The New York herald., 1921-06-24
CURZON ATTACKS
LEAGUE COVENANT
Asserts Many international
Difficulties Are Due to
Allies Wrong Turn.
APPEALS FOR U. S. HELP
Force and Reason in Harding's
Mandate Stand, He Tells
House of Lords.
APPEALS FOR U. S. HELP
By the Associated Press.


LONDON, June 23.--An unexpected
attack on the covenant of the League
Of Nations was made in the House of
Lords tonight during a debate on
mandates by Lord Curzon. Secretary
Of State for Foreign Affairs. He de-
clared that many existing interna-
tional difficulties were due to the Allies
having taken the wrong turn in the
making of peace, and he uttered a
strong appeal for the utmost American
cooperation with the Allies.
If, as he expected, Lord Curzon said
the League of Nations decided to post
pone its discussion of mandates in
Difference to the wishes Of the United
States and suggested entering into
communication with the Washington
Government concerning them, the
British Government willingly would
agree.
The Foreign Secretary's speech was
made In the course of a general discus
sion on the whole question of mandates,
in which he admitted that Parliament
was entitled to more information, but
he said this was a subject involved in
obscurity. The language OF the covenant
was such that not even trained lawyer
knew what II meant.
Lord Curzon was inclined to think
there was a mistake in policy when the
ALLIES met in Paris in their extreme
desire to get the League OF Nations on
the international statute book They
rushed almost with precipitation. he
said. to discuss questions which IL was
now seen would better have been solved
by being postponed. He could not help
holding the opinion that IL, instead of
taking UP the better regulation of the
world they had at the close OF the war
endeavored to secure the peace of the
world as 1t then was I'VE should have
been much further advanced in the con-
ditions of peace than we now are"
Lord Crrzon entered into a long ex-
PLANTATION of the British view, showing
that there had been no discourtesy on
the part of the British Government, but
circumstances beyond its control had
prevented the submission of mandates 10
the Washington Government In the man
rer the latter required.
Regarding the present position he be-
lieved there would be further postpone
ment of the discussion on mandates. Ex-
pi essins the Governments extreme pleas-
use over the renewed American interest
in European affairs. the Foreign secre-
tary said the more cooperation In the
manner best suited to Americas own
feeling was grartec the better It would
be for the worlds peace.
Lord Curzon declared there was force
and reason In President Harding's view
that America was entitled to be con-
suited before the mandates could be en-
tirely settled. and he believed that the
league was likely to reply that, holding
that view themselves. they would de-
eide to postpone consideration of the
mandates and trust that ne other Gov
ernments concerned would enter into
communication with the American Gov
ernment In the Interval before the meet
ing OF the assembly In September.
I'VE shall all agree" he said, that
there must be a period to this unccr-
tainty, and for my part. IL the suggested
invitation reaches me from the league.
I shall be quite prepared TO act upon It,"
Lord Curzon's speech before the I'm
perial Conference yesterday, which was
not made public. Is the subject OF much
speculation. IL was, II is understood, a
comprehensive but highly confidential re-
view Of the principles which have guided
British foreign policy since the end Of
the war
owing 10 the fact that nurr.ber OF
questions of delicate international sig
nincance had 10 be touched upon the
conference agreed that tho address
should not be published. All that can
be said. therefore. Is that Lord Curzon
took the conference completely into his
confidence. laying all the cards upon the
table. and at the same time inviting the
delegates TO interrogate him on each and
every point.
This invitation. It is understood. was
freely acted upon. Premier Meighan
and the other Premiers subjecting Lord
Curzon TO what practically amounted to
"a cross-examination. The Foreign Sec
retary. II II known. did not touch upon
the Japanese alliance except In general
way. and neither advocated that Il be
renounced or renewed.