Evening star., 1921-12-31
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS


tioning without the cooperation of
the United States, accomplished much
during the year. chiefly through its
councils which met in Paris on Feb
ruary 81. and Immediately referred
proposed amendments to the covenant
to committee. President Wilson.
who during January had Withdrawn
the American representatives from the
council of ambassadors and the repa-
rations commission. on February %
sent to the league council strong
protest against the inclusion of the
Island Of Yap in territories subjected
to the mandate of Japan. and also
formally demanded for America a
voice in the disposal of the former
German colonies. The council in re-
ply said it was not concerned with
the ALLEGATION of Jap to Japan. and
invited the United States to take part
in discussions concerning the Turkish
and African mandates. A month
after the republican administration
took office Secretary of State Hughes
reiterated Mr.. Wilson's stand con-
cerning Yap and mandates in gen.
eral, and later France and Italy in
dorsed Americas position in the con-
troversy over the island, though ia
pan formally refused to give up her
mandate Thereafter that dispute was
the subject of long-drawn-out nego-
tiations between the United States and
Japan.
Action on Germany.
Tho council of ambassadors in
January gave Germany more time
to disarm, appointed d commission
to pass on AuStria's economic status,
decided that Latvia and Esthonia
should be recognized as sovereign
states. and then fixed the German
reparations at 226,000.000.o00 gold
marks, payable in annual install
ments, and IL per cent tax on exports
during the period OF payment. This
reparations decision created con-
sternation in Germany, and Berlin
at once began efforts to persuade the
United States to intervene in her
behalf The Wilson administration
made no response. but on April q
Secretary Hughes informed Germany
the United States would not coun-
tenance her escaping full response
bility for the war or getting out of
paying to the limit of her ability.
A few days earlier. Berlin having
failed to make the first payments,
French troops occupied Dusseldorf.
Duisburg and Ruhrort. The British
objected strongly to this Independent
would be tedious to detail the
negotiations over the reparations
bill Suffice it to say that Germany,
with DIR. Wirth as chancellor,
was compelled to accept the figures
of 135.000. 100000 gold marks finally
decided on by the supreme council,
made the payments due during the
year and devised plans to raise the
sums due in the early part of 1922;
but beyond that, she said, she could
not see her way. And since many
economists agreed that to drive her
into absolute bankruptcy would be
disastrous to the rest of the world.
90 hn rn
was increasing talk of arranging a
moratorium of two to three years
for her. France was the chlef
objector to such delay, as she relied
on the money due her from Germany.
but she showed signs of yielding to
the general view. Division of Upper
Silesia between Germany and Poland
caused a lot of trouble. A plebiscite
was held there in March, but both
sides asserted 1t was unfair, and
carly in May the region was invaded
by Polish irregulars. Thinly Velled
support was given them by the
Warsaw government and also by the
French, and there succeeded a long
series Of fights between them and
Geaman volunteer forces. The en-
tente cordiale of the allies was near
to rupture. but in June British forces
entered the territory and began clear
ing out the Poles. The dispute was
in October announced the boundary
lines. Neither Germany nor Poland
was satisfied, but both accepted the
decision.
Greeks Fight Turks
All through the year the Greeks
fought the Turkish nationaliStS in
Anatolia, with varying fortune.
while the allied powers held aloof.
though offering mediation, which
Greece refused. In November France
made a treaty with the kemalist
government which aroused protests
from Great Britain and led to diplo-
matte negotiations
The council of ambassadors adopt
ed boundaries for Albania which en-
ragged the JugoslavS and a large
Serbian force invaded Albania In
September anu fought it's way nearly
to Tirana, the capital, before the
allies by vigorous threats. compelled
Jugoslavia, on November Is, to
accept the border lines as laid out.
The United States formally made
peace with the central powers. the
treaty with Austria being signed
August "a, that with Germany
August rs, and the pact with Hungary
August s29. In these treaties America
reserved all that was given her Dy
tho treaty of Versailles. which the
Senate had refused to ratify.
President Harding on July 10 issued
informal invitations to Great Britain.
France, Italy and Japan to send rep
resentatiyes to Washington for con-
ference on Limitation of armament ana
far eastern questions. Acceptance