of the United States, was
seriously injurins the leagues reputa-
ton, and he urged, temporarily at least,
messages from across the Atlantic be
disregarded. To leave the mandatory
territories under continua control of
military forces of occupation, he be-
lieved, was giving rise 70 suspicion
that the whole talk OF mandates was
mere deception and the camouhage
drawn over the nakedness of annexa-
ton. He urged the council to go ahead
at once and define the remaining man
dates
Lets proceed fearlessly," he said.
"Our path is laid down clearly in the
covenant. 1t will be best to achieve
the respect and support of the peoples
Of the world If we do what is plainly
our duty"
Asks End to Wilma Dispute
Lord Robert also urged that some
way be found to settle the long-st stand
ing dispute between Poland and Lithu-
ania over Wilma, which he character
lied as disturbing to The peace of the
world and as likely to produce "at any
moment an even greater disturbance
endangering us ALL" The failure of
these two countries to end this dis
putc, he said, was an international
disgrace.
The speaker warned the League
Council that it must arrive at some
Just end fair solution of the Upper
Shesian controversy, because, hn said.
on lte success or failure in dealing with
that problem the future of the league
may depend largely.
Lord Robert criticized the failure Of
the League Council to appreciate the
value Of publicity and expressed the
opinion that publicity was the very
life blood of the league, without which
1t cannot function properly.
Although this distinguished Briton
left no doubt about his dissatisfaction
with the leagues usefulness to date,
on many questions he took issue with
Branting, who had spoken earlier. The
Swedish speaker had' been even more
critical of the league, and in charging
that the Council was disdaining pub
licty and beginning to assume the
proportions OF "a great. governing
power" he insisted that the Assembly
was being subjugated. He criticized
the heavy expense account of tho
leagues secretariat and expressed
SWeden's dissatis sfaction over tho set
tlement of the Aland Islands dispute.
or rather the secret manner in which
the Council reached that settlement.
Branting Friendly Critic
Speaking both for Sweden and him
self, Branting said that both would
be derelict in their duty if they were
not critical of the league, although
animated with the greatest desire for
the success Of the organization. The
world does not agree that the league
has come up to the expectations for
which it was formed, said Branting,
and criticisms have been leveled at
both the league itself and it's methods
~ cannot say that these criticisms are
wholly unfounded,'' he added
To-day's speeches, the most impor-
tart so come out at the present session,
were called forth by report under
consideration of the leagues activities
in the year 1920 In English quarters
tonight Lord Robert Cecil is regarded
as the champion of the small nations
in the Assembly, who find themselves
dominated by the larger powers which
control the League Council-Great Bri-
tain, France ana Japan. All the little
nations want to discuss disarmament